Why are Botox and Restylane becoming increasing popular among men?

Cosmetic fillers such as Botox and Restylane are becoming increasingly popular among men in their twenties and early thirties. A 2010 report by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons revealed that the fastest growing nonsurgical procedures sought out by men aged 20 to 29 are injections of Botox and soft tissue fillers like Juvederm and Restylane.

These treatments are fairly non-aggressive up, they have little or no downtime and the results are subtle. There are some preventive aspects to fillers as well. By taking care of wrinkles early, it makes it harder for them to reappear later in life. The metrosexual phenomenon has destigmatized many grooming treatments, such as facials and pedicures that rest why lane were once considered strictly by women. Cosmetic procedures such as fillers have tended until recently to remain squarely in the realm of women who hold Botox parties the way women used to host and attend Tupperware parties. So why are young men suddenly opened to wrinkle fillers and Botox? Is it any wonder that guys who really shouldn’t be worrying about looking old are suddenly feeling over the hill,  when they are bombarded by advertising showing young men who look well-rested and have no wrinkle lines?

Here is a schematic of the male face and the various regions where cosmetic enhancement is most viable.

In the image above, we’ve provided a facial planning chart for men. We’ve identified the top 10 areas on a male’s face where cosmetic fillers can improve your appearance. If you’re interested in these procedures, we suggest you take a minute and review the diagram to see which areas require the most attention. This way, your consultation with Dr. Sharma can focus on the areas that you feel require the most attention first.

Although most male-grooming companies have moved well beyond deodorant and shaving cream offering anti-aging products that run the spectrum from face wash to eye creams. However, in today’s world, many guys would rather drop a few hundred dollars on a few quick and relatively painless jabs from a needle to achieve that youthful look. They simply don’t have the time to wait for some magical creams to work.

The results achieved by fillers are going to be pretty subtle, however, but they would certainly effect how you feel about yourself. The confidence such treatments can instill is another benefit of cosmetic fillers.

What is a hyaluronic acid?

According to The American Society of  Plastic Surgeons , hyaluronic acid is a natural substance found in your body. High concentrations can be found in fluid surrounding the eyes and other soft connective tissues. It can also be found in some cartilage, joint fluids, as well as skin tissue. It is extracted and reformulated by scientists in a laboratory and now has become one of the most popular kinds of injectable filler. Hyaluronic acid is not derived from animal sources.


What areas can Restylane treat?
• From the nose to mouth (nasolabial folds)
• between the eyes (glabella)
• lips (to add shape and volume)

If you're a man and you're interested in learning more about cosmetic fillers and how they can improve your appearance, please give my office a call at (305) 456-5727 and I'll be happy to discuss with you which cosmetic filler product is best for you.

Dr. Sharma has appeared on television discussing facial plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery.
He is a Double Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon with offices
in Coral Gables and The Palm Beaches.

What is Facial Enhancement using Fat Transfer?

Fat Transfer or fat grafting usually involves harvesting fat from one part of the body, purifying it and then carefully re-injecting it into the area needing attention. Fat injected into areas that require volume enhancement produce safe, long-lasting, and natural appearing results. There is no other field of medicine which demonstrates the degree of innovation that is seen in plastic surgery. The concepts and techniques used are dynamic and constantly seek to improve efficiency, comfort and safety in the interest of the patient.

One of the most significant trends today is the replacement and enhancement of facial volume. It has been shown that a reduction in fullness of the cheek area gives people that “aging” look. This hollow look usually worsens with age but can be present in younger people if they are genetically predisposed.

Hollow cheeks make people look:

1. Older

2. Sad

3. Tired

Restoring this lost volume will make a significant difference by creating a younger, fresh look. The overstretched look which can result from the common facelift may have fewer wrinkles, but does that person really look younger?

Who is a candidate?

Patients that are generally considered a good candidate for fat injection are in good health. If you have any history of abnormal bleeding, or swelling following a procedure then you should mention this during your consultation. If you’re a smoker, then this is something you should definitely disclose as well.

Patients interested in fat transfer do require a thorough consultation. A full history and physical exam will be required before your procedure. Pictures are taken before the procedure and an informed consent form must be obtained. Either local or general anesthesia may be used as every case is specific to the patients’ needs.

Some common side effects of fat transfer:

1. Swelling is the most common side effect and should settle down within several weeks

2. Bruising

3. Numbness

4. Slight asymmetry which should improve as swelling improves

5. Infection

6. Loss of volume

An alternative approach involves a procedure called fat transfer. In this technique, I take excess body fat from the abdomen or inner thigh using liposuction instruments. The fat is then prepared and concentrated under sterile conditions and carefully injected back into the areas of volume deficiency. The result is a permanent enhancement of that area without the risk of allergic reactions or possible complications with implant materials. Not only has fat transfer proven to be an excellent technique for enhancing the cheek area, but it’s also successful in improving jaw line definition (delaying the need for a facelift), improving the appearance of the upper and lower eyelids, and even enhancing temporal deficiencies (the sides of the forehead).

There is some evidence that fat transfer may help with overall skin quality, possibly due to the stem cells within the transferred fat. The discussion of the benefits of stem cells in controversial and I suggest you discuss these issues with your provider – preferably a Double Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon like me.

In the image above, I injected fat from the patient’s abdomen to her cheek areas. This patient also had excess skin removed from above and below her eyes (upper and lower blepharoplasty). Notice that two weeks after her surgery, her cheeks are visibly enhanced. Some swelling remains, however, it should subside within another week or two and she will begin to see the final results of her cheek enhancement.

It is a safe, conservative technique which if properly planned and performed gives a long-lasting result indistinguishable from your natural facial contours. To watch me perform fat transfer, please click this link to my YouTube Channel.

To contact my offices please call (305) 456-5727 and I’d be happy to answer any questions you might have about facial volume enhancement.