In my profession as a plastic surgeon in New York City, it’s become apparent that the number of men opting for aesthetic surgery and non-invasive cosmetic procedures is growing. Many of the men I see in my practice are career-oriented individuals looking to enhance their image in the aggressive business world; others are hoping to reduce the effects of aging or change an aspect of their appearance that has always bothered them. No matter the circumstance, men are increasingly interested in investing in their appearance.

Some of the most popular procedures I offer for men include face lift, forehead lift, eyelid surgery, chin augmentation, nose surgery, and liposuction. Professional men who can’t afford to spend time away from the office may also take advantage of medical spa services such as BOTOX® or laser skin resurfacing for a rejuvenation treatment with little downtime. When performed properly and conservatively, these treatments can provide transformative results that give men a critical advantage in the increasingly competitive marketplace. Some of the advantages my male patients have experienced from their cosmetic surgery include:

• A younger-looking appearance
• Increased self-confidence and self-esteem
• A fitter, more toned body
• A healthier, more active lifestyle
• More confidence and assertiveness in the workplace

I came across a fascinating article the other day on Realself.com that found a shift in attitudes about cosmetic surgery. The poll of 2,148 adults saw a heightened interest in cosmetic surgery among consumers. Specifically, the article found a 15 point increase among the number of people who stated that they would choose plastic surgery if money weren’t an issue (from 54% in 2009 to 69% in 2010).

The positive shift in perceptions regarding plastic surgery is comforting because it assures me that people are becoming more informed about the realities of cosmetic procedures rather than succumbing to hyped-up media messages.

As a physician involved in plastic surgery in Dallas for many years, I know that men and women who choose plastic surgery are thoughtful, reasonable people, who want to look more refreshed, and like just a slightly better version of themselves. The images portrayed in the tabloids of young men and women who are over-done, is not the image seen by the vast majority of plastic surgeons, and that’s especially true in Dallas. Millions of people choose plastic surgery every year with outstanding, positive results. Our goal for each patient is for them to be more confident, content individuals who are happy with themselves and their appearance. I’m glad that more of the general public is recognizing this too.

You’ve probably heard about toning shoes – the shoes with a distinct curved sole that are meant to help build leg muscles and increase calorie burn. Like thousands of people in the Bay Area, you may even own a pair. I’ve had a few patients recently asking about whether these shoes can help them avoid a body contouring procedure in Walnut Creek such as abdominoplasty, liposuction or a body lift. While I always support a person’s effort to lead a healthier and more active lifestyle, I doubt that these shoes will contribute much to a person’s overall level of fitness.

Fancy Footwork

Toning shoes supposedly increase calorie burn and muscle toning by keeping people a little off-balance with their “rocker-bottom” soles. While this makes some sense in theory, potential drawbacks of the rocker-bottom shoes include higher risk of falling for people with balance problems (potentially causing fractures), as well as back and knee pain. The shoes change your stride; it’s what they’re intended to do, but those changes could have unpleasant results.

Ultimately, even if the shoes are safe and they help you exercise more and lose weight, a body contouring procedure may still be needed to create your ideal look. Pockets of unwanted fat may still remain, and if you lose a significant amount of fat, you may need to reduce excess skin as well. For that kind of improvement, surgery really is the only option.

If the Shoe Fits

If you really want to look and feel your best, exercise more and watch your diet carefully. If you get a pair of toning shoes and they help you raise your level of fitness, stick with them. And, when you’re sure that you’ve tried every possible solution, but you’re still not happy with the way you look, it might be time to revisit your surgical options.

Before you know it, we’ll be finished with the holidays and celebrating the beginning of a New Year. If you’re like many men and women, your resolution is to work out more and slim down a bit. If you’re at or near your ideal weight and just need a little encouragement, liposuction just might be able to help you along.

First, let me explain one very important point: liposuction is not a weight loss method. It is only appropriate for people who are not overweight and have tried to improve their figure through diet and exercise. That said, liposuction has helped some of my liposuction patients in Columbus, Ohio get in better shape or stay in shape.

