According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), men accounted for about 10 percent of all cosmetic plastic surgeries performed in the US.  But while women still make up for the vast majority of patients, experts believe that males may catch up sooner with the growing number of middle-aged workers.

Over the past couple of years, nose job has been the most popular cosmetic procedures for men.  The procedure typically involves manipulating and reshaping the cartilage, which is the flexible tissue inside the nose, to reduce or increase the projection, correct nostril flare, and address other aesthetic problems.

Aside from nose jobs, Smaili says he sees a growing number of male patients seeking liposuction, a procedure to remove the excess fats underneath the skin.  This is not surprising since the surgery was the third most popular cosmetic procedure for men in 2010, according to ASPS data.

“Contrary to popular belief, most men, especially those working in the corporate industry, are conscious with the way they look.  This doesn’t surprise me as several studies have shown that male bosses who are pleasing to the eyes—not necessarily those drop-dead-gorgeous superiors—appear to be more credible and trustworthy,” Smaili says.

And with the growing number of baby boomers and middle-aged men, some experts suggest that facial rejuvenation procedures such as facelift, Botox injection, and eyelid lift will continue their popularity.

In fact, a survey released by ASPS showed that eyelid lift was the third most popular cosmetic plastic surgery in 2010.

Employment is often the primary reason of men seeking cosmetic procedures, particularly that more workers these days postpone their retirement, in addition to the fact that older people are living longer and healthier.

But when treating older patients, Smaili says that most of them simply want to regain their youthful appearance, even those who are asking for nose jobs.

“Older men have a well-imprinted body image.  They do not want to drastically change their appearance, for instance, those who are asking for nose jobs just want to correct their drooping nasal tip to make it youthful.  On the other hand, younger patients are more focused on changing the fundamental shape of their nose,” he says.

Because of the stiff job competition and the growing number of men postponing their retirement, leading Los Angeles plastic surgeon Dr. Tarick Smaili sees more male patients going to his office to ask for cosmetic procedures.

“Contrary to popular belief, I think men nowadays are as conscious as women in terms of physical appearance.  In fact, a 2010 data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) has shown that the number of middle-aged men seeking medical enhancement is on the rise,” Smaili added.

Meanwhile, another survey shows men’s growing enthusiasm with plastic surgery.  UCLA has found that 23 percent of US men were interested with the procedure, although only a fraction will push through with their plans.  By contrast, women were about eight times more likely than male patients to go under the knife.

Smaili noticed that many men still view plastic surgery as the last resort to their problems.

“Based on my experience, men will more likely prefer non-invasive procedures such as Botox injection and dermal fillers while women are more willing to go under the knife to achieve the best result possible,” the cosmetic surgeon said.

A significant number of men seeking cosmetic surgery undergo facial rejuvenation procedures such as facelift and eyelid lift.  And with the aging baby boomers who are living longer and healthier, plastic surgeons across the US believe in one thing: more eager patients will fall in line outside their office.

In fact, a 2010 data from ASPS shows that facelift performed on male patients increased by 14 percent.

Aside from employment reasons and Americans’ obsession to looking young, Smaili believes that the increasing number of patients seeking cosmetic procedures is caused by the changing attitude.

“In the past, cosmetic surgery was almost considered taboo, but now, many people would admit it without batting an eyelash.  More men are also open to treatments that would improve their appearance; this is proven by the invention of the term metrosexual, which is used to describe men who spend a lot of time and money for their appearance,” Smaili said.

Aside from facial rejuvenation procedures such as facelift and Botox, Smaili has also noticed an increase in number of male patients seeking liposuction especially in the chest area and abdomen.

In 2010, 13.1 million cosmetic procedures were performed in the country, with about 88 percent accounting to non-invasive treatments.  Meanwhile, almost half of the patients were in their 40s and 50s, a clear manifestation of Americans’ obsession to youthful beauty.

One advantage of non-invasive cosmetic procedures over surgical ones is that they involve no recovery or require little downtime.  However, one consideration is that they often need maintenance so the patients can preserve their youthful appearance; for instance, Botox and collagen injection must be repeated at least every six months.

The International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine (IAPAM) is expecting that non-invasive cosmetic procedures especially those treating the signs of aging will increase in numbers.  Botox and Dysport, which both uses neurotoxin in small dosage, will continue their popularity.

Dermal fillers such as Restylane and Juvederm will also continue their popularity.  These treatments are used to “fill in” hollowed facial areas such as the cheeks although certain types can also used in lip augmentation.

In addition, non-surgical body contouring procedures such as VelaSmooth and Zerona will continue their popularity.

