Background

Although men do not face the same hormonal changes with aging that women do, the male biological clock still ticks, and over time changes in a man’s appearance can lead to a negative self-image, which can take a toll on mental and physical health. Today, men are turning to cosmetic surgery in an effort to help break the cycle of interaction between appearance and negative self-image. Because of this emerging trend, more male patients will be asking their trusted primary care providers for advice in navigating the potentially treacherous world of cosmetic surgery.
Whether in the public eye or leading a more private life, many men put forth energy, effort, and income to maintain a healthy, youthful appearance. Increasing access to more affordable, innovative, and less invasive forms of cosmetic surgery has resulted in more men turning to cosmetic procedures in an effort to look and feel younger. In fact, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons 2010 Report of Plastic Surgery Statistics indicates that of the 12.6 million plastic surgery procedures conducted annually, over 1.1 million were performed on men — a dramatic increase from the 225,009 procedures performed on men in 2000. Demonstrating their cost-effectiveness in these challenging economic times, minimally invasive procedures, such as botulinum toxin injections (Botox) and fillers, were up more than 9% from the prior year in 2010-2011. The more costly operative procedures that men undergo in large numbers include robotic hair transplants, nose reshaping (rhinoplasty), liposuction, cosmetic eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), and facelifts, as well as surgery to correct male breast enlargement (mastopexy).
The ideal cosmetic plan maintains a life-stage balance of facial and body appearance that allows one to look their best throughout adult life. At earlier stages in life, avoiding excessive sun exposure, toxins from smoking, and recreational drug use will help to stall the progression of environmentally related aging changes. Later, avoiding significant weight fluctuation minimizes the development of loose or flabby skin. Body issues unrelated to such lifestyle factors as diet and exercise are best addressed once bone and soft tissues have reached maturity. For some, a time may come when surgery is considered for body issues unrelated to lifestyle, and plastic surgery may be the best option to help maintain a healthy self-image.
When selecting a plastic surgeon, patients should be sure to consider expertise and board certification. It is important to do the research and be patient with the selection process, because it can take some time. Patients should consider the procedure carefully and discuss with the surgeon whether a procedure is the right step to help meet their goals; this is an important part of the process because cosmetic surgery is not the answer for everyone. Patients should consult with their physician so that they can ask the correct questions in order to move forward appropriately.
A plastic surgeon will help identify patients whose body image goals and objectives may not be met with an operation alone. Postponing surgery with referral to a nutritionist, exercise trainer, or internist may be the appropriate outcome of the initial consultation. For surgery that is entirely elective, all patients should be close to their ideal health before having an operative procedure. If lifestyle choices and habits are not addressed preoperatively, the results of most cosmetic surgeries will be transient and therefore ultimately not worthwhile.
The following is a guide to help men look and feel their best throughout the lifespan.

Men in Their 30s

A man’s circulating testosterone level begins to decrease after age 30 years, with loss of lean muscle mass averaging 1% a year. Because of this, the most important thing a man can do to keep himself looking youthful is to continue building and maintaining his muscle mass. A regular program of cardiovascular fitness paired with weight training is essential to mitigate the natural aging process of decreased muscle mass. Proper hydration and attention to rest and diet are reflected in a healthier, more youthful appearance.
At this stage, age-maintenance procedures that are less invasive and are cost-effective can deliver results that look far more natural than other, more radical surgical choices. Skin care, sun avoidance, and proper use of sunblock are also crucial at this and every life stage.

Men in Their 40s

The use of botulinum toxin injection (Botox) and fillers has become much more common among men in their 40s and 50s, who are beginning to deal with the loss of facial skin elasticity. Because a man’s face has a more robust blood supply than a woman’s face, surgeons performing any personal enhancement treatments on the face must consider such factors as the depth of skin peeling, energy levels for light base treatments, and frequency of past use of topical medications.
The most common aesthetic procedure for men in this age group involves rejuvenation around the eyes. Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), when done well, can help revitalize a man’s face in a discreet manner, without announcing to the world that a cosmetic procedure was performed.

