Male Facial Surgery Melbourne
Plastic surgery for men can involve procedures that address the brow, eyelids, midface, jawline, neck, and facial volume. Male facial surgery planning considers anatomy, skin thickness, and hairline or beard patterns to support natural proportions. This page covers options, risks, and general recovery expectations, discussed in detail during consultation. Dr Rodrigo Teixeira is a Specialist Plastic Surgeon experienced in facial surgery in Melbourne.
How Male Facial Anatomy Guides Surgical Planning
Male facial anatomy differs from female anatomy in ways that influence technique choice and incision planning.
Men often have a lower, flatter brow with a more prominent brow bone. Upper eyelid heaviness may be caused by eyelid skin excess, brow descent, or true eyelid ptosis (lid muscle weakness). These concerns can look similar, but may require different approaches.
Men may also have thicker skin and denser soft tissue, which can affect swelling, scar behaviour, and how tissues settle. Hairline position, hair thinning, beard distribution, and shaving patterns are considered when placing incisions, to reduce the risk of visible scarring or hairline disruption.
In the neck, contour change may relate to submental fat, skin laxity, platysma muscle banding, or deeper structures. A careful assessment helps determine which factors are contributing.
Common Concerns Men Seek to Address
Men may seek facial surgery for concerns such as:
- Upper eyelid heaviness, sometimes with brow descent
- A tired, stern, or drawn upper-face appearance
- Midface or lower-face laxity (including jowling)
- Neck fullness, loss of jawline definition, or visible neck bands
- Facial volume changes affecting the temples, cheeks, or lower face
These changes often develop gradually and vary significantly between individuals.
Male Face Surgical Options
Plastic surgery for men is considered after a consultation that identifies your concerns and assesses your anatomy. Recommendations are guided by diagnosis and your personal goals. Because different issues can look similar (for example, brow descent and eyelid skin excess), options are discussed only after examination.
Eyelid surgery (upper and lower blepharoplasty)
Upper blepharoplasty may be considered where excess upper eyelid skin contributes to heaviness. In some patients, a heavy upper eyelid appearance may be influenced by brow position or true eyelid ptosis (lid muscle weakness), which can affect the most appropriate treatment plan.
Lower blepharoplasty may be considered for concerns such as lower eyelid skin laxity, prominent fat pockets (“bags”), or under-eye hollowing. Technique selection depends on factors including skin quality and lower eyelid support, and may involve different incision approaches. Lower eyelid support is assessed before surgery, and where laxity is present, tightening procedures such as canthopexy or canthoplasty may be discussed to help reduce the risk of lower lid malposition.
Brow surgery
Brow procedures may be considered when brow descent contributes to upper-face heaviness or alters brow shape. Planning takes into account forehead anatomy, hairline position, and patterns of hair thinning to support discreet scar placement. In some cases, brow position is assessed alongside the upper eyelids, and a brow procedure may be discussed in association with upper blepharoplasty where clinically relevant. In men with a receding hairline, incision and fixation planning is particularly important and may influence whether an endoscopic approach is appropriate.
Facelift for men
Facelift techniques may be considered for midface and lower-face change, with the approach guided by skin quality, facial shape, and the aim of maintaining a natural masculine appearance. Incisions are planned with sideburn position, beard-bearing skin, and hairline patterns in mind to help minimise visible scarring and reduce the risk of hairline distortion. In selected cases, an endoscopic (camera-assisted) approach may be discussed for specific areas where smaller incisions and targeted tissue repositioning are appropriate. Facelift methods vary (for example, deeper tissue-plane approaches versus SMAS-based techniques), and the most suitable option depends on your anatomy, degree of laxity, and goals identified during consultation.
