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The need to look good—and therefore feel good—is a human need. It’s not bound to one specific gender, age group, race, or sexual orientation; instead, it’s a fundamental facet of human nature. It’s therefore little wonder that men are increasingly turning to facelift surgery in order to reverse the signs of aging. As social stigma surrounding plastic surgery abates and our definition of masculinity becomes more diverse, men are waking up to the fact that they, too, deserve cosmetic freedom.

The Benefits of Facelifts for Men

If you’re a man, having a facelift can do a lot more than just enhance your confidence and sense of well-being—It may be integral to keeping your competitive advantage in the workplace, too. While we tend to believe that women are judged on their looks and men on their skills, research shows that this isn’t strictly true. Men who look attractive typically earn three to four percent more, according to research conducted by the University of Texas. They are also more likely to receive substantial bonuses and regular raises and promotions.

There is more to this trend than a simple preference for better-looking people, of course. Researchers believe that the personality traits often exhibited by attractive people have a great deal to do with their tendency to thrive in corporate environments. Men who look younger tend to feel better about themselves and therefore project a self-assured, optimistic, and engaging aura. Such qualities are, of course, highly desirable in any employee.

Younger looking men also come across as being more energetic and virile. They give employers the impression that they have the power and stamina required to handle even the toughest projects. Finally, younger looking men lack drooping eyelids (a common side-effect of aging that facelift surgery is often used to correct) and therefore appear more alert and engaged with their work.

Having facelift surgery has benefits outside the workplace, too. Men who feel good about how they look have an easier time making social connections, particularly when it comes to dating. In an era when more and more people find themselves divorced by the time they hit middle age, this advantage can be essential to starting over with the right person. And of course, remaining socially active as we get older—even in a purely platonic context—has been linked to lower rates of depression, anxiety, and dementia. In other words, if having a facelift will help you get out there and mingle, it’s probably well worth the initial investment required.

A Word of Advice for Men Seeking Facelift Surgery

While facelifts can make both men and women look dramatically younger, male and female facelifts are not exactly alike. In order to ensure optimal results, male patients require slightly adjusted surgical methods. The male patient’s surgeon must understand how to work correctly with male skin (which tends to be thicker than female skin) and male facial musculature. Furthermore, plastic surgeons working on male patients must be extremely skilled when it comes to scar reduction. Because men usually keep their hair cut shorter than women do, they have less hair available to hide facelift scars. As such, facelift scars on male patients must be carefully tucked behind the ear and concealed within the hairline.

Men often have slightly different aesthetic objectives than women, too. They may be less concerned with restoring lost facial volume, instead preferring to create a stronger, more angular silhouette. Moreover, not all men wish to completely erase the signs of aging. Because older men are perceived as more refined and sophisticated than young men, mature guys often strongly desire to retain a natural look after facelift surgery. Instead of wishing to look 25 again, they often want to tackle a few specific issues (such as a double chin and sagging jowls) that they feel detract from their overall appearance. If you’re a male facelift patient, it’s therefore very important to discuss your individual cosmetic goals with your plastic surgeon so that your facelift procedure can be personalized accordingly.

Above all else, male facelift patients should take the time to verify that their chosen plastic surgeon has extensive experience performing male facelifts. When you have your facelift consultation, ask your surgeon for a selection of “before and after” photos depicting male facelifts he or she has successfully performed in the past. This will give you a realistic idea of what to expect from this procedure. With the right research and preparation, you’ll be well on your way to obtaining a sculpted, defined, and handsome face that blends youthfulness with dignity and confidence.