For male patients, the world of cosmetic enhancements has never been so open. According to the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery’s (AAFPRS) 2024 survey of its members, 92 percent of surgeons report treating male patients. And among nonsurgical procedures, men continue to seek neurotoxins and fillers above all else. With 90 percent of the doctors reporting they regularly perform neurotoxins and fillers, it’s clear that men are getting their piece of the revitalizing pie. Thanks to advanced techniques, better options and more visibility, dermal fillers for men have gone from a rarity to a popular option for rejuvenation.
Featured Experts
- Raman Mahabir, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Tucson, AZ
- Kathleen Behr, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in Fresno, CA
- Steven Bloch, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Highland Park, IL
- Sean Simon, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Miami
- Corey Hartman, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in Birmingham, AL
Male patients received more than 100,000 dermal filler treatments in 2023.
Source: American Society of Plastic Surgery
More Men Are Seeking Fillers
“As recently as five years ago, men were just not that interested in dermal fillers and fat grafting,” says Tucson, AZ plastic surgeon Raman Mahabir, MD. “The popularity of these treatments has really taken off.” Part of that is thanks to the increase in general awareness when it comes to aesthetic treatment options. “Men are a growing population in the aesthetic market from top to bottom,” adds Fresno, CA dermatologist Kathleen Behr, MD. “They often come in wanting treatments to help them look younger, less tired or more masculine.”
Additionally, as more men have had these treatments, Dr. Mahabir says physicians’ techniques have refined. “Our techniques for administering filler used to be geared toward feminine expectations, but now we understand how to enhance masculine features with more accuracy. So, men are also seeing other male patients get really positive results. That, in turn, means more men seeking filler.”
Dr. Behr used Restylane Lyft and Restylane Defyne on this 30-year-old patient to create a more defined jaw and chin.
For male patients, neurotoxins, fillers and skin treatments remain the most popular nonsurgical treatments.
Source: AAFPRS
Sculpting With Filler: Male vs Female Fillers
“Sculpting the face with fillers is an art form,” explains Highland Park, IL plastic surgeon Steven Bloch, MD. “And there are key differences when it comes to who you’re sculpting for—either a male or female patient. Women, for example, tend to want a soft fullness that feels youthful.” For male patients, Dr. Behr says “the goal is to feel more confident and masculine.”
To meet those desires, practitioners have adjusted how they administer dermal fillers. “Because we’re trying to strengthen the existing frame, the filler is often placed deeper than it would be in female patients,” Dr. Mahabir explains. “That way, we are restoring volume without adding softness.”
“The good news is that the duration of action for dermal fillers should be about the same in men as in women,” says Miami plastic surgeon Sean Simon, MD. “That said, it’s possible that neurotoxins may require a larger dose to treat areas with larger muscle mass, like the glabella [11s].” Men’s skin is also, on average, about 20-percent thicker than women’s, which can require a more viscous dermal filler.
92% of facial plastic surgeons report treating male patients in 2024
Source: AAFPRS
Where to Sculpt: What Can Filler Do for Men?
According to Dr. Simon, most men make good candidates for filler, and it can be used to rejuvenate several areas of the face. “I find that my male patients are very concerned with the eye area, especially the under-eyes,” he explains. “This area can really benefit from dermal filler to replace lost volume, support the cheek and smooth skin texture.”
Midface fillers in the cheeks and nasolabial folds are also very popular options. “The cheek filler is placed more medial and inferior than it is in females,” Dr. Behr adds. “This not only contours the cheeks, but also lifts the nasolabial folds and improves the eye area.”
Dr. Simon says that injecting the nasolabial folds addresses the creases between the nose and the mouth (the smile lines). “Men tend to lose volume in this area with age, and it can create a depression in the skin,” adds Dr. Bloch. “Fillers are an excellent choice to restore this volume because surgical results in this area can be difficult to achieve.” Another popular area for men to get dermal fillers is the jawline, and the results can help disguise early jowls and create a more defined look.
It’s important to note that patients who are also concerned with skin laxity will require a surgical solution to see a positive result, and that fillers alone will not produce the best outcome.
Birmingham, AL dermatologist Corey Hartman, MD used Juvéderm Vollure to restore lost volume in this 53-year-old male patient’s forehead.
Changing Mediums: When Is It Time for Surgery?
It’s important to note that surgery and fillers address different issues. “There are three major categories of facial aging,” says Dr. Mahabir. “Loss of volume, skin laxity, and the overall appearance and health of the skin. You address volume with filler, skin laxity with surgery, and skin health with a good skin-care routine and in-office options like lasers.”
And for patients who want enhanced, defined features, popular filler options can last upwards of two years. “Anyone who is starting to experience volume loss, be it in the cheeks or jaw, makes a good candidate for dermal fillers,” Dr. Bloch explains. “And often my patients who are interested in these options do not want surgery. So, they tend to find fillers a very cost-effective route to rejuvenation.”