Why? Once they’ve had those “trouble spots” slimmed, people feel inspired and motivated to keep their figure looking good. Many men and women report that, after liposuction, they feel more confident about how they look in tight-fitting athletic gear. When they’re not self-conscious about minor bulges, they are less worried about hitting the gym in more revealing garb.

If you’ve been considering liposuction, maybe it’s time to take the next step. You can start 2011 looking your best, feeling your best, and excited about your active lifestyle.

When considering bariatric surgery, many women and men also are concerned about the cosmetic outcome of their procedure. Having weight loss surgery may improve various aspects of a person’s life such as overall health and ability to engage in exercise. However, while many post-bariatric patients report feeling better about their body image, sometimes it is necessary to have a cosmetic procedure such as an abdominoplasty or liposuction in Miami to achieve the look originally envisioned.

Sagging, excess skin will occur following bariatric surgery, as the skin is not able to retighten to fit the patient’s new, slimmer shape. Other post-bariatric cosmetic surgery procedures that can be performed include a body lift or arm lift to remove these areas of loose skin while also targeting pockets of residual fat tissue.

Losing the Weight, Loving Your Look

When a patient has decided on both bariatric and cosmetic surgery, they sometimes wonder whether the same surgeon can and should perform both procedures. There are indeed some bariatric surgeons who subsequently perform cosmetic surgery for their patients. However, in most cases surgeons choose to specialize, meaning that a patient will have one bariatric surgeon and a different cosmetic surgeon. Ideally, these two doctors will work closely together to develop a surgical plan.

The Value of Specialization

There’s something to be said for your doctor being an “expert” in a particular field. It is very difficult for a doctor to master even one discipline, let alone two. This is why most patients choose a doctor who specializes in bariatric surgery and then select a cosmetic surgeon to address the loose skin and residual fat that occurs as they lose the weight.

If you’ve had a bariatric procedure along with cosmetic surgery, who performed the cosmetic enhancements? And how did you select your cosmetic surgeon?

There are many ways to improve the appearance of teeth, lips, and gums. While many of these procedures are highly effective and may be the best treatment option under certain circumstances, they also can require anesthesia, discomfort, and significant downtime. Not so with veneers – for a specific group of patients, veneers can provide significant cosmetic improvement without some of the drawbacks associated with other dental procedures.

When to Choose Veneers

Veneers improve the appearance of existing teeth. They are a good option for men or women bothered by chipped teeth, irregularly shaped teeth, or gaps between their teeth. If this sounds like you, I encourage you to meet with a cosmetic dentist and find out if veneers can accomplish your goals.

If you have missing teeth, you may want to consider dental bridges or dental implants in Beverly Hills. Even if you need dental implants, you may also be a candidate for veneers on some of your teeth. A skilled cosmetic dentist will be able to address a variety of complex dental issues, combining treatment techniques to achieve comprehensive improvement.

Getting Veneers

Getting your veneers is relatively simple, although several office visits are required.

• Your first visit: Outer tooth enamel will be roughened so that it is better suited for bonding. Impressions will be taken of your teeth so that a dental lab can create your veneers.
• Your second visit: When your veneers are ready, you will visit your dentist or periodontist to try them on and make sure they fit properly and are the right size and color.
• Additional visits: You should be happy with your new smile, so it’s important to “get it right” with your veneers. Don’t hesitate to ask for additional shaping of your veneers, even if it means you have to schedule another appointment.

As you can see, veneers are a great option for certain improvements. Beautiful teeth are an essential component of any healthy and vibrant smile.

A “Mommy Makeover” can be very rewarding, helping women regain their pre-baby figure (and their self-confidence). Many Mommy Makeover patients feel that they get a new lease on life – and that’s a truly wonderful thing. But what about dads? They stay up with fussy babies, change diapers, and get worn out too. While it’s not as common, the “Daddy Makeover” does exist, and the procedures men tend to choose for their cosmetic enhancement may surprise you.

Tummy tucks are usually included in my Sacramento Mommy Makeovers. Tummy tucks can reduce excess skin and fat in the midsection and mend separated abdominal muscles – conditions encountered by most moms. But women aren’t the only ones frustrated by the changes they see in their midsection; men may also benefit from a tummy tuck procedure.

