More men are electing to undergo facelifts than ever beforeโ€”an uptick that, according to Corey S. Maas, MD, President of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, comes down to self-confidence.

โ€œItโ€™s really a myth that this procedure is all about vanity,โ€ Dr. Maas says. โ€œNow that weโ€™re living longer lives, itโ€™s more about maintaining a look thatโ€™s commensurate with how youthful men are feeling in their 40s, 50s and 60s.โ€

Add to that the fact that men like Marc Jacobs are starting to open up about the work theyโ€™ve had done, and the stigma surrounding males and facial plastic surgery in general becomes smaller and smaller.

โ€œThe more both men and women are willing to talk about looking and feeling their best, the more facial plastic surgery becomes mainstream,โ€ Maas confirms. 

Perhaps unsurprisingly, men turn to facelifts for the same reasons as women: to reduce the jowling effect in the lower face while improving neck laxity. The difference? While women can address some of these concerns with less invasive procedures, men have fewer options.

โ€œMen have heavier and thicker skin than women, so while they can disguise some of these issues with a beard, no cosmetic procedure comes close to the efficacy of a facelift,โ€ Maas adds. 

As far as results are concerned, he notes that men can expect a stronger jawline, more sharply defined cheekbones, and a major reduction in both jowling and excess tissue around the mouth. And while neither men nor women want to look like theyโ€™ve had work done, Maas notes that the stigma, however small, surrounding facial plastic surgery for males is such that men tend to prioritize a natural look over anything else.

โ€œThe good news is that at this point, any facial plastic surgeon in our Academy can deliver a natural facelift,โ€ Maas says. โ€œWhether male or female, patients can expect a natural look that restores attractiveness to the face.โ€

To that end, credentials are of utmost importance when it comes to choosing a board-certified facial plastic surgeon who specializes in surgery of the face, head and neck.

[Source: AAFPRS]