The most ‘tweak’ cosmetic procedures and products for men

To anyone who’s met him IRL, it’ll come as no surprise that lifelong New York City cosmetic dermatologist Paul Jarrod Frank has taken part in a non-surgical aesthetic service or two.

“What treatments I haven’t had is really the point,” he says, ticking off a list that includes wrinkle-smoothing injections, multiple generations of sun-damage-erasing Fraxel lasers, and skin-tightening Ultherapy. Yes, the 54-year-old dermatologist has also gone under the knife — for his eyes — but mostly he’s about maintaining a healthy lifestyle balanced by what’s on offer at his two Manhattan offices.

And in this connection with the “adjustments”, Frank is joined by many other guys from the tristate. “Since men often seek quick solutions with low recovery time, they make up an ever-growing patient population,” he notes, adding that the growth coincides with steady advances in technology and minimally invasive procedures. “They have no downtime for complicated regimens, maintenance or recoveries.”

Howard Sobel, a clinical dermatologic surgeon at New York’s Lenox Hill Hospital, has also seen more dudes crowding the threshold of his private practice lately. “There has been an increase in men’s grooming,” he says. “I believe that social media has contributed to this. Everyone is concerned about their appearance – and social media doesn’t let you hide.”

In his New York office, Sobel fields frequent requests for help with baldness. “Men have always lived in fear of losing their hair,” he says. “One of the most popular treatments I do is with the Alma TED (transepidermal delivery) device. It is a non-invasive hair restoration option that is painless and results can be seen after a few treatments. They stimulate hair growth, reduce shedding and add thickness, and it’s a simple, needle-free treatment that takes about 20 minutes.”

Not that Sobel’s male patients fear needles. “They’re totally on the Botox bandwagon,” he says. “I treat almost as many men as I treat women at this point.”

Frank says that when it comes to injectable neuromodulators for his male patients, less is more. “I think the most important thing about men, which is different from women, is that they don’t worry so much about every little wrinkle,” he notes. “Men want to keep moving.”

To that end, Frank favors Xeomin over Botox for his male clients. “There are neuromodulators like Xeomin that are less potent than brand name Botox, so they won’t give men a frozen flat forehead,” he says. “In fact, I often recommend a 50% reduction in wrinkles on men to preserve movement so they can still express themselves but look less tired and stressed.”

Plastic surgeon Jason Diamond, who splits his time between Beverly Hills and NYC, offers male patients a variety of minimally invasive techniques to stop the clock. One, called the Diamond Face Sculpt, is a big hit with the testosterone pack.

“Men want to look their best and are more aware of how bone structure and structural contours enhance their aesthetics,” says Diamond. “With my Diamond Face Sculpting technique, I am able to improve facial balance and bone to soft tissue ratio non-surgically while making it look natural, which is important to me and my patients men.”

As for the changes this trio of high-profile NYC docs don’t recommend? The list includes the “double chin” Kybella injection treatment, a flight to Turkey for a budget hair transplant and generally overdoing every treatment.

“I find that the overall aesthetic vibe for men in the sad zone is about exuding vitality,” says Frank. “Men want to look fresh, vital, masculine – and not overdone.”