Both women and men get older and start to show the signs of aging on their face and neck. Although many people think of facial plastic surgery as something that only women think about, plenty of male patients have also weighed the pros and cons of having a facelift and necklift performed. The goal of a facelift in a male patient might be similar to the goal a female patient has: to tighten loosen skin, remove extra fat and smooth away lines and wrinkles. However, the procedure is performed slightly differently in male patients than in females for a few reasons.
Skin Differences
Society aside, one of the reasons why men were less likely to have facelifts in the past might have been that they typically show signs of aging at a later age than women. Men typically have thicker skin in the facial area than women, and they have a greater supply of blood to the area. The thicker a person’s skin, usually the later he or she starts to develop lines and wrinkles.
Although thick skin and more blood can be beneficial when it comes to a person’s looks, those issues can be a bit of a problem when it comes time to perform surgery on a patient. The increased blood flow in the facial area increases a man’s risk of developing a hematoma after surgery. A hematoma forms when blood pools and collects just beneath the skin.
Thicker skin can also be more challenging for a surgeon to work with. The skin might hide wrinkles well, but it’s more difficult to manipulate or to create a natural looking result from.
It’s not only male skin that is thicker. The neck muscle, which is usually tightened during a neck lift, can also be thicker in male patients compared to female patients. Usually, the thicker neck muscle isn’t particularly challenging for a surgeon.
Hair Concerns
Often, the pattern of hair growth is different in male patients compared to female patients. While female patients generally don’t have facial hair, aside from a pair of eyebrows, a male patient is likely to have sideburns and a beard. Even if a man keeps his face and neck area clean-shaven, a facelift and neck lift can cause changes to the pattern of his facial hair.
For example, the surgery might reposition some skin, on which facial hair grows, behind a man’s ears. It’s possible for that the repositioned skin will continue to grow hair, meaning that a man will have to shave the area behind his ears when grooming.
A talented facial plastic surgeon will work around the hair issues when performing a facelift on man. He’ll choose the location of the incisions to reduce the likelihood that the sideburns will be shifted or to avoid moving hair-bearing skin behind the ears.
Scarring
In some cases, male patients might be more concerned about visible scarring after a facelift and neck lift than female patients. Women usually have longer hair and it is more socially acceptable for them to wear makeup to cover up any visible scars. Men often have shorter hair, or they might be dealing with hair loss, so that scar that would otherwise be concealed by their hair is visible
Usually, a facial plastic surgeon will do his best to position the incisions so that they are in out-of-the-way areas, such as beneath the chin, for a necklift, or near the ears, for a facelift.
Results and Recovery
The extra supply of blood to a male face can help many male patients recover from surgery more quickly. Additionally, men might be less likely to or less willing to really take a break and give their bodies time to heal after their facelift and neck lift. Even if a man feels ready to get back into the swing of things, it’s important that he follow any directions given by his surgeon and avoid being too active, too soon after a facelift. Usually, it’s recommended that patients take at least a week or two off from work after a facelift and that they avoid exercise and other vigorous activity for a few more weeks after that.
Schedule Your Facelift and Necklift Consultation Today
If you’re in generally good health but have questions about how a facelift or necklift might help you, make a consultation with a facial plastic surgeon who is knowledgeable and experienced with face and neck procedures. Dr. Rubinstein is one of the top facial plastic surgeons in New York and is double board certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. He is also an active member of the American Society for Laser Medicine & Surgery.
Dr. Rubinstein brings to his practice a diverse background and expertise in lasers and cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the eyes, face, neck. Furthermore, he has been an assistant professor at the very prestigious Columbia – New York Presbyterian Hospital for over 15 years where he has participated in training future surgeons. Dr. Rubinstein has been recognized by his peers as one of the leading trainers for esthetic laser & injectable procedures. He is one of the most sought after physician trainers in the northeast. More information about Dr. Rubinstein can be found at www.yourfacemd.com . To schedule a consultation call 845-863-1772 or email info@YourFaceMD.com.
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