Male Plastic Surgery

The number of men undergoing plastic surgery has steadily increased in recent years. In fact, men currently make up 15 percent of all plastic surgery patients in the United States.
Here's some information on some of the more popular male plastic surgery procedures.
 
Here's some information on some of the more popular male plastic surgery procedures.
 
Male Plastic Surgery: Popular Areas
In recent years, the following plastic surgery procedures have been extremely popular with males:
  • blepharoplasty (eyelid lift)
  • gynecomastia surgery (male breast reduction)
  • hair transplantation
  • liposuction
  • pectoral augmentation
  • rhinoplasty (nose job).
Men have also increasingly are turning to non-surgical methods to enhance their appearances, including:
  • Botox® injections
  • chemical peels
  • collagen injections
  • laser hair removal
  • microdermabrasion.

Male Breast Reduction

While it may seem surprising that there is such a thing as male breast reduction, it's actually a common and extremely popular procedure. Male breast reduction surgery involves taking out the fat and excess skin in the breast area to give the male patient a smooth, flat chest. It can take one to two hours and involves minimal risks.
 
Men who suffer from gynecomastia, a condition that causes a man's breasts to develop excessively, often seek male breast reduction, as do men who have enlarged breasts due to:
  • alcoholism
  • cancer
  • certain medical conditions
  • drug use.
However, male breast reduction isn't recommended for those men who have developed enlarged breasts due to obesity.
 
A doctor will also insist that a man stops drinking or smoking marijuana before considering breast reduction, especially if one of these is causing the growth of the breasts in the first place. Sometimes, simply stopping these activities can cause the breasts to shrink on their own.

Pectoral Implants

While some men seek to shrink the size of their breasts, others want to bulk up their chest area. For these men, pectoral implants are sometimes the answer. Pectoral implants are basically the equivalent of breast implants for women, although inserting pectoral implants is much less invasive than inserting breast implants.
 
During a pectoral implant procedure, the surgeon places solid silicone implants over the pectoral muscles to increase their bulk. Though the implants will make the chest muscles appear larger, they won't increase muscle strength.

Liposuction in Males

A popular plastic surgery procedure for both men and women, liposuction involves removing fat from one or many areas of the body. A good surgeon, however, won't remove more than 10 percent of body fat from anywhere on the body. Removing more than this amount could put your life at risk.
 
Ideal candidates for liposuction are overweight by more than 25 percent but not more than 50 percent and are otherwise in good health.

Male Plastic Surgery Costs

Costs can vary widely depending on the type of male plastic surgery procedure that is performed. Here are some approximate prices:
  • Implants for pectorals, calves, abdominal muscles or the buttocks can range from $2,000 to $5,000.
  • Liposuction has one of the widest price ranges because it depends greatly on the extent of the surgery and how many sites of the body are being addressed. Expect to pay anywhere from $1,500 to $15,000.
  • Male breast reduction costs between $1,500 and $3,000.
  • Nose surgery tends cost approximately $3,000.

Resources

A Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Resource (n.d.). Male Plastic Surgery. Retrieved August 20, 2007, from the Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Resource: http://www.aboardcertifiedplasticsurgeonresource.com/plastic_
surgery/male.html.
 
Driver, Dustin (n.d.). Male Plastic Surgery. Retrieved August 20, 2007, from the Men's Portal Web site: http://www.askmen.com/sports/health_150/150_mens_health.
html.
 
Plastic Surgery Advisor (n.d.). Male Plastic Surgery. Retrieved August 20, 2007, from the Plastic Surgery Advisor Web site: http://www.plasticsurgeryadvisor.com/male-plastic-surgery/index.shtml.