While it is no longer unusual for men to go under the knife in pursuit of cosmetic enhancement, we still tend to think of plastic surgery as the domain, primarily, of women.

Today however the demand for male plastic surgery is growing enormously and you may be curious as to which procedures all these image-aware men are queuing up for.

First of all, let’s look at why male plastic surgery is different to female.

One of the reasons is that men age differently to women. Secondly, according to experts men have a lower pain threshold than women. Third, studies have shown that there is also a greater chance, with certain procedures (e.g. facelifts). of complications in men than in women patients. Finally, men still may experience greater embarrassment about their decision to undergo cosmetic surgery and prefer to keep it a private matter. Long periods of recovery are not an option for them.

It makes sense, therefore, that many surgeons prefer to offer simpler, more straightforward surgical enhancement procedures to men.

So what are the most fashionable male plastic surgery procedures today?

Liposuction

The most popular sites for male liposuction are the love handles, the tummy (known in South Africa as the ‘beer boep’) and the chest. Rather than a weight loss solution, liposuction is a sculpting technique that should be used in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise

Correction of saggy eyelids:

The upper lids can be quickly and safely lifted, with excess fat and skin easily removed. This procedure is performed under local anaesthetic. The patient checks out on the same day and the results are usually extremely good. There is some bruising for a few days but scarring is minimal.

Lower lids can also be treated but this is a much trickier procedure and therefore less popular among men.

Neck Surgery:

An Anterior Cervicoplasty is a simple, two-step procedure performed as a day case with sedation and local anaesthetic. First the neck is liopsucked via tiny cuts below the ear which leave almost no scarring. Next any loose ‘turkey neck’ skin is removed. This second step can result in a small but ‘acceptable’ scar near the Adam’s apple.

Male Facelift

Many surgeons prefer to do a conservative facelift on their male patients, as the usual techniques can result in somewhat effeminate results and certain other undesirable outcomes. A male facelift will typically focus on the cheek skin and jowls.

Hair transplants

Male-pattern hair loss can today be effectively treated by hair transplants. Modern techniques result in far more natural-looking results than in previous years.

Botox

This popular non-surgical treatment course can quickly and easily rectify or diminish wrinkles, crow’s feet and frown lines. Repeat sessions are required as this is not a permanent solution.

Apart from these procedures, which generally aim to counter the effects of aging on the male body, many body-conscious younger men are also signing up for pectoral, calf, bicep and tricep implants to enhance and address areas which they find not responsive to gym workouts.

With the rise of the Metrosexual, modern men of all ages want to look good, and this is clearly reflected in the upswing in numbers of male plastic surgery candidates.

After working hard at diet and exercise, you have lost a massive amount of weight only to find you have excess skin that just won’t go away. The good news is that there are cosmetic surgery procedures that can remove that skin and tighten up what remains leaving you with a more toned appearance.

Both sexes can be benefited from a number of facial procedures that are available for addressing specific problem areas. A face lift (rhytidectomy) generally deals with the lower portion of your face. Because of weight loss or age, your eyelids may now have drooping skin. The procedure is called blepharoplasty and is done on both men and women making them look younger and refreshed.

Your surgeon may also suggest a brow lift which lifts the position of the eye brows and removes the horizontal lines that may make a person appear angry. With all facial procedures, the incisions are made as small as possible and are designed to be hidden in your hairline or where there are natural folds of your skin.

Your neck may also be showing signs of your weight loss, giving you the “turkey neck” appearance. While a neck lift (cervicoplasty) can’t reverse the aging process it can make both men and women appear more youthful. When a neck lift is done, the procedure is similar to the lifts described above with the skin being lifted, tissue and muscle being tightened and excess skin being removed.

The breast/chest area can also be a problem for both men and women. Some men may have had heavy “man boobs” and now have sagging skin left there as evidence of the weight loss. A woman on the other hand might have sagging breast tissue and skin.

A breast lift (mastopexy) on a woman will involve moving the nipple higher and rebuilding the breast tissue that remains. If a woman doesn’t have enough breast tissue or perhaps would like to enlarge her breasts she may opt to have breast augmentation done also.

In male breast lift, incision is made at the fold under the breast area; any excess tissue and fat are removed via liposuction with the incisions being closed with fine sutures.

Considering the arm area, the most likely place with excess skin is the underside of the arm. Arm lift,(brachioplasty) can be done by making an incision near your arm pit, liposuction follows to remove fat from the under arms and then the excess skin is pulled towards and the incision is closed.

You might find that you have excess skin and tissue drooping around your abdominal area (both above and below the belly button) along with sagging skin in the buttocks area. During your consultation with your surgeon, various procedures may be discussed such as tummy tuck (abdominoplasty). Great care is given to hide incisions in natural folds of the body. The length of this horizontal incision depends on the amount of excess skin to be removed.

As with most procedures, the muscles are tightened through the incision and liposuction maybe used to remove fat and contour to your abdomen. Depending on how much skin and tissue you have remaining, your surgeon may suggest a body lift which is a combination of tummy tuck and butt lift.

Thigh lifts (thighplasty) are done to change the appearance of specific portions of your thighs. Liposuction may be used to define your thighs and remove any excess skin.

With any of these or other cosmetic surgery procedures, you should make sure your surgeon is certified by The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). When you meet your surgeon for the first consult you want to ask what their experience level is, with the specific procedure you are considering. Better to find out before you go through surgery than afterwards.

Prices for each procedure vary by geographic area and some surgeons have “packages” for multiple procedures. Financing is available for plastic surgery through several financing companies although you should explore all your financial options.