Cosmetic Surgery for Men

Ten seconds, and the first impression is made! In this brief moment, you need to project confidence—not worry about looking tired, your chest straining against your shirt, or love handles peeking out from the waistband of your pants. Staying competitive in the job market and feeling good about yourself—these are the main reasons why men choose plastic surgery, valuing the natural-looking results it provides. “He looks good for his age—it must be his genes…” That’s what we often say about men who’ve aged exceptionally well. Undoubtedly, genetics play a role, and there’s also the unfair reality that, unlike women, men only become more charming as they age. In reality, however, only a small fraction of people manage to age gracefully and naturally, and when you see a well-groomed fifty-year-old in excellent shape, it’s possible that some surgical procedure has been performed, but it has been done skillfully and delicately, making it hard to even suspect. Perhaps it’s just the sparkle in their eyes, now that sagging eyelids no longer obscure them, or perhaps they’ve achieved a good physique that they’re now determined to maintain on their own.

She knows what she wants!

«Latvian women who have had cosmetic procedures like to say that their beauty comes from love and yoga,» says Anda Gaile, a plastic surgeon and microsurgeon at the Latvian Microsurgery Center, with a smile as she begins the conversation. «Men, on the other hand, are more reluctant to talk about it publicly, because there are still stigmas surrounding this topic in society—for example, the idea that ‘I’m not a pop star, so why would I need artificial enhancements?’ However, I’m pleased that the men who come to us are generally over 30 or 40 years old, and prejudices are gradually diminishing. They are pragmatic clients who aren’t interested in excesses but are guided by a realistic view of themselves and realistic desires—with the goal of solving a specific problem. It’s rare for men to ask, “What would you recommend for me?” They know exactly what result they’re expecting, and they go for it. There is, for example, a group that says, “I want to look like I did 20 years ago.”.

 Men’s primary motivation is never simply to look better. It’s important to realize that plastic surgery is often not just an aesthetic choice, but also an essential medical necessity. For example, a combination of drooping eyelids and eyebrows directly affects vision, as the excess tissue narrows the field of vision.»

Not to lose ground in the job market

Ten years ago, such an argument would have sounded unbelievable, but now one of the most common reasons why men choose to improve their appearance is the desire and need to maintain their place in the job market. «There’s a big difference between a man at a business conference who looks disheveled and gloomy, and a well-groomed, self-confident gentleman in good shape with a pleasant demeanor. In a range of industries and professional roles, the latter currently has the advantage—our clients recognize this,» notes Anda Gaile, reminding us that appearance is also a tool for self-promotion in the job market. An angry, sullen, or scowling expression—which may be nothing more than a visual illusion—can create a misleading impression and be off-putting, but in a business setting, the opposite is needed: you must charm!

Maintain quality of life

And this is yet another extremely important reason to improve your physique if your quality of life starts to suffer in certain areas and, due to insecurities, you gradually begin to limit your choices. Example: A man has loose abdominal skin or feminine breasts, he feels self-conscious and avoids team sports because he’s embarrassed, or no longer wants to go to the beach with his child because he’s shy about strangers« stares. Sometimes even the tiniest nuances in appearance can prevent you from living life to the fullest and become so deeply ingrained in your mind and on your face that they lead you to make completely illogical choices, such as socializing less. »And then, at age 80, looking at old photos, you realize you never went anywhere with your child because of your insecurities. It’s sad when such issues limit how you have fun, socialize, and live your daily life, even though it’s relatively easy to address them,« says Anda Gaile. “Just as women, for example, transform from shy, timid girls into lionesses after breast augmentation, men also undergo a transformation—their posture improves, and they feel comfortable in their own skin. I see this for myself when our clients come in for follow-up visits and I notice how they’ve changed over time.”. 

They say—a whole new life has suddenly opened up for me. They’ve started something new because they no longer have to feel ashamed. Or they admit that after the surgery, things have become much easier—physically easier. »As a professional, it’s a satisfying feeling to know that you’ve improved someone else’s quality of life.”

5 Popular Surgeries to Improve Quality of Life

BLEPHAROPLASTY – so your eyes don't get lost under the weight

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The eyes are the mirror of our soul, so we mustn’t let anything obscure them! It’s no surprise that the most sought-after procedure in both Latvia and Europe is blepharoplasty—correction of the upper, lower, or both eyelids. The indications for this procedure are broad and not always related to age, as even younger people tend to experience some of these issues: bags under the eyes, drooping eyelids, excess skin on the eyelids, heavy eyelids, or so-called. a weary gaze, drooping of the outer corners of the eyes, wrinkles.

