From mommy makeovers to breast augmentation, it often seems that plastic surgery is designed for only one half of the population. But plenty of surgeries exist for guys, too. In fact, some types of male plastic surgery are designed just for guys — meaning they help take care of concerns men have, but that wouldn’t necessarily affect women.
If you’re a man considering surgery, get to know some of the more popular types of male plastic surgery and what they can do for you.
Male Breast Reduction
Although no one really wants to talk about it, enlarged male breasts, or gynecomastia, is a pretty common thing. Guys can develop enlarged breasts at any age, from infancy through older adulthood. Why those breasts develop can vary. Some males end up with increased breast tissue because of changes in hormone levels (this often occurs right after birth or during puberty). In some cases, outside factors, such as drinking lots of alcohol, using certain drugs or taking certain medications, can cause breast tissue to form or increase in size.
In some cases, the breasts will return to their usual size on their own. But in others, breast reduction, a type of male plastic surgery, might be required. During male breast reduction, a plastic surgeon will remove excess fat, skin and breast tissue from the chest area. The surgery might be performed on one or both breasts. It might involve liposuction to remove excess fat as well as cutting away the breast tissue and excess skin.
After the surgery, it’s usually a good idea to wear a compression garment around the chest to help improve results. Usually, initial recovery takes about a week, after which you’ll be able to go back to school, work or other regular activities.
Calf Implants
While calf implants aren’t exclusively for men, the procedure is one that tends to appeal more to male candidates than to female candidates. There are a couple of reasons why a guy might consider calf augmentation with implants. One is that the muscles of the calf aren’t particularly developed and a guy wants to make them more toned-looking and more prominent. Another reason is to add more definition to already muscular calves. Calf augmentation might also be performed to correct defects or injuries that have occurred after illness.
Depending on a guy’s preference or needs, the surgeon will either use silicone implants to enhance the calves or fat from the guy’s body. The surgery can augment one calf or both, depending on needs and preferences.
Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty is another surgery that’s not exclusively for males. But the technique a surgeon uses and the changes he makes to the nose will usually be different with male patients than with female patients. For example, the angle of the nasal tip is very different in men than in women. In women, a slightly upturned nasal tip is usually considered attractive. In men, a straighter or even slightly downturned tip is preferable.
When considering nasal surgery, it’s important that guys look for a surgeon who has experience performing rhinoplasty on male patients. The differences between the male and female nose are very subtle, but they are also very obvious. If a guy wants a nose that looks more masculine, it’s essential that he find a surgeon who knows what changes need to be made to the nose to achieve that.
Chin Augmentation
For some guys, chin augmentation and rhinoplasty go hand-in-hand. In other cases, chin augmentation might be an alternative to rhinoplasty. The size of the chin influences how large or small other facial features appear. A chin that’s very small or undefined can make a nose look overly large, for example.
Guys who are concerned about the size of their nose might in fact have a chin that’s at issue. A trained and experienced plastic surgeon can assess the shape and size of a man’s facial features and recommend the type of surgery that would best help that guy achieve his goals. In some cases, a chin augmentation on its own might be sufficient. In others, a combination of rhinoplasty and chin implants might be the way to go.
If you’re a guy who’s thinking about plastic surgery, the first step is to schedule a consultation with a board certified, experienced plastic surgeon. Dr. Paul Vitenas is a highly rated plastic surgeon who performs both facial and body procedures in Houston, Texas. To learn more about your surgical options, call 281-484-0088 today.