It is not just women but even men who are now opting for plastic surgery to enhance their appearence, says Dr Hema Yadav, Cosmetic, Hair Transplant and laser Surgeon
With the increase in emphasis on looking young and beautiful, more and more people are making a beeline to the nearest plastic surgeon. But if you thought that only women are vain, here is a reality check. A trend that has been noticed over recent years is an increase in the number of men seeking plastic surgery to enhance their appearence.
A report from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (Baaps) last year pointed out that the number of men choosing to go under the knife has risen by over 110 per cent since 2000.
And it is not surprising, since in today’s fast-paced world, men, much like women, are being increasingly sexualised in the media, which leaves them feeling inadequate about their body or appearance. The unnecessary pressure on both the sexes to look younger and like the celebrities, whose picture-perfect and air brushed images are splashed across magazines and TV screens every day, makes them opt for plastic surgery.
Skin tightening procedures have increased in recent years as they provide non-surgical and surgical alternatives for correcting skin laxity and improving skin quality. There are different devices and technology to provide non-invasive skin tightening solutions for mild to moderate cases and surgical correction is only used for more severe cases.
After evaluating the patient’s skin quality and the area to be treated, plastic surgeons choose the option that is best suited for them and recommend an approach based upon their aesthetic goals.
There are several common non-surgical procedures. The Radio frequency and Intense Pulsed light (IPl) treatment heats only the deep layer of the skin. The epidermis or outer skin layer is not damaged. The body’s natural wound healing response causes collagen changes in the skin which results in skin tightening. A series of treatments is usually performed.
Another treatment called Ultrasound focusses ultrasonic energy to the dermal layer (the deep layer of your skin). The skin above the focus point and tissue below are protected. New collagen growth is stimulated, which gradually lifts and tightens the skin. In this too, like radiofrequency and IPl, multiple treatments may be needed.
The surgical procedures that are conducted use injectible fillers which can minimise sagging, fine lines and wrinkles. The Dermal Fluid Face Fillers are used when one begins to age. Collagen and fat from the skin begin to loosen and this results in the skin sagging. With age, our skin becomes thinner and more wrinkled and lined. The dermal fillers fill up these areas that need to be plumped making the skin look firmer and restoring the formal youthful appearance and looks. Dermal fillers come in various thicknesses and thicker product needs to be injected into the dermis resulting in plumping out fine to deep lines and wrinkles. FDA approved materials for the fillers include Allergan, Juvederm and Voluma.
Another surgical procedure includes nano fat transfer which is used to fill in the irregularities and grooves that occur on the face.
A facelift surgery improves the visible signs of ageing in the face and neck to revitalise the face and lend you a more youthful look without distorting or changing your facial features. It is performed by eliminating the excess fat, tightening the muscles beneath the skin of the face and neck, and removes any sagging skin. The effects of a facelift usually last for seven to ten years.
Among men, eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), which gives one of the best outcomes in male aesthetic surgery, is one of the popular procedures. During blepharoplasty, skin is removed from the upper eyelid and fat is trimmed off before closing the incision with a single stitch. Over time, the scars are barely visible.
Among ageing men, blepharoplasty is the most common procedure, as well as removing “turkey neck” (loose skin under the chin). A simple tightening and removing of excess skin from the neck is the best solution for turkey neck.
Ageing is a process that is inevitable. The best way to maintain a healthy skin is a regular regime of exercise followed everyday; maintaining a healthy and stable body weight; no smoking and limited drinking; consumption of healthy mixture of citric fruits and nuts like hazel nuts, almonds and brazilnuts. Carrots and tomatoes also go a long way in keeping your skin young and healthy.