Today's Fathers - Tips on Staying Youthful

Serving Chattanooga, Tennessee

une 15th is Father's Day. It is one of my favorite days because it reminds me of the best part of my life - being a father to my two beautiful daughters. Today's fathers have a new perspective on keeping up with their very active wives and children. Most want to maintain healthy lifestyles so that they can share as much time with their families as possible. Regular strenuous exercise can act like a fountain of youth to restore a sense of well being and really turn back the clock.

May's edition of Plastic Surgery News indicates that cosmetic surgery procedures for men have also been increasing steadily. Men now make up 9% of the plastic surgery patient population. This number is up 9% since the year 2000. Many men are influenced by their spouses to consider cosmetic surgery. Most men just want to look as good as they feel.

The top three cosmetic procedures for men in 2007 were nose reshaping, eyelid surgery, and liposuction. Minimally invasive procedures like BOTOX injections and wrinkle filling injections have also increased dramatically.

For most men, time away from work is a significant consideration. The use of injectables can go a long way to improving a wide variety of aesthetic problems without any down time. BOTOX, in experienced hands, can improve eyebrow position and widen the eyes to produce a more alert look. Eyebrow motion should be maintained and caution should be taken to avoid an overdone look which appears waxy and artificial. A wide variety of filler substances are now available to add volume to a thinned face and help correct creases. All fillers have strengths and weaknesses. Understanding the nature of the product, its cost, and its longevity are crucial to each products use. We have found the Hyaluronic acids (RESTYLANE, JUVEDERM) to be routinely safe and predictable. SCULPTRA injections -sometimes known as a liquid facelift- require multiple injection sessions, but are very effective at correcting facial volume losses.

Nasal reshaping (rhinoplasty) was the top male cosmetic surgical procedure of2007. I think that rhinoplasty has been undersold for years in terms of its ability to transform the aesthetics of the male face. A well-shaped nose lends itself to a generally more youthful appearance. Modem rhinoplasty techniques take into account both functional and cosmetic aspects of the nose. Depending upon the extent of the correction, a rhinoplasty may require as little as a weekend away from the office. Eyelid surgery comes in as a close second, and no two techniques pack a greater cosmetic punch for the time needed to recover then rhinoplasty and blepharoplasty.

Cosmetic eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) focuses on problems such as drooping upper eyelids and baggy lower eyelids. Many patients simply note that their spouses and friends tell them that they look tired all the time. Blepharoplasty can be performed on just the upper or lower lids or both at the same time. The extent of the intervention will predict how much time it will take to recuperate. I have had upper blepharoplasty patients return to work after two or three days.

Finally, we could not end a discussion on male cosmetic surgery without mentioning liposuction. Far and away the areas which are of most concern to men are the abdomen and love handles. It seems that despite appropriate diet and dutiful trips to the gym that these sites can be difficult to slim down. Liposuction was designed for just this type of localized management of fatty deposits. Performed under sedation, conservative liposuction in healthy patients requires very little time away from a busy schedule.

Men who have been considering sprucing up a bit with some cosmetic surgery are not alone. Youthful, subtle, and natural results are the keys to successful techniques and happy patients. Happy Father's Day.