Men in Their 50s and Beyond

Men in this age group will typically experience increasing skin accumulation along the jawline and the neck; this is often referred to as “jowls.” Traditional approaches for face and neck lifts do not work particularly well on men because the scars cannot be hidden under the hairline, as with women. To avoid the problems caused by hairline alteration, an alternative operation to a traditional face and neck lift is performed: Using a geometric incision pattern to remove the excess neck skin hides the scar in the area between the bottom of the chin and the Adam’s apple. The presence of hair follicles in the beard also helps camouflage the scar.

Regardless of age, encourage your patients to take a planned, realistic, and conservative approach to achieving their ideal body image. Less favorable cosmetic surgery outcomes among men, such as those seen in Bruce Jenner, Mickey Rourke, and Burt Reynolds, can and should be avoided with the guidance and support of surgeons who demonstrate a clear understanding of what cosmetic surgery options are available, along with knowledge of overarching health concerns.
At the office of Dr. Mark Bishara and The Paragon Plastic Surgery & Med Spa, we provide a wide range of cosmetic procedures to help patients look and feel their best. These procedures are designed to improve the appearance of the face and body through minimally invasive techniques that provide highly effective results. Many of these procedures can be combined in order to achieve your desired appearance.  Please call our office to find out more about us at (817) 473-2120 or visit our website at www.MarkBisharaMD.com.

Start 2014 with a New Look     

It’s common knowledge that people often make resolutions to take better care of themselves in the new year.  Some get a personal trainer or a gym membership, some start a diet, but a new trend of starting the year with plastic surgery is becoming more common.  Instead of heading off to the gym, patients are headed to the plastic surgeon for everything from injections of Botox to a face lift or breast augmentation.
Adding to the increase in ringing in the new year with surgery, is the increase in gift cards for the services of a plastic surgeon being given on Christmas. And now that the fun — and stress — of the holidays are over, it’s a good time to renew yourself so you can look as young and energetic as you feel.
Announcing a New Year’s resolution can be the impetus for change, but there are other moments in time that prompt people to seek aesthetic plastic surgery as the best choice for enhancing their appearance. According to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, common “watershed moments” include someone mistaking you as being much older; entering the competitive job market, where wrinkles are frowned upon; and post-pregnancy blues, when many new moms struggle with excess fat and sagging skin. Your defining moment might be the holiday photos posted on social media, when you realized your image isn’t as attractive as you’d like.
Once you’ve made the decision to rejuvenate, you’ll find many surgical and nonsurgical options including new techniques and classic, tried-and-true solutions. Breast augmentation is the most-requested cosmetic surgical procedure.
January is a great time for people to ‘restart’ themselves after the holidays. Many people follow through on a New Year’s resolution to improve their appearance by having breast augmentation, a tummy tuck, eyelid surgery, or a face-lift. Winter is also a time when we’re bundled up from the cold and we’re not as social. It’s the perfect time to have surgery, so when spring and summer come around you’re in shape and you have the look you want, so you can get out and enjoy the warm weather.
At the office of Dr. Mark Bishara and The Paragon Plastic Surgery & Med Spa, with offices in Mansfield and Southlake, we offer services from Cosmetic Surgery to Hair Restoration to Med Spa services.  We can help you kick on 2014 with Botox injections, fillers like Judederm Ultra Plus XC and the NEW Juvederm Voluma, laser hair removal, and many other laser procedures.  Please call our office at (817) 473-2120 to schedule a consultation for cosmetic surgery or hair restoration or visit our website at www.MarkBisharaMD.com to learn more about the procedures we offer.
 
 

Plastic surgery is one of the most common procedures performed in the United States and the transformative power compels thousands of men and women to go under the knife every year. Unlike most surgeries, cosmetic procedures are not medically necessary which can make it hard to analyze the demographics. While each individual’s needs and wants differ when it comes to choosing a procedure, the most popular cosmetic surgeries can be broken down by age group. While trends in plastic surgery vary from year to year, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons 2012 statistics report shows that some procedures are consistently popular with certain age groups. Here’s why.

