According to recent data, male cosmetic surgery is on the rise.  Economic times may have influenced this statistic, as a competitive job market favors energy, youthfulness, and yes, looks.  The most popular cosmetic procedures for men include botox and fillers for wrinkles, chin implants to rectify a weak profile, hair transplants for a fading hairline, and liposuction for excess fat pouches.  Also at the top of the list is blepharoplasty to reduce sagging eyelid skin and eyelid bags.

Male blepharoplasty should be done in a more conservative manner than female blepharoplasty in most cases, to preserve masculinity.  The male eyelid anatomy can differ from that of a female, with the eyelid crease in a different position and the brow with more fullness. 

Blepharoplasty or eyelid lift can be done in conjunction with fat injections, laser skin tightening, and botox to acheive an enhanced result.  In Michigan, Dr. Brett Kotlus offers customized procedures for his extensive list of male patients.  Below is a video of Dr. Kotlus' patient who underwent upper and lower blepharoplasty 1 month earlier.  His masculinity was preserved and he certainly did not end up with the dreaded "Kenny Rogers" look!

This patient (who graciously allowed us to post her before and after photos) may be advanced in age but she is young at heart, and she wanted to express that to everyone around her. She had 2 simple non-surgical treatments to help her acheive that goal: Botox and filler.  These are injectable treatments that are performed in the office at Allure Medical Spa, with minimal to no downtime and dramatic results. 

Botox is used to relax the muscles that cause frown lines.  When used between the brows and around the crow's line wrinkles, the eyebrows are lifted and the wrinkles are softened at the same time.  This effect will last for 3-6 months after the treatment.  

Dermal filler (Juvederm Ultra Plus in this case) is a soft, biocompatible gel was injected underneath the eyebrows, in the grooves under the eyes, and in the sunken cheeks to lift and rejuvenate these areas.  Juvederm Ultra can last many months in these areas.

If you are looking to express your inner age with cosmetic treatments such as Botox or Juvederm, visit our main website or schedule a free consultation appointment at one of our Michigan locations, Shelby Township or Livonia. 

Everyone hates those wrinkles that radiate around the lips. And they only seem to get worse with age. What can be done? These simple steps will help to prevent these lines and can reduce their visibility.

1. Stay out of the sun.  It's well-know that sun damage causes wrinkles. Wear at least a 30 SPF sunblock and a hat when you're spending any time outside.

2. Don't smoke.  There are many good reasons to avoid smoke or to stop smoking.  Lip wrinkle prevention is another compelling argument to not smoke.

3. Use a medical-grade skin care regimen.  Ask your dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon about topical skin care products that can help with your particular skin type.  Tretinoin and L-ascorbic acid can both help with wrinkles by boosting collagen conent in your skin. 

4. Laser wrinkle treatments and chemical peels. These will create controlled injuries in the skin that stimulate new skin growth that tends to look smoother and more youthful. Lasers like Fraxel, ActiveFX, and DeepFX have been well established as excellent wrinkle treatments.  Traditional dermabrasion (not microdermabrasion) can also work well for lines around the lips, but it has a higher risk of hypopigmentation, when the skin loses it's color and looks porcelain white. 

5. Botox. A small amount of this popular muscle-relaxing protein can be injected into the muscles around the lips.  Just enough Botox or Dysport will reduce the lines that are caused by pursing your lips without changing the function of the lip muscles.  

6. Dermal fillers. The most popular injectable wrinkle fillers are made from hyaluronic acid gel, a substance naturally found in your body.  This gel can be used to fill under the wrinkles to lift them up and make them less noticable.  Juvederm, Restylane, and Perlane are among the most used HA fillers in the U.S. 

7. Combination treatments. Any or all of the above will help to reduce those pesky lip lines.  You can talk to one of the doctors at Allure Medical Spa in Michigan for a free consultation if you want to see what can be done for the lines around your lips. 

An upper blepharoplasty or eyelid lift is a wonderful procedure that shapes the upper eyelid.  The result will frequently give you a more youthful, less tired appearance, brightening up the entire face.  The cosmetic upper eyelid lift does involve an incision, created with a laser, radiofrequency device, or scalpel.  But the scars almost completely disappear with time.  How does that occur?

The upper eyelid has a natural crease, usually 6-11 millimeters above the eyelashes, following a smooth arc.  The upper eyelid lift scar can be placed so that it coincides with your pre-existing crease.  In the photo below, the dotted red line shows the position of the eyelid crease, and the right side demonstrates an eyelid that already had a blepharoplasty, with a barely detectable scar.  

If you are considering aesthetic blepharoplasty, ask your surgeon if he or she plans to place the scar within the eyelid crease.  There are techniques that facilitate the scar/crease alignment.

Dr. Brett Kotlus is a cosmetic eyelid specialist that offers free consultations in the Detroit Metro area in Michigan. To learn more about cosmetic eyelid procedures, visit his website, EyeliftCenter.com. 

An FDA advisory panel recommends Restylane, an injectable filler, for approval for lip enhancement. In 2003, the FDA approved Restylane for nasolabial wrinkles, the lines that form along the sides of the nose. 

Jonah Shacknai, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Medicis, Restylane’s maker, said in a statement that the panel’s recommendation reflects its “confidence in the robust clinical data provided by Medicis.” FDA approval would make Restylane the first hyaluronic acid dermal filler in the U.S. indicated for use in the lips.

Currently, many physicians already use Restylane in the lips and other "off-label" areas, so the FDA approval would be unlikely to significantly change treatment habits among cosmetic providers.  Restylane tends to last between 3-6 months with a single treatment.  It consists of a gel called hyaluronic acid, which is natural broken down by the body in the same way as sugar. Overdone lips are often the result of too much filler; natural-appearing lips can result from a well performed treatment.