Over the past couple of years, liposuction has been one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries in the US.  But nowadays, new technologies have made it possible to perform the procedure without using incisions; in fact, some doctors simply inject a concoction of drugs to the fatty areas to melt these away, allowing the body to naturally flush these out.

These are the advantages of minimally invasive procedures over cosmetic plastic surgery:

• The treatments are performed quickly.
• Most procedures are relatively painless or at least the discomfort can be minimized by local anesthesia.
• Bed rest is not required because there is little or no downtime.
• Side effects are minor.  But in case the patients develop some swelling, redness, and bruising, these symptoms will likely subside a day or two.
• The procedures are ideal for patients who do not want the idea of going under the knife.
• Most non-invasive treatments provide instantaneous results because there is little or no symptom such as swelling and bruising.
• The non-invasive cosmetic procedures are much cheaper than plastic surgery.

Just recently, Good Morning America has reported that liposuction and breast lift are just some of the popular pre-wedding day surgeries for brides who want to look ravishing in their most special moment.

However, non-invasive procedures such as Botox injection, soft tissue fillers, and laser skin resurfacing are also popular among brides-to-be.  The advantage of such treatments is that they no longer have to allot some time for their recovery, which is the tradeoff in cosmetic plastic surgery.

Los Angeles plastic surgeon Dr. Tarick Smaili believes that bridalplasty will continue its popularity for the next coming years.  Nonetheless, he said that the patient asking for such procedure should be doing this for the right reasons.

“Cosmetic surgeries, which are elective procedures, should only be given to physically and emotionally healthy patients who want to improve the way they look.  By contrast, those who want to change their appearance just because someone else told them to do so are bad candidates from the very beginning,” Smaili said.

Smaili said that most brides-to-be who are asking for cosmetic plastic surgery view it as a good way to start their married life.

While there is nothing wrong with such belief, the leading cosmetic surgeon has warned people that plastic surgery is not a “quick fix to everything and every physical flaw.”

“A good example is liposuction, a procedure that can permanently remove the excess fats in your abdomen, hips, or any problem area.  However, it doesn’t automatically mean that you will not gain weight.  Yes, its result is permanent—unless you will manage your weight through regular exercise and of course healthy diet,” Smaili said.

Meanwhile, the plastic surgeon highlighted the importance of allotting enough time to rest during recovery.  It simply means that patients have to undergo a cosmetic surgery well in advance of their wedding day to avoid the stress and other factors that may compromise their healing.

“Just to be on the safe side, a patient should ask her doctor on how long it will take before she can resume her daily activities.  The rule of thumb is quite simple, never rush your recovery as it may increase the risk of complications,” he added.

As people age, they lose a significant amount of fats in their face that leads to a tired, old appearance.  During the previous years, the loss of facial volume was only treated with soft-tissue fillers which are relatively safe, although some patients may develop allergic reaction.

Meanwhile, this is not a concern in using fat transfer since no synthetic material is introduced in the body.  For this reason, many patients are choosing this treatment over alternative fat injections such as Radiesse, Juvederm, Restylane, and Sculptra.

However, fat transfer is not just about collecting fatty tissues and then transferring these to another body part.  To increase the survival rate of the fats, plastic surgeons perform purification method in which they separate and remove the blood, tissues, and other impurities.

By employing the proper purification treatment, doctors can increase the survival rate of the fats to 65 to 85 percent which means the result can be long lasting (or even permanent) and also noticeable.

After removing the impurities, the fats are injected to a new area at a varying level in order to encourage better absorption and achieve a more symmetrical and natural appearance.

The good thing about this procedure is that patients enjoy two benefits: they can remove the excess fats from their abdomen and areas where these accumulate, and they can augment the parts which need to be more prominent such as the buttocks, cheeks, and breasts.

For treating larger areas such as buttocks and breasts, patients should have enough fats especially in their abdomen to achieve a drastic change in size.  With this consideration, thin or petite individuals may not have the same noticeable result compared to those with a good amount of fatty tissues in their body.

In case that fat transfer is not ideal or even impossible to perform, patients may choose biocompatible implants to augment and/or improve their breasts, buttocks, chest, cheeks, calves, and other deflated-looking areas which are supposed to be prominent.

For people who have a “hollowed” and tired appearance due to the lack of volume in the cheeks, they are a good candidate for cheek augmentation through the use of either facial fillers or solid implants.  (The before-and-after photo below shows Megan Fox who is rumored to have the procedure in addition to other facial surgeries.)

Some plastic surgeons recommend their patients to first try using facial fillers before having cheek implants to determine if they will be satisfied with the result or not.  This can be performed by collecting fats from the abdomen and then transferring these to the cheeks, or using soft-tissue fillers such as Restylane.