Nose reshaping is widespread among 13-19 year-old patients, simply because the nose you were born with is the nose you will have for life. While other parts of the body can change given time or lifestyle habits, the shape and structure of your nose changes the least. The skin does thicken and the cartilage can lose its support, but for the most part, the defining features remain constant throughout life. Adolescents who are approaching adulthood oftentimes turn to rhinoplasty to get a new start or a fresh look as they embark on milestones such as high school graduation or the start of college.
On the other hand, breast augmentation is a popular procedure for those who have gone through puberty: 20-29 year-olds. The breasts are typically fully formed by that age, and the size and shape are at a fixed point. Shifts in weight, pregnancy and lifestyle (bra usage) may alter breast size and shape but in an unpredictable way. This is a time when image is very important to women, so they seek larger breasts in order to boost their self-confidence and balance the proportions of their new adult figures.
Once men and women reach their 30’s, their metabolism begins to slow down. They notice a change in the way their bodies deposit fat even if their exercise pattern and diet have remained the same. Certain body parts store stubborn fat that is hard to lose even with healthy eating and exercise. Liposuction has traditionally been the remedy to this problem. We have seen an increase in the popularity of newer technologies that provide less invasive options for fat reduction. However, liposuction remains time honored and consistent in providing the most predictable results. A variety of techniques are available to safely remove fat and sculpt curves.
The 40’s are a time when the aging process really begins to set in. We typically start to see the earlier signs of aging around the eyes and forehead. The skin around the eye is prone to wrinkle and show redundancy. The upper eyelids and forehead can begin to droop and give a tired or sad appearance. Thus it’s no surprise that patients between the ages of 40-54 are likely to undergo an eyelid and/or brow lifting surgery in order to minimize these changes. The lower eyelids are treated by removing or tightening skin as well as treating fat pockets.
Finally, the facelift is an extremely popular procedure for those 55 and older. At this point, there are multiple parts of the face that need rejuvenating. The cheeks typically fall or deflate, the corners of the mouth turn down, jowls appear, the jawline loses its contour and the neck becomes loose and droopy at times, showing bands under the chin. A facelift helps restore a youthful appearance by addressing these parts that have aged including the eyelids, sagging of the neck and volume loss in the cheeks. Combinations of procedures can lift the brow, the mid face or cheek area and tighten the jaw line while treating jowls and reshaping the neck.
Of course everyone ages differently and each person’s goals are different, but these tend to be the most popular procedures by age group. Do any of these surprise you? What procedure have you been thinking about?
Dr. Mark Bishara provides a wide range of cosmetic procedures to help patients look and feel their best. These procedures are designed to improve the appearance of the face and body through minimally invasive techniques that provide highly effective results. Many of these procedures can be combined in order to achieve your desired appearance. Please call our office at (817) 473-2120 for more information.

 

Eyelid Lift Surgery
Drooping eyelids may seem like a common effect of getting older, but sagging eyelids not only age someone’s face, but they can also impair peripheral vision too. Removing the excess skin through surgery can both improve vision and result in a more youthful appearance, but determining whether the procedure is cosmetic or medically necessary has become a point of controversy.  Dr. Mark Bishara, with offices in Mansfield and Southlake, offers eyelid lifts (also known as Blepharoplasty) among his cosmetic services.
Eyelid lifts, called blepharoplasties, are done when the upper eyelid, which usually hangs about 2mm above the pupil, starts to sag. It can be removed for cosmetic reasons or because it starts to block a person’s peripheral vision.

Does Insurance Cover Eyelid Lifts?

