We are starting to see a “Man-Slide.”
Men are seeking more cosmetic procedures than ever, but according to the latest statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) the surgical procedures have declined over the last 16 years while the minimally invasive procedures have been climbing. Men made up 13% of cosmetic surgery patients last year and 8% of the total in the category of “cosmetic minimally invasive procedures.” Although surgical demand among men has decreased 45% since 2000, their demand for minimally invasive approaches has gone up 74% according to the ASPS’s 2016 Plastic Surgery Statistics Report.
According to the American Society of Dermatologic Surgeons, (ASDS), the top minimally invasive male procedure is botulinum toxin type A , which is up 4% from 2015 to 447,000 procedures performed in 2016. In fact, botulinum neuromodulator toxin procedures for men soared 376% from 2000 to 2016.
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Xeomin Wrinkle Blocker/Relaxer
Dr. Burroughs placed botulinum to relax the patient’s arched eyebrows. He said he has always arched his brows, but wanted them to look less “sinister.” He was pleased it still looked like him, but with less arching.
In May 2017, the ASDS reported on its 2016 statistics, suggesting, in the last five years, men receiving wrinkle-blockers has increased 9%, and men using soft-tissue dermal fillers (e.g., Radiesse, Restylane, Belotero) grew from 2% to 9%. Dr. Burroughs notes these wrinkle filler and wrinkle relaxers are popular among men because results are quickly achieved with no downtime.
Another top aesthetic procedure among men is noninvasive body contouring with CoolSculpting (Zeltiq Aesthetics) or BodyFX (Inmode). These two have minimal downtime to no downtime, and we are finding men have uniquely specific needs when it comes to non-invasive body contouring compared to women. Dr. Burroughs offers BodyFX as it has superior results as it reduces fat, but also tightens the skin simultaneously as compared to CoolSculpting.
The numbers of men pursuing cosmetic procedures might just be getting started. There are many more who want it, but haven’t yet had it. The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) conducted a survey of 618 men and found nearly a third, 31%, said they are extremely likely to consider a surgical or nonsurgical cosmetic procedure.
Men can be nearly as vane as women when it comes to their looks, but they often are more hesitant to seek cosmetic procedures or talk about having had cosmetic procedures. Dr. Burroughs has noted many of his aesthetic male patients are driven in by their spouse or partner, who will often come in during the consultation for encouragement and often drive the consultation conversation. Another group are those that have remained single or are newly single, and wish to be more competitive on the social scene. A third group Dr. Burroughs has noted are those in a job transition that suddenly have some downtime, and wish to look their best in a competitive work place landscape.
Men typically are less tolerant of downtime, and are not as pain tolerant as their female counterparts. Men, in general, in Dr. Burroughs’ practice often come in for consultation for aged eyelid changes such as sagging excess upper eyelid skin and lower eyelid bagginess. Many are also bothered by wrinkles, but not to the same extent as women are. Dr. Burroughs is also starting to see more men seeking lower facial rejuvenation with the surgical facelifts he performs. Minimally invasive non-surgical facelifts with Facetite (Inmode) has also become very popular at Springs Aesthetics since there is no downtime and often no bruising.
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Sample Male Cosmetic Eyelid Surgery
Dr. Burroughs performed cosmetic eyelid surgery on this patient to improve the tired, baggy appearance of the eyelids.
Though men, just like women, are seeking cosmetic improvements without surgery or downtime, tend to prefer longer-lasting results and don’t like to come in as often as women, who often are happy to come in on a monthly basis for DermalInfusion facial peels or non-invasive skin tightening like Forma. Forma uses radio-frequency heat to remodel and stimulate collagenesis to help lift and tighten the skin. They require a series of 6-8 treatments followed by a maintenance cycle, but they are as comfortable as a warm facial massage and produce outstanding results in ideal candidates. Because they require more frequent treatments they are more popular among our female patients, according to Dr. Burroughs.
Men, just like women, also develop areas of facial hollowing that can be improved with facial volumizing and wrinkle fillers (e.g., Radiesse, Restylane) as well as fat transfer to improve depressions and midface hollows. Men want to look rested, energetic and not be viewed as the “old guy in the office.”
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Radiesse Filler & Facetite
Dr. Burroughs placed Radiesse dermal filler to help with areas of hollowing in his cheeks, and Facetite non-surgical facelifting was done to reduce his very heavy jowls as he did not want ot undergo a surgical facelift. This photo was taken 1 month out, so his Facetite results continue to rapidly improve over another 2 months and lasts 3-4 years.