While facial fillers can provide a dramatic result, this usually lasts six months to a year which means that patients have to repeat the same procedure again in case the “hollowed” appearance recur.  This is not the case in using cheek implants which are supposed to last a lifetime.

Plastic surgeons perform cheek implant surgery under general anesthesia or local anesthesia combined with sedation.  To minimize bruising and other post-operative symptoms, some of them also use epinephrine which is a drug that constricts the blood vessels.

Once the anesthesia takes effect, plastic surgery specialists will create small incisions inside the mouth, particularly above the upper lip that will allow them to insert the implants and place these on or below the cheekbones.

After the operation which usually lasts for an hour or less, plastic surgeons will wrap the face with protective bandages which are designed to minimize swelling, and bruising.  To further reduce the appearance of post-operative symptoms, patients are generally advised to apply the surgical site with ice packs.

Many patients who ask for cheek augmentation either through the use of implants or facial fillers want to counter the effects of aging.  For this reason, this procedure is sometimes complemented with face lift, neck lift, eyelid lift, and other facial rejuvenation surgeries.

However, some younger patients ask for this plastic surgery treatment because they have a flat and/or deflated-looking cheek which makes them appear older than their age.  It is interesting to note that high-cheekbones have always been associated with youthful beauty and patrician look.

Sometimes, cheek implant surgery is used as a reconstructive procedure after a traumatic accident.  In this case, insurance companies might cover the related expenses with this operation, unlike in cosmetic surgeries which are considered “elective.”

As with any plastic surgery, facelift requires recovery that will largely depend on the number and depth of the incisions used, and a person’s healing ability.  For this reason, individuals suffering from serious health conditions such as diabetes, excretory disorder, heart problem, delayed healing, and high blood pressure are typically considered as a bad candidate for the said procedure.

While facelift provides a satisfying result to the right patients, they should realize that this plastic surgery procedure will not change their fundamental appearance and will not stop the aging process, although it can make them look five to 10 years younger.  In general, the surgical approach provides a more dramatic outcome compared to non-invasive procedures such as botox injection, facial fillers, and laser treatment.

If needed, plastic surgeons recommend non-surgical procedures to complement facelift surgery.  Examples of these treatments include chemical peels to improve the skin texture; botox to relax the muscles and prevent wrinkles due to excessive facial movements; facial fillers or volumizers to plump up the skin and “fill in” the small crevices and hollowed areas of the face; and laser treatments to treat photo damage manifested by sun spots, freckles, and other discolorations.

Because every person has a varying degree of skin sagginess and has different locations of lines and wrinkles, plastic surgeons have developed several “isolated” techniques to remove the effects of aging.  And by specifically targeting the “problem area,” there is almost no risk of having a “windswept appearance” caused by overcorrection.

For patients aged 30 to 50, the most popular “isolated” facelift technique targets the mid face, the first area to manifest the signs of aging.  Through this approach, plastic surgeons can remove the mouth-and-nose lines, correct the downturned lips, eliminate the under-eye bags, and lift the sagging cheeks through shorter incisions made discreetly behind the hairline, along the lower lash line, or inside the mouth.

These are the other examples of “isolated” facelift surgeries: brow or forehead lift, neck lift, lower facelift, and eyelid lift.  These procedures may be combined together to create the most desired result.

However, it is important to note that most minimally invasive facelift techniques, especially if performed as a stand alone procedure, are not ideal for patients 50 years and older who will benefit more with a complete facelift.

Some plastic surgeons recommend patients to first try the temporary soft tissue fillers to determine if they will be satisfied with the result, and if they do, they can seek for cheek implants which provide a permanent solution.

As with any plastic surgery, cheek augmentation through the use of implants such as Medpore and solid silicone involves certain risks particularly for patients with health problems.  For such reason, plastic surgeons require anyone who is interested with the procedure to be physically healthy with normally functioning immune system.

To provide the most natural appearance, cheek implants today come in different sizes and shapes and can be even customized based on the anatomical features of a patient, according to plastic surgeons.

This plastic surgery may be performed with general anesthesia or sedation anesthesia and usually takes 30 to 45 minutes to complete.  However, this may take longer if other procedures such as face lift, facial liposuction, or other facial rejuvenation surgeries will be performed at the same time.

Once the anesthesia has taken its effect, doctors will create an incision inside the mouth, particularly along the gum line, where they can insert the cheek implants.  To secure the implants in the right place, they create a pocket directly over the cheek bone or affix the biocompatible materials to a soft tissue or bone.