An increase in eyelid lift surgeries covered by Medicare has risen. According to the Center of Public Integrity, Medicare can pay $574 to $640 per eye. There are no national Medicare criteria for what determines a functional blepharoplasty. Different Medicare contractors that cover different regions of the country have their own criteria, but were fairly uniform across the country.
For Medicare to cover the surgery, a doctor must perform two vision tests, which measure the degrees to which a person can see peripherally from the horizon. The surgery would have to theoretically improve a patient’s peripheral vision by a specific number of degrees to be approved. The number of degrees depends on what is required by the individual Medicare contractor.
Other private insurance companies often use the same criteria as Medicare to determine if an eye lift is necessary. For example, United Health Group, one of the largest private U.S. health insurance carriers, uses the Medicare guidelines to determine if a blepharoplasty is medically necessary or if it is cosmetic.
A photo of the patient also has to be included to show that he or she has sagging eyelids, and the patient must report additional symptoms, such as headaches from straining their eyebrows or injuries from running into things they can’t see. One common early sign was difficulty reading. At the end of the day, the eyelids might become so heavy they can’t open them.
What to Know Regarding Eyelid Lifts:
As with any type of surgeries, there are risks and complications involved in the procedure. Below are just a few of the risks that are involved and they may, or may not, affect the patient:
• Slow process of recovery
• Visible whiteheads after stitches are eradicated
• Impermanent swelling of eyelids
• Loss of vision or damage to eyes (rare risk)
• Closing the eyes while sleeping might be difficult (normally temporarily)
• Blurred or double vision
• Irregular scarring or healing
People who are considering eyelid surgery should also learn about the medical conditions that make it more risky for them, such as:
• Thyroid problems – Hypothyroidism or Graves’ diseases
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure or other types of circulatory disorders
• Lack of tear production or dry eyes
• Disorders of blood vessels and/or heart disease
People who are opting for eyelid lift surgery have the option of going through a laser eyelid surgery, but the risks and complications are said to be higher than the traditional surgery. It is advisable for patients to research various surgeons and medical centers prior to the surgery. Obtain as much information as possible to avoid any unwanted discrepancies after the surgery. Research can be done via the Internet, which is easy, quick, and informative.
Dr. Bishara provides a wide range of cosmetic procedures, including Blepharoplasties, to help patients look and feel their best. These procedures are designed to improve the appearance of the face and body through minimally invasive techniques that provide highly effective results. Many of these procedures can be combined in order to achieve your desired appearance. Please call our office for more information at (817) 473-2120.
 

As people grow older, they experience drooping or sagging eyelids and for that reason, eyelid lift surgery has become very popular. You even find certain people who have droopy eyelids from birth and others who have developed myasthenia gravis, which is a disease that cause drooping eyelids. The surgery is normally done while the patient is awake, but he or she will be given medicine to relieve anxiety. The medical practitioner will inject the numbing medicine around the eye, so the patient does not feel any pain during surgery.
Eyelid surgery, also known as Eyelid lift or Blepharoplasty, is carried out by general plastic or facial plastic surgeons. Aside from droopy or sagging eyelids, the procedure is done for those who have dark circles or puffy bags under their eyes. Lower eyelid and upper eyelid surgery procedures are often carried out separately. Another popular eyelid surgery is the double eyelid surgery, which refers to the accentuation or the creation of an eyelid crease. This procedure, known as Asian Blepharoplasty, is often performed on Asian eyes and it is performed to make Asian eyelids look a lot more like Caucasian eyelids by adding a visible fold.
The objective of an eyelid lift surgery is to lift the eyelids and the surgeon will begin the treatment by making tiny cuts into the natural creases of the eyelids. Then, he or she will remove extra loose skin and additional fat tissue. Once the surgeon tightens the eyelid muscles, he or she will place stitches in the area of the eyelid. This type of surgery hardly requires the patient to be admitted and it is usually done in the surgeon’s office instead of an operating room.
As with any type of surgeries, there are risks and complications involved in the procedure. Below are just a few of the risks that are involved and they may, or may not, affect the patient:
• Slow process of recovery
• Visible whiteheads after stitches are eradicated
• Impermanent swelling of eyelids
• Loss of vision or damage to eyes (rare risk)
• Closing the eyes while sleeping might be difficult (normally temporarily)
• Blurred or double vision
• Irregular scarring or healing
People who are considering eyelid surgery should also learn about the medical conditions that make it more risky for them, such as:
• Thyroid problems – Hypothyroidism or Graves’ diseases
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure or other types of circulatory disorders
• Lack of tear production or dry eyes
• Disorders of blood vessels and/or heart disease
Additionally, the risks of anesthesia may or may not include reactions to medicines and breathing difficulties. Other risks are infection and bleeding during and after surgery.
Patients who have undergone eyelid surgery will generally get their stitches removed within three to four days post-surgery, whereas the small pieces of tape are removed within seven days. The patients are able to return to work in the next eight to 10 days, but female patients are advised to use make-up after the eighth day of the recovery period. With the surgeon’s approval and clearance, patients can resume normal activities within three to four weeks.
People who are opting for eyelid lift surgery have the option of going through a laser eyelid surgery, but the risks and complications are said to be higher than the traditional surgery. It is advisable for patients to research various surgeons and medical centers prior to the surgery. Obtain as much information as possible to avoid any unwanted discrepancies after the surgery. Research can be done via the Internet, which is easy, quick, and informative.