Recent television programmes such as Embarrassing Bodies have helped to highlight men’s appearance issues and have made it more acceptable for men to seek aesthetic help. It looks as though 2010 is already shaping up to be a profitable year for surgeons who offer both non-surgical and surgical treatments to men.

With men now feeling more comfortable about seeking treatments it can only be a good thing – maybe the ‘his n hers’ treatment packages won’t be a myth after all.

There are now many treatments to deal with the lines we get from sun damage and ageing. Botox and Dysport paralyze certain facial muscles and prevent the contraction that causes creases. There are a variety of fillers to plump the hollowness and grooves.

There have been some recent additions, including Juvederm XC and Hydrelle, which contain local anesthetic to help reduce the pain during injection.

Recently, there has been some interest in stem cells that would augment fat transfer into the face. Adipose (fat) stem cells have the capacity of cell memory, especially in the use of re-volumizing the face.

There is now a choice as to how drastic a face lift you can have, thanks to the introduction of the ‘mini’ facelift.

The patient must first have initial consultations with their plastic surgeon. During the consultation, the doctor will assess how much fatty tissue has accumulated in the patient’s face and neck. The cosmetic surgeon will also examine the skin’s elasticity. Going through with the initial consultation is very important as it enables the doctor to plan out the procedure. The patient will also have the chance to raise any questions concerning the operation. The doctor will also explain the risks involved, and the total cost the patient should expect to pay for the surgery.

The mini face lift only takes an hour to complete. The plastic surgeon will make small incisions along the patient’s hairline and behind the ears. The doctor will then extract excess fat, and remove extra skin from targeted areas through these incisions. The operation should result with the patient having a more youthful look as the operation reduced any sagging on the face.

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) has reported that the most common cosmetic plastic surgical procedures for teens were rhinoplasty or nose reshaping, followed by breast reduction, correction of breast asymmetry, gynecomastia, in which breast development occurs in boys, and chin augmentation – often performed with rhinoplasty to achieve a balanced look in the face.

The most common nonsurgical cosmetic procedures among teens were laser hair removal and chemical peels.

For teens, cosmetic surgery, both surgical and nonsurgical, may provide a positive effect on physical and emotional development, says the ASAPS. However, all patients, and teens especially, must undergo a careful screening and evaluation.

A global snapshot of plastic surgery procedures suggests that cosmetic surgery is becoming popular in countries with emerging economies, such as India and China. The new statistics released by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery tally the number of surgical and nonsurgical procedures performed in 25 countries. The new data represent 75% of all procedures performed in the world in 2009.

“It is no surprise to me that the United States has the largest number of aesthetic procedures, and same with Brazil,” says ISAPS President Foad Nahai, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Atlanta. “But countries like China and India with emerging economies are generating a lot wealth and as that wealth is passed around, people are choosing to their spend discretionary income on aesthetic procedures.”

According to the new statistics, 17.5% of all procedures were performed in the U.S, and 14.3% were performed in Brazil. China accounted for 12.7% of cosmetic surgery procedures, followed by India at 5.2%.

According to the Daily Star the number of men choosing tummy tuck surgery has risen by 24 per cent this summer, as an increasing number of men aim to cut a dashing figure on the beach.

This huge increase in demand for men’s cosmetic surgery is being partly driven by the trend for skimpy swimwear, which kicked off thanks to stars like Daniel Craig sporting the revealing beachwear in 007 flick Casino Royale.

Botox can be used to prevent the embarrassment of slippery handshakes, underarm sweat patches and dripping brows. It works by freezing sweat glands, thereby effectively stopping perspiration.

Men are increasingly admitting they care as much about their looks and their health. One aspect of this is the growth in cosmetic surgery.

According to The Men’s Health Forum, the proportion of men going under the knife has increased by more than 140 per cent over the past five years. Medics have seen a dramatic increase in the number of 50-something male patients coming into their clinics. Liposuction is the most popular procedure. Men tend to rid themselves of love handles and sagging abdomens, doctors said, while women reduce flabby thighs and hips. Face-lifts, tummy-tucks, neck-lifts, eyebrow-lifts, nose jobs and chin implants are also gaining in popularity among men.

People who have lost a lot of weight often find extra skin and fat hanging below the belt line in the lower area of the stomach. This is refered to as the pannus, or abdominal “apron”. It can extend several inches from the body, covering the genital areas, and is burdensome. There are also hygiene issues and back strains involved.

The pannus can be removed by surgery however thanks to a plastic surgery procedure called panniculectomy.

Ask a qualified surgeon about this procedure as abdominal panniculectomy is a major operation and should be performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon either in a hospital or in an outpatient surgery centre.

Men who are obese at age 20 are twice as likely to die young, according to new research from Sweden.

“Entering adult life as obese leads to a life-long doubling of the risk of dying prematurely,” said study researcher Esther Zimmermann, PhD, of the Institute of Preventive Medicine in Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark.

Avoid beginning adult life as obese because the chances are high that you will remain obese as an adult.