Neck lift approaches
Neck lift techniques may be recommended where concerns relate to skin laxity, platysma muscle banding, and/or contour change under the chin or along the jawline. If submental fullness (fullness under the chin) is contributing, management may involve addressing fat and soft tissue contour in addition to skin and muscle support, depending on your anatomy. In some patients, deeper anatomical factors, such as submandibular gland prominence, can also contribute to neck fullness and are assessed as part of the consultation.
Fat grafting / volume restoration
Volume restoration may be used to support areas of volume loss. Planning includes donor site selection, careful fat placement, and discussion of the variability in fat survival. Volume retention differs between individuals, and some patients may require staged grafting to reach or maintain the desired level of correction. No single approach is suitable for everyone, and alternatives, including non-surgical management, may be discussed where appropriate.
Dr Teixeira’s Surgical Approach to Male Facial Surgery
Dr Teixeira’s approach prioritises diagnostic clarity, anatomical preservation, and realistic discussion of limitations. Recommendations are made after assessing whether your concern is driven mainly by tissue descent, volume loss, skin quality, muscle changes, or underlying skeletal structure.
Surgical planning aims to support proportion and recognisable facial characteristics, rather than applying standardised templates. Outcomes vary between individuals, and no specific result can be guaranteed.
What to Expect at the Male Facial Surgery Consultation
Patients attending a male facial surgery consultation can expect a thorough assessment process. This includes review of medical history, discussion of concerns and goals, and physical examination of facial anatomy. Referral pathways and pre-consultation requirements are explained in advance.
Suitability for surgery is assessed only after considering your health, your anatomy, and the potential risks. Recommendations are made after consultation and may include alternatives, as surgery is not appropriate for everyone. For cosmetic surgery, a registered GP (or other specialist) referral is required, two separate consultations are typically needed, screening for body dysmorphic disorder is undertaken, and a minimum seven-day cooling-off period applies after the second consultation.
Risks and Safety Considerations of Male Facial Surgery
All surgery carries risk. Common side effects may include swelling, bruising, discomfort, temporary changes in sensation, and scarring. Risks vary depending on the procedure and individual factors.
Other risks can include:
- Bleeding or haematoma
- Infection
- Delayed healing
- Asymmetry
- Contour irregularity
- Unfavourable scarring
- Possibility of further procedures
Fat grafting has additional considerations, including swelling at both donor and recipient sites, variable fat survival, and rare but serious complications related to vascular compromise.
Individual outcomes vary and depend on anatomy, health factors, and the procedure performed. Procedure-specific risks and safety planning are explained during consultation. Patients are also welcome to seek a second opinion if desired.
Recovery After Male Facial Surgery
Recovery depends on the procedure performed and your individual healing response. You’ll be provided with tailored instructions on wound care, activity restrictions, scar management, and follow-up.
Bruising and swelling are expected early on, and it can take time for tissues to settle and scars to mature. Recovery timelines vary, and your aftercare plan is individualised to support safe healing.
Our Melbourne Clinic
Dr Rodrigo Teixeira consults at Unveil Plastic Surgery in Melbourne, a professional clinical environment focused on patient comfort, privacy, and safety. Patients are invited to contact the clinic to arrange a consultation and discuss individual concerns with the clinical team.
Male Facial Surgery FAQs
Male ageing patterns can involve different distributions of laxity and volume change, along with thicker skin and different brow position compared with females. These factors can influence technique selection.
All surgery results in scars. Incisions are planned to reduce visibility where possible, taking into account hairline patterns, beard distribution, and skin quality. Scars typically mature over time, but individual healing varies.
Planning aims to maintain recognisable facial characteristics and masculine proportions. The goal is typically structural support and balance, while maintaining a natural appearance.
Sometimes. Depending on diagnosis, non-surgical options may be discussed where appropriate, including skin-focused treatments and injectables (including treatments involving prescription-only medication, discussed during consultation). Non-surgical options cannot replicate surgical repositioning.
“Volume restoration” describes the goal, while fat grafting is one method that uses your own tissue. Fat survival is variable and specific risks apply, which are discussed during consultation.
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