Demand for injectable cosmetic procedures for men, such as anti-wrinkle injections and dermal fillers, has increased massively, as the pressure to look fresh, sharp and presentable in social gatherings, video calls and in the workplace has grown. Additionally, they are proven to boost self-esteem and confidence.
According to Dr Adam, Cosmetic Doctor, the majority of men secretly wants that squared-off chin and sharp, chiselled jawline, enhancing their masculine appearance and come across as more handsome – which dermal filler can achieve.
Additionally, anti-wrinkle treatment can be injected to eradicate “male resting face” — the crease that forms in between your eyebrows as the gravity of middle age exerts its pull. “Eyes are big for us, too,” he says. “A simple, quick procedure can make it look like you’ve just had a really good night’s sleep.”
How do injectables affect men differently than women?
There are several characteristics of the male face that set it apart from the female face when it comes to injectables. Not only are men’s skulls about 20 percent larger than women, but they have more facial muscle mass, subcutaneous tissue, and blood vessel density.
Men have more prominent jawlines and chins, higher and wider foreheads, and their eyebrows have a flatter contour, as they sit lower along the orbital rim.
This contrasts with a woman’s eyebrows and their more feminine, arched appearance. Additionally, men’s eyes are larger than a woman’s, but they are smaller proportionally to the rest of the head. Male noses tend to be wider and straighter.
Expression, the domain of anti-wrinkle injections, are also different. Male facial expressions are more pronounced (after adjusting for the face size), and men tend to develop more severe, deep wrinkles in all facial areas. This is because men have proportionally lower levels of subcutaneous fat compared with women.
As with anti-wrinkle treatment, men will often need more dermal filler units than women to fill the same voids or areas of volume loss. This is because men form deeper lines and creases. This is also due to having less subcutaneous fat underneath. Men don’t respond any differently to either anti-wrinkle injections or fillers, they just usually will require more product to have the desired effects.
Anti-Wrinkle Treatment for Men
Speaking from his cosmetic clinic in Woollahra, Dr Adam suggests that most men like their smile lines, and prefer a more natural, unblunted expression. So, like women, men usually target their forehead lines to reduce creasing and occasionally in the corners of the eyes to prevent crow’s feet. A smooth forehead produces an upper reflective light that goes up to the hairline which men, especially those who have a receding hairline or are bald, favour as it adds a more youthful look.
Higher doses are usually required, of course, because anti-wrinkle treatments are dose-dependent, and men generally have high muscle mass & higher metabolism. Men also want their treatment to be lower maintenance i.e. achieve an effective treatment and re-attend less often.
The thought of a trip to see a cosmetic doctor is often daunting for men, unlike the social activity that it can be for women, who often come and get anti-wrinkle treatments in groups.
Dr Adam of Dr Adam Aesthetics: “Men want to keep the process simple and be in and out of a cosmetic clinic, just like when they go shopping. They want to attend a maximum of a couple of times a year and have the anti-wrinkle treatments last a good three to six months. For men, they are happy to come to the cosmetic clinic and be finished within 30 minutes. However, I try at put their mind at ease, and remind them that nowadays it’s pretty normal for men to attend cosmetic clinics for cosmetic treatments.”
Fillers for men
While many gel-like dermal fillers can also smooth lines and soften creases, for men they are typically used to restore lost volume and enhance facial contours. Think of neuromodulators as “relaxing” the skin, while fillers—for lack of a better term—”fill” empty space and plump it back up.
Fillers are very popular among men both to help with lines and wrinkles but also for facial sculpting.
Many men are looking to re-sharpen their jawline, square-off their chin, which may have started to soften or sag over time, with the aim to appear more masculine or appealing to the opposite sex.
Results typically last over 18 months depending on the product and treatment, requiring small top-ups in the years after that.
The Non-surgical nose job, which is another popular treatment, helps men smooth out bumps or the ‘hooked’ appearance of the bridge of the nose. Cheek enhancements, and lip injections are also among some of the most popular treatments.
Cosmetic Doctor Adam likes to regularly reiterate however, that the goal is to enhance your looks, but keep things looking as “natural” as possible.
