Move over, ladies — men are increasingly going under the knife to enhance their looks, ushering in a bold new trend that’s shaking up the aesthetics industry.
The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) released its 2024 survey results this week, revealing that a striking 92% of its surgeons treated male patients last year, up 5% from 2023.
The Post spoke to Dr. Patrick J. Byrne, president of AAFPRS, to discuss the booming “man-esthetics” trend, from the most popular procedures to the issues driving men to the operating table.
“Men, like women, want to maintain a youthful, healthy and refreshed appearance and with so many minimally invasive options, more men are embracing discreet, quick-healing treatments than ever before,” said Byrne, who is also the chair of the Head and Neck Surgery Department at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.
Popular treatments
Blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty and facelifts topped the list of the most common procedures for male patients last year, according to the AAFPRS survey.
Byrne believes the surge in interest among men is tied to people living longer and wanting their outward appearance to match the youthful energy they feel on the inside
“Today, patients have more flexibility with working from home and the ability for downtime, so it’s no surprise that men are seeking these types of surgeries for the same reasons as women — to reduce jowling in the lower face, improve neck laxity, lift the upper face,” he said.
Facelifts and the cure for the turkey neck
Facelifts, in particular, continue to be a staple in facial rejuvenation, with nearly 90% of AAFPRS members performing them each year. Notably, the trend is skewing younger, with the number of patients aged 35-55 rising from as low as 26% to as high as 32% in recent years.
For many men, Byrne noted, the primary concern is neck laxity, or what’s commonly known as “turkey neck.”
As people age, the neck muscles weaken, and the skin loses collagen and elastin— key components that provide structure and support. This loss leads to loose, sagging skin, which can blur the line between the jawline and neck.
“A lower facelift is really the gold standard for creating a more defined jawline,” Byrne said.
When performing a facelift on male patients, Byrne explained that surgeons focus primarily on the lower face — particularly the marionette lines, jawline, under-chin area, jowls, and neck. He emphasized that surgeons must exercise caution when addressing the upper third of the face in men.
“We all know of celebrity examples that look unnatural,” Byrne said. “This is usually not from a lower face and necklift, but rather from over treatment of the eyebrows, and/or the eyelids.”
Eyelid upgrades
Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, is also gaining significant traction among men, with an increasing number opting for the procedure to refresh their appearance, according to the survey.
There are two types of blepharoplasty. An upper blepharoplasty removes excess skin above the eyelids, helping to reduce the hooded, tired look that naturally develops with age. A lower blepharoplasty targets fat pads beneath the eyes, smoothing out under-eye bags for a more youthful and rested appearance.
“Both are common procedures that deliver high patient satisfaction and for men who want to look less tired and more refreshed, this surgery delivers,” said Byrne.
Recovery for both procedures typically takes one to two weeks, offering men a relatively quick route to looking more refreshed without major downtime.
More hair, fewer wrinkles
Notably, the AAFPRS survey found that hair transplantation stands out as the only procedure where men significantly outnumber women, reflecting a strong desire to address hair loss and maintain a youthful appearance.
But it’s not just about going under the knife. Byrne said son-surgical treatments like Botox, fillers, Sofwave, microneedling, and radiofrequency are increasing in popularity among men.
“Men are embracing aesthetic maintenance in a way we haven’t seen before,” he said.
Looking ahead, Bryne anticipates that regenerative medicine will be the next big thing in the aesthetics industry.
“Treatments like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and exosome-based therapies are gaining traction, providing patients with minimally invasive options that are intended to target the cellular level to rejuvenate and repair skin,” Bryne said.
Exosome therapies, in particular, are generating buzz, with one-in-four AAFPRS surgeons predicting they will become a major force in the future of aesthetic medicine.
