Male Aesthetics: A Review of Facial Anatomy and Pertinent Clinical Implications

September 2015 | Volume 14 | Issue 9 | Original Article | 1029 | Copyright © September 2015


Joshua A. Farhadian,a Bradley S. Bloom,b and Jeremy A. Brauer,a,b,c

aRonald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
bLaser and Skin Surgery Center of New York, New York, NY
cDivision of Dermatology, Lenox Hill Hospital, North Shore LIJ, New York, NY

muscle.45 Accordingly, the injection site is low and often near the insertion of the zygomaticus. Superficial microinjections are recommended in this area to avoid inadvertently treating the zygomaticus major and causing an asymmetric upper lip droop. When treating the middle and lower face, the perioral area is not a common injection site due to the relative lack of perioral rhytides in men. Caution must be taken prior to treating masseter hypertrophy in men to ensure that true muscular hypertrophy exists, as opposed to normal lateral flaring of the mandibular ramus.39
Dermal fillers are useful in male patients who struggle with volume loss given their relative lack of subcutaneous fat. Filler can also be used to augment masculine facial features or eliminate deep rhytides. The cheek is a common area of concern for men seeking cosmetic augmentation. Overcorrection, especially by administering too much volume medially or laterally, can result in a feminine appearance. Special care must also be taken when injecting mens’ lips, since overfilling, especially the upper lip, is feminizing.
Rhinoplasty is the second most common cosmetic surgery performed in men.1 For those seeking a non-surgical alternative, soft tissue fillers can be used to augment the radix and nasal dorsum. Dermal filler can also be used in improve definition in the chin and jaw.

CONCLUSION

Male aesthetics is a new frontier in cosmetic dermatology. With the number of men seeking noninvasive cosmetic procedures increasing each year, aesthetic dermatologists should become familiar with male facial anatomy. While the procedures performed in men and women are the same, the application, objectives, and parameters are often very different. Disregarding or minimizing gender when treating a male patient can result in poor cosmetic outcomes and decrease patient satisfaction.

DISCLOSURES

None of the authors have conflicts of interest to declare.

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