I’ve found that liposuction is often an even better body contouring procedure for most men because it can address love handles, male breasts, and other areas besides the abdomen. I can adjust the liposuction procedure specifically for the areas that concern men the most.

Most men aren’t just worried about the changes they see in their bodies – they’re unhappy about changes in their faces as well. For a refreshed, stronger, and more virile look, men may want to consider eyelid surgery, a brow lift, chin augmentation, or a face lift.

As you can see, a skilled plastic surgeon can help men get exactly the kind of makeover they want. For slight improvements or more dramatic changes, Daddy Makeovers just might be the next big thing.

A 10-year Danish study released in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that the location of body fat in middle-aged women and men affects their risk of developing blood clots. As a plastic surgeon who specializes in Sacramento body contouring procedures, I found one highlight of the study particularly interesting: women are at higher risk for blood clots when they carry extra pounds on their hips, while men are at elevated risk when fat is around the waist.

When discussing body contouring procedures with my patients I often explain how that extra weight is making physical demands on their body. I take the time to find out what areas of the body my patients are most concerned about from a cosmetic perspective, but I also make an extra effort to educate them about how these procedures can contribute to staying fit and healthy.

Other Key Highlights of the Study

• The risk of life-threatening blood clots increases with obesity, but may also depend on the location of excess body fat and gender.
• The results challenge research that has suggested increased hip circumference is protective against blood clots.

It has become quite clear to most physicians that obesity has numerous negative effects on the body, making it all the more frightening that obesity has become an epidemic in America. Even people who are overweight need to look at this study carefully and consider that those few extra pounds – if in the wrong spot – can increase their risk for a potentially life-threatening condition.

This year, the oldest of the Baby Boomer generation will be turning 64 years old according to the U.S. Census Bureau. We’ve all heard of this generation of Americans born after World War II between 1946 and 1964, and now some people are talking about what they’re calling a “Baby Boomer Face Lift.” What is this procedure all about?

Otherwise known as a short-scar or mini-face lift, the “Baby Boomer” face lift is a quicker, less invasive, and more affordable alternative to a traditional face lift, and can be appropriate for certain patients in their 40s and 50s in particular who do not need as extensive surgical correction as a traditional face lift provides.

This type of face lift in Dallas uses significantly smaller incisions, ending at the earlobe so that scarring behind the earis largely or completely eliminated.

Even if they don’t have a “Baby Boomer” procedure, more and more people in the 40-65 age bracket are considering facial rejuvenation. That’s not just what I’m seeing, but also a national trend, at least according to researchers from Boston University School of Medicine and the Laser and Skin Cancer Center of Indiana. They found a dramatic increase in procedures performed and patient demand for dermatologic health care since 2000, and I expect the same holds true for facial cosmetic surgery.

What do you think? Will Boomers continue to take advantage of cosmetic surgery in the years to come?

Despite the argument that comes up from time to time (and currently is being forwarded by some professionals in the tanning industry), it’s not just wealthy Americans who benefit from cosmetic surgery. In fact, the majority of people choosing cosmetic surgery fall squarely in the middle class.

Many in the tanning industry are upset now that a tax in the health care legislation making its way through Congress has been changed from a tax on cosmetic procedures to a tax on tanning bed sessions. Instead of fighting the tax on its merits (or lack thereof), some are pointing the finger back at cosmetic plastic surgery. In the Dallas market where I see patients, people come from all walks of life, making the stereotype of the wealthy housewife that much more offensive and out of touch with reality.

Just One Example

As women age, despite social status or tax bracket, their bodies change. For most women, this becomes evident with drooping or sagging breasts. As with many signs of aging, there’s a cosmetic surgery procedure to combat this change: a breast lift. My breast lift patients – who, by the way, represent a broad socioeconomic range – discover a whole new confidence once they have their youthful breasts back. It’s a change that enriches the rest of their lives and is as meaningful for women without a lot of money as it is for very wealthy women.

The so-called “Bo-tax” didn’t make it into the healthcare reform legislation because enough people all across the country recognized its fundamental unfairness. Congress made the right call, keeping cosmetic surgery procedures affordable for the broad range of women and men choosing them.