From nose jobs and Botox to breast reductions and liposuction, rates of cosmetic surgery among males have been steadily increasing in recent years, growing by 325 percent since 1997. What’s behind this trend? Perhaps it’s the renewed sense of confidence that comes with an updated look. When it comes to appearances, our society (especially in New York) places a tremendous amount of pressure on males. The men who undergo procedures in my office — from models and bodybuilders to corporate executives and soccer dads — often walk away feeling younger and more attractive than they have in years. I firmly believe that the only reason you should have a cosmetic procedure is for your own self — not because of outside pressures or over worry about what others think. Even so, some men who want surgery have concerns. If you’re one of them, read on.
If you’re afraid it will hurt…
Yes, surgery — even if it is elective — should be taken seriously. When you go under the knife, you’re introducing your body to stress that it’s likely never felt before. This can certainly hurt, but remember that for procedures like liposuction, nose jobs, and eye lifts, you’ll be under anesthesia. Further, non-surgical treatments like Botox and fillers have little to no discomfort, but make a big impact in the way you look.
If you’re dreading the recovery time…
While you might want to take a few sick days after a more intense procedure, like a rhinoplasty, don’t think that you’ll have to stay in your room for weeks on end as you recover. Most procedures are performed on an outpatient basis and many of my patients return to their normal routines (outside of heavy exercise) within days.
If you’re not sure which treatment is right for you…
I get it. Researching and narrowing down surgical and non-invasive options is difficult if you’re not familiar with the terminology. Just as an example, there are dozens of filler brands to choose from and even three methods for performing liposuction. It can all feel a little overwhelming at first. Before you come in for a consultation, the most important thing to know is what area of your body you want to change and what you would like the result of a procedure in that area to be. From that point, we’ll discuss your options in detail and choose a surgical plan that fits your needs.
If you’re worried about getting a botched job…
The good news is that we don’t want you to have one either! As you hear tales of surgeries gone awry, it’s easy to think of those bad things happening to you. Take comfort in the fact that I’m a board-certified plastic surgeon, highly trained with years of experience. Your satisfaction is my goal — so much so that we’ll have an extensive pre-op sit-down to discuss your hopes and rule out any unrealistic expectations. In fact, I won’t complete a procedure if I don’t feel like you’ll like the end result.
Addressing your worries is an important step on the way to a new you. If you have additional concerns or want to discuss any of these topics in greater detail, I’d be happy to speak with you.