When you think about cosmetic surgery, you might not immediately think about men. But as June commemorates Men’s Health Month, there’s no better time to tackle the taboo around male aesthetic surgery. A new report from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reveals that more than 1.3 million cosmetic procedures were performed on men last year, representing a 29 percent increase since 2000.

Facelift and Necklift Procedures for Men

Plastic surgery has become a common Father’s Day request as more men consider a surgical assist to enhance their physique. One popular procedure is a necklift–aka a facelift–to address extra neck skin. Hidden incisions are made around the ears, and the skin of the lower jawline and mid-neck is tightened. Alan, a financial advisor working in Akron’s downtown, sought facial plastic surgeon Dr. Diana Ponsky for this very issue.  “The extra skin has always bothered me,” he said. “Nothing I did got rid of it, so I decided to do something about it.”  

Nor is he the first. Dr. Ponsky finds that more men seek plastic surgery these days to gain professional advantage. It helps them feel more confident about competing in the workplace and advancing in their careers. With more than 200,000 cosmetic surgical procedures performed on men in 2018, rhinoplasty was the most popular, followed by eyelid surgery and liposuction. Dr. Ponsky is convinced facelifts will be next to rise up!

As surgery becomes more popularized, an open dialogue about male aesthetic surgery is finally becoming acceptable. 

With the rise of social media, information about procedures has become more widely accessible, and allowed for more private discussions around procedures. Advancements in the types of fillers and the procedures allow for “tweaks” like Botox and tissue fillers rather than full procedures. The latest data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons shows that Botox use is up more than 800 percent since 2000, and the use of soft tissue fillers is up 300 percent. ”Mini” facelifts, which take a more incremental approach to the procedure by focusing on eyes, foreheads, chins, or cheeks, have also grown in popularity. 

These kinds of procedures span all age ranges. The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery recently identified a trend called “prejuvenation,” where men and women in their 20s and 30s seek to get ahead of aging by filling or lifting their faces before wrinkles and sagging can even start. But for those in their 50s and beyond, they’re finally opening up to surgical enhancements. Alan admits there was nothing extraordinary about the procedure. “If you had a big lesion on your face that stole all the attention, you’d get it removed in a second,” he said. “What’s the difference between that and a neck problem?”

Fun Facelifts/Necklift Facts:

• Recovery from necklifts/lower facelifts is about 2 weeks.
• Stitches are removed in 7-10 days.
• No exercising is allowed for 2 weeks, and it often takes 2 weeks for you to return to social activities.

Facial Plastic Surgery Procedures for Men with Dr. Diana Ponsky

Dr. Diana Ponsky is a Cleveland-based facial plastic surgeon who is double board-certified in facial plastic surgery and otolaryngology.  She has performed countless facelift and necklift procedures in the Beachwood Ohio office, as well as in the surgery centers. If you’re interested in a facelift or necklift, schedule a consultation!