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Men and cosmetic
surgery
Our society places a high value on looking
young and fit. Today, men of all ages and
all walks of life are requesting plastic
surgery for cosmetic reasons. Men's goals
include a more balanced nose, a rejuvenated
face, a trimmer waistline. The procedures
used to achieve these goals must take into
consideration factors such as skin
thickness, beard growth, or body type.
Facial surgery
In general, it's known that male facial skin
has a richer blood supply than female facial
skin. Male faces bleed more during surgery
and are at greater risk for forming a
temporary collection or pooling of blood
under the skin, called a hematoma, after
surgery. Also, any scarring that may result
from surgery may be more difficult for men
to hide, since they don't wear make-up or
style their hair toward their faces, as many
women do. Hair growth and beard growth may
play a major role in the outcome of a
facelift. If you are balding or have
thinning hair, surgical artistry may be
required to hide the facelift incision,
especially in the temple area. If the
hair-bearing skin of your upper neck is
pulled behind your ears during surgery, you
may find that you must shave behind your
ears or the back of your neck. However,
sometimes electrolysis can correct this
problem. A fatty or "jowly" area beneath the
chin is also a concern for many men. In
younger patients, liposuction alone may be
sufficient to correct the problem. Older
patients may require a full facelift and
necklift, which may include the removal of
excess skin and tightening the platysma
muscles, which run down each side of the
neck. These muscles are usually thicker in
men than they are in women, but do not pose
a greater challenge for your plastic
surgeon.
"Refinishing" treatments for facial skin:
Shaving must be postponed for about 3 weeks
after a skin-smoothing treatment such as
chemical peel or dermabrasion. Because these
procedures strip away the surface layers of
skin, you can expect your face to remain
sensitive, swollen, and bright pink for
several weeks following surgery.
Gynecomastia
Breast reduction surgery for men. Enlarged
male breast is quite common and affects one
or both sides of the chest. Removal of fatty
tissue and skin will reduce and firm up
surrounding tissue.
Gynecomastia is a condition in which males
develop enlargement of the breast. Male
breast enlargement is often seen during
puberty but commonly resolves spontaneously.
In those cases where the male breast remains
enlarged surgery may be indicated.
Gynecomastia is quite common in adolescents
and is often first noted at the onset of
puberty. The medical literature reports
rates as low as 8% and as high as 65%.
Most of these cases are due to changes in
the hormonal secretion with temporary excess
of estrogen like substances or relative
deficiencies of testosterone like
substances. This imbalance can lead to
temporary increases in the amount of ductal
tissue present on one or both sides. The
majority of cases show enlargement in both
sides. The degree of enlargement varies
widely but in the most severe cases C or D
cup breasts may be present. The milder cases
usually resolve in 3 months to a year
although it is not unusual to see some
breast enlargement for up to three years. By
the late teens most of these patients will
have normal appearing male breasts without
any form of treatment. Because young boys
are reluctant to discuss their concerns they
are likely to simply try to hide their
abnormal appearance with clothing. They may
try to avoid gym classes, athletic
activities, and swimming or beach
activities.
While most gynecomastia is seen in
adolescence and resolves without treatment
some cases are the result of endocrine gland
malfunction or tumors. Some types of liver
disease and cancers of several types can
produce gynecomastia.
Some cases are due to congenital syndromes
and others may be related to drug use such
as steroids or marijuana. There is a second
peak in incidence late in life and here the
risk of ductal carcinoma of the breast must
be a stronger consideration so that biopsy
of the breast may be necessary.
When gynecomastia is severe, when it
persists, and in those cases where there is
suspicion of malignancy surgical treatment
may be indicated.
In most cases the incisions for this
operation can be placed just inside the
areolar border where they are less likely to
be conspicuous. The glandular tissue must be
removed. This firm fibrous tissue extends
from the nipple areolar complex down to the
surface of the pectoral muscle beneath. In
some cases it is helpful to use liposuction
to remove some of the fatty tissue which
always surrounds this ductal tissue. Without
this liposuction some patients would have a
"donut" shaped defect after removal of the
ductal tissue.
Complications
The most common complication following
surgical removal of the ductal tissue is
hematoma. When severe this could lead to a
second operation to drain the collection of
blood . Some residual deformity of the
nipple areolar area may remain despite the
best efforts of the surgeon. With any
operation a wound infection could occur.
Inadvertent injury to the blood supply of
the nipple areolar region could result in
loss of skin in the nipple areolar area.
There would be the usual anesthetic risks
associated with any surgical procedure.
These complications and other even rarer
complications do not occur often and the
vast majority of patients undergoing this
operation are very pleased and adopt a more
normal life style with regard to exposure of
the chest in normal social situations such
as the beach.
The information on this web site is only
intended as an introduction to this
procedure and should not be used to
determine whether you will have the
procedure performed nor as a guarantee of
the result.
The best method of determining your personal
options is to schedule a personal
consultation with Dr. Makki. He will be able
to answer specific questions related to your
situation.
Please don't hesitate to call for any
questions that you might have
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