This article was written by Dr Adinka Blaj (MBBS, FRACGP, Bc AAAM, FACAM, FCPCA.), a cosmetic physician who has been practising since 1993, specialising in dermal fillers, anti-wrinkle injections, and other non-surgical procedures.

The longstanding taboo around cosmetic treatments for men is seemingly on its way out. We spoke to one of Australia’s leading cosmetic doctors to find out what tweaks men are making.

Cosmetic treatments are no longer exclusive to women, with more men open to exploring various procedures that enhance their appearance and address specific cosmetic concerns. Like women, men may have areas of their face and body that they either want to preserve or tweak, and a cosmetic procedure can be a good way for them to achieve their goals without having to go under the knife.

With more advanced treatments coming out onto the market each year, there are a lot of options for those who want to achieve a subtle (or not so subtle) tweak. Here are the treatments that my Sydney customers have been requesting more and more…

Radio-Frequency Microneedling

Radio-frequency microneedling is a good treatment for those looking to tighten their skin and reduce the appearance of scarring (including acne scars), photo-aging, stretch marks, wrinkles and fine lines. It’s also great for improving the overall texture of the skin. It’s become very popular amongst our male patients as it has a very low downtime as well as being safe and effective in all skin types.

How does it work? Fine electrodes are mechanically inserted into the skin via microneedling tech. The needling is followed by the discharge of a small amount of radio frequency energy which stimulates collagen production, tightening excessive superficial fat, especially for those who hold it in their jowl or chin.

Morpheus8 deserves to be mentioned. This machine is one of the most powerful on the market and does not require any medical qualification to operate. The settings are completely adaptable. The machine can tighten the skin, reduce pore size and also dissolve fat (depending on the settings used).

We are seeing more and more men opt to do this over facelifts as with multiple sessions the results can be comparable. This can also be done all over the body and is fantastic for tightening loose skin after fat loss or targeting stubborn pockets of fat. Popular body areas are the stomach, legs, knees and arms. 

Hair Loss Treatments

PRP and Exosomes are two of the most popular options for hair loss. Exosomes are one of the newest treatments to hit the Australian market, and are responsible for some incredible results. Exosomes are available for hair and for the face. For most people, three sessions are required for the hair (4-6 weeks apart) followed by maintenance sessions. We are even seeing it improve some forms of alopecia.

PICO Laser

PICO Laser technology is a non-surgical, non-invasive laser skin treatment that can be used to address the majority of common skin imperfections. This includes pigmentation, tattoo removal, acne scar reduction and even overall skin rejuvenation.

Pico is short for ‘Picosecond’ (a 1 trillionth of a second); in this context, that refers to the speed at which the laser pulse is measured. Pico technology is regarded as one of the most advanced laser treatments currently available on the market and its increasing popularity among men can be attributed to its versatility, efficacy, and minimal downtime.

Exosomes for the Face

We are incorporating exosomes into a lot of treatments, including as an add-on to Morpheus8. Exosomes are messengers that send signals for the body to repair, rejuvenate or regenerate. As a standalone treatment, we are seeing improvements in pigmentation, rosacea, skin texture and skin tightening. In combination with Morpheus8, we are seeing that it more than quarters the downtime, improves the results and also leaves people more satisfied with their treatment when compared to a facelift.

Rejuran

Rejuran is a polynucleotide extracted from wild salmon sperm DNA, it and comes in three formats: scar, face and eye). The results are tightened and brightened skin. Most people require 2 sessions of Rejuran for optimal results, usually 4-6 weeks apart. Once men get over the fact they are technically having ejaculate put into their face, they are pleasantly surprised with the results!

Chemical Peels

For men wanting to improve acne, reduce pigmentation or improve rosacea. There are both gentle and medium-depth chemical peels, depending on the required result and the downtime available. The ZO Skin Health Stimulator Peel is a gentle chemical peel. We recommend a series of 3 peels (2 weeks apart) for best results. These can be tailored to acne, brightening or redness. This peel has no downtime as the peeling is so light you could only see it under a microscope. The ZO Skin Health 3-Step Peel is a medium-depth chemical peel with incredible results for pigmentation.  

Non-surgical Rhinoplasty (aka Nose Filler)

It’s not uncommon for someone to have issues with the appearance of their nose, but having surgery is painful, expensive and requires an often unattainable amount of downtime. The good news is that there are now non-surgical rhinoplasty options that provide exceptional results.

The nose is the centre point of the face and has an effect on both an individual’s profile and facial symmetry. As an alternative to Surgical Rhinoplasty, the non-surgical option is becoming very popular thanks to the walk-in walk-out immediate results without the downtime that comes with surgery.

The procedure involves the careful placement of dermal fillers into the nose in order to correct symmetry and profile. As the field of aesthetic medicine continues to advance, non-surgical rhinoplasty is expected to remain a sought-after option for men looking to refine their appearance while maintaining a natural look.

Skincare

More men than ever want to have a more in-depth skincare routine that is research-driven and targets their concerns. We stock ZO Skin Health as our primary skincare as it is developed by a dermatologist in the US — Dr Zein Obagi — and is only available in medical clinics after consultation with a practitioner. These products are formulated with real science and research, so patients can be confident that each product actually delivers what they expect it to. 

If you’re looking to get into the basics of home skincare before going to see a doctor, take a look at some of our guides on our favourite products and approaches, including the best eye creams and anti-aging creams.