For patients who also want to have lower eyelid surgery (to eliminate or redistribute the bulging fats and remove any excess skin), plastic surgery experts will use the lower eyelid as the incision site instead of the mouth.  In this way, there is no need to use two surgical sites which may result to longer recovery and more bleeding.

Regardless of which incision site is used, the scars are not visible under any circumstances.

The recovery after cheek implant surgery largely depends on the type of surgical approach used and if other procedures are conducted at the same time.  But in general, most patients can be active the day after their cheek augmentation surgery, although they will most likely experience temporary loss of sensation, swelling, and soreness in the cheeks and numbness in the upper lip.

To provide relief from pain and discomfort during the first few days of recovery, patients may be required to take pain medications and antibiotics.

Although the facial filler has been used in Europe since the mid-1990s where it has produced results that last ten years, Artefill hit the world of American plastic surgery and more or less went over like a screen door in a submarine.

Approved in 2007 for plumping out the nasolabial lines those deep, age-revealing folds that run from the corner of the nose to the corner of the mouth. Plastic surgeons often call those same lines, the “smile lines” (even though those who have them don’t smile about it!)

 But in 2008, the maker, Artes Medical, went under. Good-bye Artefill!

It could have been due to the cost of the facial filler – about $5000 for treating the average middle age face – or the fact that it is permanent. Artefill, injected just under the skin, pushes those folds up because it contains ultra tiny beads of a material known by the tongue-twisting name polymethylmethacrylate, (or PMMA) and is chemically related to Plexiglas. That makes it permanent – there is no way to reverse the procedure if you don’t like it.

But, hello! It’s back and now owned by Suneva Medical who picked up Artefill’s option in 2009.

According to RealSelf.com, 16 actual unbiased cosmetic surgery patients reported their Artefill procedure say the average cost of their facial plastic surgery with the stuff was $1819. Moreover, 63 percent said it was worth it.

A Florida dermatologist on a research grant provided by Suneva Medical used and tested Artefill on 14 patients to correct their acne scars. Results? 93 percent of the study group, aged 24 to 69 said they would do the procedure again and recommend it to others.

A Los Angeles board certified plastic surgeon uses Artefill in non-surgical nose jobs. The filler disguises bumps, raises low nasal bridges and lifts a drooping tip. The surgeon also uses Artefill for chin and cheek augmentation, something that formerly was only done by invasive surgery in which implants were used.

One of the first uses of ArteFill was treating facial wasting in HIV patients. Normal aging can also cause loss of fat tissue in the face so Artefill is also being used to fill in hollow areas, like under the eyes.

Tip: make sure your surgeon is very skilled with a needle and performs facial filling often, at least once every week.

For 2008, about 10.2 million invasive and non-invasive procedures were performed.

Now, the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) has crunched their own numbers (with a plus or minus error rate of 3.21 percent) to reveal that breast enhancement leads the list of invasive plastic surgeries while Botox is king of the non-surgical procedures.

Here are the top invasive procedures for both men and women in 2008 and the numbers performed:

1. Breast enhancement: 355,671
2. Liposuction:341,144
3. Eyelid surgery: 195,104
4. Rhinoplasty:152,434
5. Tummy tuck: 147,382

About 2.4 million people received Botox injections last year. The non invasive procedures included:

1. Botox Injections: 2,400,000
2. Laser hair removal: 1,280,964
3. Hyaluronic acid injections (Restylane, Juvederm, etc) 1,262,848
4. Chemical peel: 591,808
5. Laser skin resurfacing: 570,880

Other interesting trends include the percentage of women plastic surgery patients (92) versus male patients (8 percent). Racial and ethnic minorities accounted for 20 percent of all cosmetic procedures with Hispanics having eight percent; African-Americans, six percent; Asians, four percent and other non-Caucasians, two percent.

Where patients had surgery also made the list, including:

• In surgeons’ offices: 53 percent
• In freestanding surgical centers: 26 percent
• In hospitals: 19 percent

Based on a survey of fees charged, experts figure Americans ponied up some $12 billion overall. Surgery accounted for $7.2 billion while $4.6 billion was consumed by nonsurgical procedures.

In addition to breast augmentation, the leading surgical procedures for women were:

• Liposuction
• Eyelid surgery
• Tummy tuck
• Breast reduction

The nonsurgical procedures were the same as the very first list above.

One final statistic shows where more patients want to go with rejuvenation surgery.

Since 1997, surgical procedures for women have increased by 104 percent. But non-surgical procedures for the ladies have increased 233 percent.

Since 1997, men have seen a decrease in rejuvenation surgery of 15 percent while their nonsurgical procedures have increased 239 percent.