You can schedule an online video consultation with Dr. Roxana Andra Lungoci by accessing this link: Consult Dr. Roxana Andra Lungoci
In general, when talking about cosmetic surgery, the vast majority of the topics refer to women. Not infrequently, information about certain interventions that various female public figures have resorted to is newsworthy. However, it is good to know that men also resort to cosmetic surgery, especially for practical reasons. And, sometimes, men's need to undergo cosmetic surgery is based on intimate motivations. Dr. Roxana Andra Lungoci, a specialist in plastic surgery, aesthetics and reconstructive microsurgery, who offers online consultations on the telemedicine platform Digital Clinics, gave us an informed point of view.
Writing about cosmetic surgery in men offers a fairly limited subject. Why do I say this? Because men resort to this type of surgery out of necessity, more than the need to beautify themselves. This involves several aspects. On the one hand, men resort to a more limited range of cosmetic interventions.
Among the surgeries that I will detail, upper blepharoplasty is the most popular among men. In addition, lower blepharoplasty, gynecomastia, liposuction and abdominoplasty can also be performed. On the other hand, a happy fact is that men always have realistic expectations and, if the surgery is successful, they have a 100% satisfaction rate. From my own experience, I can say that the most satisfied post-operative patients are men.
Blepharoplasty, as I mentioned, is the most common cosmetic surgery performed on men. What does this surgery consist of? Basically, excess skin is removed from the upper eyelid, skin that, at the time of presentation to the doctor, is already so plentiful that, by pressing on the upper eyelid, it not only gives an aged appearance, but also narrows the field of vision.
Regarding the time of presentation for the intervention, we also found that men present themselves to the office much later than women, being constrained by necessity, especially when it comes to upper blepharoplasty. What men say at the consultation: "Doctor, it's not about beauty. It confuses me when driving or using the computer, especially if I'm a little tired, it's like I can't keep my eyes open anymore." It is a common problem among them. In a person who does not have excess tissue, the upper eyelid is normally approximately 20 mm from the lower edge of the eyebrow to the eyelashes. In most men, the eyelid is over 35 mm, which means approximately 15 mm excess needs to be removed.
Lower blepharoplasty consists of both removing excess skin and reducing the three fatty compartments that give the appearance of bags under the eyes, as well as strengthening the inferior orbicularis muscle. This type of intervention is more elective than necessary, the people who choose to have it are generally public figures for whom an eternally tired appearance is a disadvantage.
Gynecomastia is in second place in the top choices of men. It is resorted to by young people who, after puberty, due to hormonal disorders, have developed mammary glands. The specific fact is that, although men have mammary glands, just like women, this gland does not develop, it is hypertrophied. The fact that he has a developed mammary gland can represent a social stigma for men, who avoid going to the beach or swimming pool with friends, making it harder for them to develop relationships with people of the opposite sex. We conclude that it is also an intervention done out of necessity.
What does this intervention consist of? A 2cm incision is made, like a crescent, at the level of the brown area of the nipple (so that there is no post-operative scar). Through that incision, the mammary gland is dissected and excised and, if necessary, liposuction is also performed. This is frequently necessary. The important thing is that the young man who enters the door at the first consultation with a slightly hunched appearance, in an attempt to hide this excess gland, after the operation enters the door like a proud and happy rooster. If liposuction is also performed, the patient must, after the intervention, perform several sessions of lymphatic drainage massage, a procedure that is common after any liposuction.
In the case of this type of operation, there is no difference between women and men. In fact, we can say between girls and boys, since most patients for whom this type of surgery is performed are children. This surgery is performed on people who have protruding ears, that is, they have excess cartilage or they lack the fold at the level of the antihelix and, thus, the ears appear larger or further away from the head.
The surgical intervention consists of correcting these two problems, excision of the excess conchal cartilage and reattaching the ear to the skull or/and restoring the antihelix fold. It is recommended that otoplasty be performed before entering the community, that is, before the age of seven, because, unfortunately, some physical defects create the perfect ground for bullying, but after the age of three, for the safety of anesthesia.
In practice, we have found that, in adulthood, it is mainly men who request the intervention, since women are usually operated on from childhood, mothers being more attentive to the physical appearance of their daughters. Recovery after the intervention is very fast, the scar is in the fold between the ear and the skull, being practically invisible to anyone. The only inconvenience could be wearing a headband while sleeping for three months. In the first three weeks postoperatively it is worn non-stop.
As for abdominoplasty, in general, men who have gone through a weight loss process, chose to live a healthy lifestyle, after reaching critical moments - reaching weights of over 120 kg - request the intervention. Losing a large part of the weight, excess skin remains, and that skin becomes difficult to manipulate. Because of the folds, hygiene becomes precarious, choosing clothes difficult, and so does sex life. Practically, the intervention becomes a necessity, the removal of this abdominal skin apron being imperative.
My abdominoplasty cases also required liposuction for an ideal final effect, but I am convinced that there are also cases in which only abdominoplasty can be done. Very important! Liposuction is not a method of losing weight, but one of body shaping, meaning you have already lost weight and in some places there are areas where the body has not been sculpted as you would like. Only then is liposuction resorted to.
Phalloplasty is the augmentation of the male reproductive organ. In this case, unfortunately, 50% of men's desires and expectations cannot be fulfilled. Why? Because some of them want to have spherical implants (balls), in a situation where, on the market, there is nothing of this kind approved as a medical device (such as testicular implants, used for people who have had testicular tumors and had to have a testicle removed). The remaining 50% of men who want to have their organ thickened leave satisfied, because this is easily done with the help of hyaluronic acid. The results are satisfactory, both for men and for their partners. I, personally, choose not to perform this intervention, but in our clinic it is frequently performed, successfully, by my colleague, also a plastic surgeon.
In conclusion, I have noticed that men prefer to come to a female plastic surgeon, because they trust the female aesthetic sense, probably, which can only make me happy. The exception is phalloplasty, which is being replaced by labiaplasty – one of my favorite surgeries – an operation for which women 100% opt for a female surgeon.
You can schedule an online video consultation with Dr. Roxana Andra Lungoci by accessing this link: Consult Dr. Roxana Andra Lungoci
