Brian P. Maloney MD,FACS

I grew up in a small rural Ohio town called Tiffin. When I went to high school in the seventies my haircut as well as my friends' was straight. The length varied based on the bowl that was placed over our heads for haircuts.

When I was a senior my neighbor came over to my house and trimmed my hair in the kitchen-no buzz cut and barber pole for me any more. Style was born! Within limits, that is. No one would ever think of highlighting or coloring his hair. One high school boy came to school with a perm. Pretty boy took so much ridicule he never came back wavy.

Fast forward to 2002. I was talking at career day at middle school about being a doctor and was amazed to see all the little Ricky Martins complete with highlighted, permed hair. Wow, how things had changed in just the few years since I was there!

My dad was a hardworking engineer who would never think about going to a doctor unless it was life- threatening. This year he surprised me when he asked me if I would remove the excess skin around his eyes. His reasons were to help him see better-- might as well do the lowers so he would look better.

All the signs are pointing to it from middle school to the senior citizens (or as we call them ‘seasoned citizens'). This is the ‘Year of the Male.' Ladies and gentlemen, watch out! Bond is back with more special tools than ever to help guys look their best

Male Grooming
Male hairstyles have advanced from ponytails and longer styles to shorter spiked hair. Men can now comfortably choose a myriad of hairstyles including perms and color. And this year we will most likely see reincarnated Beatles or other rock stars

Gel is the gold standard, not only to shape and hold but add thickness. For the millions of men starting to lose their hair, hair gel can be a lifesaver. If hair loss is a concern eat healthily. A diet with a lot of saturated fats from red meat and processed foods can result in increased hair loss hormones.

Eyebrow grooming and nose hair trimming are a necessity for the well put-together male. Hair is also not wanted on the neck and back. Hair removal lasers are getting better but are still very expensive. Waxing is probably a better alternative than duct tape.

Male skin is thicker, has a beard, and is very different than female skin. No more applying ladies' lotions. Look for the macho lines: tough enough for results, gentle enough for him. Sunscreens are the cornerstone of anti-aging. Clear gel sunscreens are back and great for guys-no oily feel or perfume-y smell.

A Million Male Procedures
A million men had a cosmetic procedure in 2001 according to the plastic surgery information service. In 2003 this number is going to be much greater.

In my practice approximately one third of my patients are men. The results are getting better and people are seeing them. In the past many doctors would not recognize the differences between female beauty and male attractiveness. The end result would often be a male with high arched brows, or wide-open upper eyelids, or a scooped-out nasal bridge-giving the person an unnatural operated-on look.

A main reason cosmetic surgery is so popular with men is that the combination of improved minimal incision techniques with medical aesthetician services can dramatically reduce the recovery time. Aestheticians help to prepare the skin for surgery. After surgery aestheticians perform lymphatic drainage treatments to help mobilize swelling. Thicker male skin makes bruising less common, but swelling can make lymphatic drainage an essential step for speedy recovery.

Some of t he most common surgeries for men are rhinoplasty or reshaping the nose; eyelift; hair restoration; facelift; liposuction; and gynecomastia (removal of fatty breast tissue).

Another impetus for men receiving cosmetic surgery is that GenXers see the aging Baby Boomers and are determined to stave off any signs of aging. Men tend to focus on smaller, quicker procedures, holding off larger procedures until necessary to keep that competitive edge.

BOTOX (Allergan) is king. Last year over 1.6 million people had BOTOX; approximately 15-20% were men. It is quick and easy with virtually no down time-a working man's fountain of youth

Collagen is the old gold standard for wrinkle filling. Since it comes from a cow it requires a skin test and then a 30-day waiting period. In the Year of the Male watch for Cymetra (Lifecell) and hyaluronic acids to fill wrinkles quickly.

2003 is the year of the Ram in the Chinese calendar; however it may be appropriately called the Year of the Male in the realm of youth-enhancing cosmetic procedures. Men have broken through and are realizing the importance of keeping their edge both on a personal and professional level.

Dr. Brian P. Maloney
Facial Plastic Surgeon
Atlanta, GA