Men often aren’t as comfortable in spas or cosmetic practices solely designed for women in mind. They don’t tolerate long wait times, and it’s more about gaining a desired result and less about the overall experience. They are less pain-tolerant, and often have less downtime to spare.
Men in their early 30s to 40s are starting to come in to look better, less tired, and to help prevent unwanted changes they have seen in their parents or older siblings. They are coming in for wrinkle blocking neuromodulator (e.g., Xeomin, Dysport) treatments to relax the lines around their eyes and forehead; to have filler injections to fill areas that have started to sink in under the eyes and cheeks; and many for body sculpting.
Dr. Burroughs is an avid fitness enthusiast and is seeing a growing trend of men hitting the gyms and even attending traditionally female-filled workout classes. They see progress towards their physical goals, but often have persistent areas of troublesome fat or sagging that they want addressed. Some who have undergone substantial weight loss develop facial sagging and jowling that they want improved. Tattoos placed in their younger years begin to become unwanted, and Dr. Burroughs is even seeing men 50 and older coming in to address areas of facial or under eye hollowing and/or bagginess addressed with dermal fillers, which Dr. Burroughs has coined as a “filler blepharoplasty.”
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Sample Filler Blepharoplasty
Patient of Dr. John Burroughs. This patient had unwanted prominent hollowing under his left eye and a dark circle. Following Belotero hyaluronic acid filler he has been very pleased. His results have lasted over 12 months. He also gets his wrinkles and crow’s feet treated with Xeomin neuromodulator injections several times a year.
Wrinkle relaxing neuromodulators are growing in popularity among men as well as body contouring and there are a growing number of effective hair-restoration strategies driving men in for cosmetic services. Dr. Burroughs after consulting with trusted friends and colleagues nation-wide in the fields of aesthetic medicine will be adding platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) treatments for his facial treatments and hair-restoration procedures.
In addition to the Forma nonsurgical facial tightening is radio-frequency based Facetite that can give facial lifting that lasts for several years in a minimally invasive approach.
Hyperhidrosis (excess sweating) treatments are growing in popularity because they work and also help in reducing unwanted odor. Dr. Burroughs has been treating hyperhidrosis treatments for years with botulinum neuromodulators, but the improvements only last up to a year. An exciting new development in the last few years are novel long-lasting sweat-specific treatments like Miradry (Miramar Labs), which are showing to be very effective. Less well-known Fractora (Inmode) available at Springs Aesthetics, which was primarily designed to provide non-ablative resurfacing of the skin is also effective for these treatments.
Some men are even getting facials these days, and at Springs Aesthetics our DermalInfusion Silk Peels are helpful for men with dry skin or facial acne issues. We are seeing a growing number of men that like pampering, and especially if it serves a purpose and is delivered in a modified, more masculine manner to their female counterparts. Also, helpful for old acne or chicken-pox scarring is Fractora resurfacing treatments, which can also help address active acne outbreaks. Skin pigmentation concerns can also be addressed through light-based photofacials such as Lumecca, which is an intense-pulsed light device. Dr. Burroughs chose Lumecca as it was among the most powerful IPL on the market, yet it has a cooling tip to make it more comfortable and it delivers results in three treatments that rival others that can take 4-6 treatments. This is important for men that desire quicker results, and less disruption to their schedule to come in for treatments.
Although men have arrived to the aesthetic scene a bit later than women their numbers are growing. The reasons are multiple and include: 1) they are living more active and longer lives; 2) they are working longer and wish to remain competitive in the work place; 3) the high rate of divorce is leading men to look for new partners so maintaining a look of vitality, attractiveness, and youthfulness is very important; and 4) the greater social-consciousness of looking your best is likely to keep growing.
AAFPRS has called this the growing “man”tenance trend, and as more men seek cosmetic procedures and surgery greater social acceptance will follow. Additionally, more men are starting to follow a skincare regimen to help restore sun damage and avoid more going forward. Dr. Burroughs recommends SkinCeuticals as their cosmeceutical products are based upon clinically-based research to provide real results. Forward thinking cosmetic practices, like Springs Aesthetics, are recognizing this trend and making changes to accommodate this segment of the population. Primary to our mission at Springs Aesthetics is to help both women and men look and feel their best about their appearances as possible.
John R. Burroughs, M.D., July 2017