Men are investing more time and money in aesthetic treatments. The demand to look and feel younger in a more competitive workplace that values youth and appearances is increasing. Hence, it’s no surprise that the male aesthetic market is growing fast.
Men and aging
Many of these men are vigorous and take pride in their appearance and want to look their best. Unfortunately, in their younger years, some men may have not taken care of their skin-care regime or protected themselves from the sun. So they potentially age poorly when compared to women. They have developed wrinkles, uneven skin tone, and signs of environmental damage at an earlier age.
They can choose the same options as women. However, we’ve observed that some treatments are more popular with our male patients. These include:
Top 10 aesthetic treatments for men
1. Botox
Botox is possibly the most popular treatment amongst men for fine lines and wrinkles. This injectable uses a neurotoxin to block nerve signals that control your muscles. As the muscles move less, the skin relaxes, reducing the appearance of wrinkles.
2. IV Vitamin Therapy
Intravenous vitamin drips deliver essential vitamins and antioxidants directly into the bloodstream, for maximum absorption. IV infusions can be used by men proactively to maintain optimum health, vitality, and performance. They also support the treatment of a variety of acute illnesses and chronic conditions. Some of the key benefits include increased energy levels. Also improved health, and immunity. IV therapy also enhances mood, reduced stress, boosted hydration, muscle recovery, enhanced skin health and brightening.
3. Vampire Facial
A vampire facial or PRP (platelet-rich plasma) is a procedure that uses a patient’s own blood to trick the body into healing and repair. The blood is extracted and undergoes a spinning process to separate the plasma. This is then injected back into the skin using a dermapen or injections.
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This popular procedure is great for men requiring collagen induction to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. PRP will assist with the firming and tightening of the skin and improve moisture retention. PRP is also amazing for men suffering from Alopecia (hair loss).
4. Micro-Needling
Medical micro-needling is another form of collagen induction therapy (CIT) popular with men. The idea behind micro-needling is that it creates a controlled injury underneath the skin’s surface, inducing the body to respond with the formation of new elastin and collagen, as well as new capillaries for an improved blood supply in the treated area.
The skin plumps and thickens in response, reducing the appearance of scars, fine lines, and other skin texture changes.
5. Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers are injectable substances designed to erase wrinkles, augment lips, enhance volume and restore the youthful contour of the face by plumping up the area. They are made up of Hyaluronic Acid which is found naturally in your skin.
This medical aesthetic treatment has been around for some years and continues to grow in popularity amongst men. Commonly, men tell us they dislike the tired look that has developed around their eyes. With aging, they tend to lose volume in their mid-cheeks and have developed hollows or bags under their eyes. Fillers are ideal for restoring vitality in this area and contouring strong angles to the chin and jawline.
6. Chemical Peels
Chemical peels make use of chemical solutions to improve and smooth the texture of the facial skin by removing damaged outer layers. This is helpful for the treatment of facial blemishes, wrinkles, and uneven skin pigmentation.
7. Laser Skin Rejuvenation
This laser skin rejuvenation improves sun-damaged skin, scars, and minor facial flaws. It also treats conditions such as excessive redness, large pores, uneven texture, and fine-line wrinkles. These are all issues that many men suffer from due to their possible lack of skincare in their younger years.
8. Hair removal
Many of our male clients are keen to have laser hair removal procedures done on their face, neck, and body for long-lasting aesthetic results. It’s no secret that as men age, they tend to get thicker body hair and hair growth in unwanted places. Laser hair removal sorts this out effectively. Technology is changing all the time which assists with hair removal. For example, at SCIN we use the latest technology – Soprano Ice Platinum – to treat unwanted hair.
9. Body sculpting
Men are increasingly interested in non-invasive body sculpting procedures. Again, advances in technology and medical knowledge mean that we now have a range of options available when it comes to body contouring. Many of which are entirely non-invasive. Imagine doing the equivalent of 20 000 sit-ups in a 30-minute session – toning the muscles and burning fat?
Electromagnetic technology for muscle toning and fat burning is all the rage at the moment. We use Emsculpt – a breakthrough device that burns fat and builds muscle mass. It uses high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) technology. This triggers rapid muscle contractions in the treatment region. Emsculpt is a no-downtime body contouring device in a class of its own.
Another new offering that men are embracing is the use of radiofrequency and ultrasound energy waves for slimming and skin tightening. This is a head-to-toe treatment. It uses radiofrequency technology which safely destroys fat cells, firms’ skin, and triggers collagen production.
10. Liposuction
In-office liposuction has growing popularity amongst male patients. It’s performed using local anaesthetic in the doctor’s rooms. Focus on the targeted area to painlessly liquefy the fat. Then a medical suction device is applied to gently and permanently remove the liquefied fat from the affected area.
Bottom line
Aesthetic treatments such as those listed above will likely continue to rise in popularity amongst men. They have tried and tested methods to help men look and feel their best.
Who is Dr. Bruce Lelala?
Dr. Lelala holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) from the University of the Western Cape (UWC); a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery (MBCHB) from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal (UKZN. He also has a Diploma in Anaesthetics (DA) from the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA), a Postgraduate Diploma in Business administration (PDBA) from Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), and a Masters in Medicine (MMEd) from the University of Cape Town (UCT). Dr. Lelala also has a Fellowship in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery from CMSA.
In 2019 Dr. Lelala was appointed by the USA-based NGO, Operation Smile to be part of the internationally credentialed cleft surgeons for the organization. He has been involved in cleft surgery missions on the African continent and abroad. He’s also a member of the Society of Rhinoplasty Surgeons of South African (SORSSA). Dr Lelala will be undertaking a fellowship in microsurgery at one of the world’s leading institutions of reconstructive surgery in Nottingham, United Kingdom.
Dr. Lelala belongs to the Society of Rhinoplasty Surgeons of South Africa (SORSSA). He is a resident at SCIN @Hyde Park