The surgery is performed under local or general anesthesia and usually lasts 30 minutes to an hour, but it is advisable to allow for a recovery period of about three weeks. Once healed, the sutures are almost invisible; furthermore, if the skin is in good condition, the transconjunctival method can also be used, in which the incision is made from the inside of the eyelid.

BROW LIFT – Goodbye, signs of fatigue

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On a case-by-case basis, after evaluating the patient, blepharoplasty can be combined with eyebrow correction, or Brow Lift, which can sometimes be a sufficient method for achieving the desired result even when performed on its own. In other words, this is a forehead lift, designed to prevent sagging skin and the resulting issues—such as a lowered eyebrow line, drooping eyebrows, an angry or tired expression, and deep wrinkles. The result of the procedure is that the eyes and face as a whole take on a fresher, more youthful appearance; the person looks more open, no longer gloomy and sullen, as low-set eyebrows previously made them appear. However, there are, of course, medical benefits as well. 

If you constantly have to lift your eyelids or eyebrows to see better, not only do your eye muscles tire more quickly and expression lines form, but the constant tension can even lead to unexplained headaches.

RHINOPLASTY – Right on the tip of your nose, buddy!  

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No matter how you look at it, the nose is the central feature of the face, and changes to it have the most significant impact on one’s appearance. It’s no coincidence that a large, hooked nose is often cited as a symbol of a witch’s ugliness. Most often, rhinoplasty is performed on men to correct a deviated nose resulting from trauma or a fracture, but it is also frequently used to correct congenital defects involving unusual shapes. As Anda Gaile explains, noses also have their own fashion trends, and if you follow this topic Instagram, then over the past year, the so-called Turkish noses, which is more of a derogatory term for the outcome of the operations carried out in Turkey.

GYNECOMASTIA – when your own breasts weigh you down

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Enlarged breasts, which give the body a feminine silhouette, can be a source of distress for a man—not only aesthetically but also psychologically. The reasons for this vary, ranging from excess weight and obesity to hormonal imbalances—which may be natural or, in some cases, the result of taking certain medications. Most often, the excessive development of breast tissue is caused by hormonal fluctuations during adolescence, which trigger the formation of additional tissue. Special tests are first conducted to determine the cause, as treatment options vary depending on the specific cause. The surgery is essentially similar to that performed for breast reduction in women—involving a small incision along the lower edge of the areola.

ABDOMINOPLASTY – for a flat, toned stomach

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For many people, staying home and the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic led to weight gain. Once that weight has been diligently and successfully shed, a new problem arises—as we age, our skin no longer tightens back up as it did in our youth, and sagging skin remains around the waist. In professional terms, this is called apron. «Put on the compression garment, tuck the belly in, and you’re all set!» Dr. Gaile smiles at this simplest of solutions, reminding us that this, once again, isn’t just a matter of aesthetics, since the skin under the fold often becomes inflamed and tissue oozing occurs. The solution is abdominoplasty—a cosmetic surgery on the anterior abdominal wall during which excess skin and stretched muscle structures are removed, and a layer of fat is excised. This results in a flat, elastic, toned abdomen by strengthening the anterior wall and tightening the connective tissues. The surgery is often combined with liposuction—fat removal—or recommended following it, and the results can be further enhanced through body contouring, where the removed fat tissue is re-injected into other areas of the body, such as to improve the shape of the buttocks. Admittedly, this approach is not yet very popular in our part of the world—Latvian men, too, prefer moderation and common sense.

The speed and severity of cellular aging on the face are, of course, largely determined by each person’s genetics, but lifestyle must also be taken into account. If you spend your workday outdoors, exposed to the sun, wind, and rain, your skin will suffer more. This is something to keep in mind for those whose hobbies involve significant exposure of the skin to the sun and wind—such as sailors, marathon runners, or gardeners.

In November, men who sign up for plastic surgery will receive a 10% discount!

At the Beauty Clinic of the Latvian Microsurgery Center – a special promotion for men in November. When you sign up for any plastic surgery procedure, you’ll receive the 10% discount. Surgery dates can be scheduled through March 1, 2025.

The interview was published in the November 2024 issue of KLUBS magazine