Plastic Surgery for Men - FAQ

What types of conditions can be treated?

Men of any age may benefit from appearance-enhancing plastic surgery. Your surgeon can offer cosmetic treatment options for any of the following conditions.

The body

• Excess fat or glandular tissue in the upper chest, creating a condition called gynecomastia
• Excess fat ("love handles") in the waistline area
• Loose abdominal skin or muscles
• Poorly defined muscles

The face, head and neck

• A double chin or loose skin ("jowls") around the chin and/or neck
• Scarred or sun-damaged facial skin
• Wrinkles or bags around the eyes
• Disproportionate facial features: a receding chin, a large nose, undefined cheekbones

What should I expect from the consultation?

A personal consultation is the first step for every patient considering plastic surgery. During this meeting, your surgeon will assess your physical health and discuss your specific cosmetic goals.

You should be in generally good health if you're planning cosmetic plastic surgery of any type. Arrive at the consultation prepared to provide information about:

• Previous injuries. surgical procedures or treatments that have been performed in the surgical area
• Significant weight gains or losses in recent months
• Skin conditions or allergies that have been previously diagnosed or treated
• Medications you are taking or have taken previously, including dietary and herbal supplements.

During your physical examination, your plastic surgeon may take preoperative photographs to be kept in your medical record. Your surgeon's observations will help determine which treatments or procedures can offer you the greatest benefit. You may learn that a secondary procedure, which can sometimes be performed during the same surgical session, will bring about the most satisfying results.

What should I know about the safety of cosmetic plastic surgery?

Each year, thousands of men undergo cosmetic plastic surgery procedures of the face, head, neck and body and they experience no major complications. However, it is important for you to be informed of the risks as well as the benefits of the procedure you choose.

One of the most important parts of your consultation is the discussion that you and your surgeon will have about the possible complications associated with your procedure.

By carefully following your doctor's instructions - before and after your treatment - you can do your part to minimize some of the risks.

The surgery

Your plastic surgeon will provide all the information you need about the specific procedure in which you are interested. However, some short descriptions are provided here.

Liposuction

Liposuction, also called lipoplasty, removes deposits of excess fat from specific areas of the face, neck and body. It can create a flatter, firmer and better-contoured shape. Liposuction is performed as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia and most men can return to non-strenuous work in 1 week. Your initial results will appear in the first few weeks; final results are evident in 2-6 months.

Breast reduction surgery for gynecomastia

Gynecomastia is the term used to describe an excess accumulation of fat or glandular tissue in the male breasts. It's a condition that affects up to half the male population - sometimes in one breast, sometimes in both.

In many cases, liposuction alone can be used to correct the problem areas, particularly if the tissue being removed is primarily fat. Using this technique, a small incision is made around the edge of the nipple area. A thin tube, called a cannula, is attached to a vacuum pump and is moved through the layers beneath the skin, breaking up the fatty tissue and suctioning it out.

If this is the technique you select, you may feel a bit of vibration or friction during the procedure, but generally no pain. If a large amount of fat must be removed, the excess overlying skin may have to be removed to allow the remaining skin to adjust to the chest's new shape.

If, on the other hand, the primary source of the breast enlargement is glandular tissue, it will be excised through a small incision either on the edge of the pigmented skin surrounding the nipple or in the underarm area. Larger incisions may be required if a significant amount of tissue and skin will be removed.

How will I look and feel after breast-reduction surgery?

Sometimes a small drain is inserted beneath the skin to draw off excess fluids after the procedure is complete. The incisions are usually covered with a dressing, and the chest may be wrapped to keep the skin firmly in place. You'll be a bit swollen and bruised for the first week after the surgery. Still, your surgeon will encourage you to try to resume a normal non-strenuous routine, and you may return to work as soon as you feel comfortable enough to do so.

Your surgeon may advise staying out of the sun and avoiding sports and sexual activity for a few weeks following the procedure so that your body has a chance to heal. In general, it will take about 4 weeks to return to full activity.

How long will I continue to see my plastic surgeon?

You will see your surgeon for regular follow-up visits to ensure that you are healing as you should. Once you are completely healed, the results of the procedure are significant and permanent, and you're likely to be pleased with your improved body contour.

Facial Cosmetic Surgery

Men who seek more balanced facial features or a rejuvenated appearance often turn to cosmetic surgery. Whether you are seeking a slight "freshening" of the facial skin or a more extensive change in your facial structure, your plastic surgeon can help.

Some of the procedure that men often seek are:

• Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery): This procedure eliminates sagging skin above the eye or the bags below. It is typically performed under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia. Depending on your healing progress, you may be able to return to work within 1-2 weeks.

• Facelift: Sagging facial skin, jowls and loose neck skin are removed in this procedure, which results in a smoother, more youthful appearance. Most often, this is an outpatient procedure that is performed under local anesthesia with sedation of general anesthesia. However, sometimes a short inpatient sthttp://www.austin-weston.com/en/contentmanagers/edit.asp?cmid=6851ay is required. Most men return to work within 2-3 weeks after having a facelift.

• Facial implants: Custom-styled implants can be positioned within the face to bring about a more harmonious balance of the facial features. Most often, implants are used to build up a receding chin, to add prominence to the cheekbones or to reshape the jawline. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia. Most men are back to work within 1-2 weeks and are able to see their final result within about a month.

• Forehead lift (browlift): Furrows and creases in the forehead as well as drooping upper eyelids are minimized in this procedure. It is typically performed under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia. Most men are able to return to work within 1-2 weeks.

• Nose surgery (rhinoplasty): This custom-tailored procedure reshapes the nose to create a more balanced facial appearance. Most often, rhinoplasty is performed under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia. You are likely to return to work within 1-2 weeks. However, it takes many months for the final result to become apparent

• Skin resurfacing and revitalizing: Varieties of methods are available to soften or eliminate wrinkles and surface flaws on facial skin. Gentle revitalizing treatments performed at The Austin-Weston Center for Cosmetic Surgery include botulinum toxin injections (Botox®) to reduce facial-expression lines and glycolic acid peels and microdermabrasion to reduce the visible effects of aging and sun damage, including fine wrinkling and brown spots. These treatments require little or no down time for recovery and must be repeated to maintain your smoother, more refreshed appearance.

Chemical peel, dermabrasion, and laser resurfacing are more extensive skin resurfacing procedures requiring only local anesthesia. Because these treatments remove the top layer of facial skin, a red, flushed appearance is part of the early phase of recovery and some degree of heightened color may persist for an extended period. You may need 2 weeks or more to feel comfortable enough to return to work.