When it comes to facial rejuvenation, men and women have different needs, goals, and anatomical structures. That’s why a gender-specific approach is essential, especially for facelift surgery. In my practice, I tailor each facelift to your unique facial features, ensuring results that enhance your natural appearance without compromising your masculine or feminine identity.
Male vs. Female Facial Anatomy
Men and women age differently due to their underlying facial structures. Male faces tend to have:
- A squarer jawline
- Flatter cheeks
- Thicker skin
- Lower-set brows
- More facial hair
Women typically have:
- More promient cheekbones
- Higher brows
- Softer facial contours
These anatomical differences influence how I plan and perform each facelift. For men, the goal is often to restore a firm jawline and neck without altering features in a way that could appear feminizing.
Precision Planning for Customized Results
When you come in for your consultation, we’ll sit in front of a mirror and carefully analyze your face. This enables us to determine how you’ve aged and what we can do to turn back the hands of time. It is very helpful to have photos of yourself from 10 or 20 years ago to help guide our treatment plan. We want to create a result that aligns with how you looked a decade or two ago, not eliminate what makes you unique.
Facial rejuvenation isn’t one-size-fits-all, and it certainly isn’t one-approach-fits-all. Men require a surgical strategy that respects masculine anatomy. From jaw structure to facial hair patterns, every detail informs my approach. My goal is always the same: to help you look younger without compromising the integrity of your features.
The SMAS Facelift: Tailored for Your Features
When developing a treatment plan, plastic surgeons consider gender to ensure the results look natural and appropriate. Here are a few outcomes we aim to avoid:
- High arched brows in men
- Hollow upper eyelids in men and women
- Excessive fullness over the cheekbone in men
- Oval appearance of the face in men
- Flat cheeks and a square jawline in women
I use the SMAS facelift technique for both men and women, but I adjust it based on facial anatomy. In men, I focus on elevating the deeper tissues in the lower face and neck without adding volume to the cheeks, which can look unnatural. The result? A firmer, more defined appearance that respects your natural structure.
In men, facial hair and thicker skin can influence incision placement and healing. I also take these factors into account to ensure discreet scars and lasting, authentic results.
This related blog post explores more trending plastic surgery procedures for men while the video below addresses neck lift techniques for men.
How Long Does It Take to Recover From a Facelift?
Our facelift patients stay with us overnight in our hotel-like Extended Care Unit, under our full supervision. We remove the bulky dressing and place you in a Velcro chin strap for neck compression.
You’ll be able to go home with a drain tube that stays in place for 4 to 5 days. Then your sutures will be removed at around 7 days following the facelift.
Our goal is to have you confidently be able to go out in public within 2 weeks. When eyelid surgery (upper or lower blepharoplasty) is added, your recovery and desire to be out and about may take a little longer, about another week. We answer more facelift questions in this blog post.
We allow our patients to begin physical activity at 2 to 3 weeks. You may experience some swelling, particularly in the cheeks and the area under the chin, for up to two months.
Male Facelift Results
See more facelift before and after pictures in our photo gallery.
How Do You Choose the Best Facelift Surgeon for Your Goals?
When choosing a plastic surgeon, certification is important because it demonstrates skill, knowledge, and expertise in plastic surgery. Look for a surgeon with extensive experience in the procedure you’ve chosen. I’ve performed thousands of facelifts, with an emphasis on gender-specific results and expertise in male facial anatomy. Your surgeon should design a procedure that is specific for you and not use the same procedure and technique on all patients—particularly in both men and women. After an appropriately customized and performed facelift, you will look as good as you feel!
Let’s schedule a consultation and develop a plan just for you. You can request a consultation online or call us at (214) 645-3112 (Dallas) or (469) 604-9120 (Frisco) to schedule an appointment.
This blog post was originally published in February 2019 and updated in April 2025.
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