Forget The Mommy Makeover, It’s Time For The Daddy Do-Over

Ask any parent and they’ll likely tell you that having kids can do a number on your physique — and we’re not just talking about pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. The lifestyle changes and demands of childrearing can have a dramatic impact on dads, too.

As the conversation surrounding male plastic surgery continues to evolve, more and more fathers are considering a collection of cosmetic procedures that have become known as the ‘daddy do-over.’ “The stigma against men having plastic surgery is falling, so men are more likely to get what they want,” says Nashville-based board certified plastic surgeon Jacob Unger, MD.

Similar to its counterpart — the so-called mommy makeover — a daddy do-over typically consists of surgical body contouring (think: liposuction, tummy tucks, and male breast reduction). Some men take advantage of their OR time to tack on facial procedures ranging from blepharoplasty (i.e. eyelid surgery) and neck lifts to hair transplants and CO2 laser resurfacing.

Male Plastic Surgery Trends

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, more than 1.3 million cosmetic procedures were performed on men in 2018 (up nearly 30 percent since 2000) and liposuction was the second most popular surgical procedure for guys with some 30,000 treatments performed.

“I think men are realizing they feel the same way as women do about not wanting to age,” says Scottsdale, Arizona-based board certified plastic surgeon Richard J. Brown, MD. “With society’s emphasis on being healthy and in shape, men want their faces and bodies to match how they feel inside.”

As men age, fat tends to accumulate around the midsection. With less time to exercise and eat right, many guys — dads including — find it nearly impossible to reduce that stubborn bulge and are turning to surgery to reach their goals.

Dr. Unger, for example, has seen an increasing number of dads coming in for liposuction of the abdomen, flanks, and back, as well as high-def lipo sculpting procedures that utilize laser and radiofrequency energy to target specific areas of fat and create the illusion of a more chiseled physique — especially in the ab area. “Fitness is so en vogue, and this is an extension of that trend,” he says.

The Best Candidates for a Daddy Do-Over

According to both surgeons, the best candidates for these types of contouring procedures are men who are already in relatively good shape. “Fit people with isolated issues that can be treated effectively,” says Dr. Unger. And, as with any procedure, prospective patients must be healthy enough for surgery.

“Patients need to have a body mass index (BMI) that is sufficient to support having surgery safely and to give them the best result,” Dr. Brown explains. Plastic surgery should not be used an alternative to weight loss surgery, and patients who already have a healthy lifestyle in place — including a nutritious diet and regular exercise routine that allows them to maintain a healthy weight — are more likely to experience the benefits of just about any form of cosmetic surgery.

Seeing the sculpting results of a daddy do-over may even inspire patients to amp up those already positive lifestyle choices. Dr. Unger’s patient Jack* says that getting liposuction on his abdomen and flanks “jump-started” his road to getting back in shape. The 34-year-old father of two elementary school-aged kids followed up his surgery with “a good, healthy meal plan” and “better lifestyle choices,” which, he says, got him in the best shape of his life.

It should be noted that while combining cosmetic procedures is generally more cost-effective than having separate surgeries, a daddy do-over can set patients back between $10,000 and $20,000, depending on the treatment plan. The trade-off, however, is that patients will only have one period of downtime, as opposed to separate recoveries, if the surgeries were spaced out.

Most Popular Daddy Do-Over Procedures

So, for dads (or, really, any man looking for a bit of fine-tuning) what are the best face and body procedures to combine? The AEDITION asked the experts.

1. Liposuction

As mentioned, some 30,000 liposuction procedures were performed on American men in 2018 alone. Dr. Brown says the sculpting techniques used during a daddy do-over do differ from those employed on mommy makeover patients. “For male body contouring, the way we shape the torso is different because the hip to waist ratios are different,” he explains. “Women tend to desire an hourglass appearance while men do not.”

2. Gynecomastia Surgery (a.k.a. Male Breast Reduction)

As men age, their likelihood of experiencing gynecomastia (colloquially referred to as ‘man boobs’) increases. This excess of breast tissue and fat in the chest — as a result of an imbalance between testosterone and estrogen — can be exacerbated by certain medications and lifestyle choices. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) reports that male breast reduction surgery rose nearly 50 percent between 2014 and 2018, making it the second most frequently performed cosmetic procedure among men.

3. Abdominoplasty (i.e. Tummy Tuck)

While they’re a staple of the mommy makeover, the ASAPS found only about 5,000 male tummy tucks were performed in 2018. Because of the significant stretching of both the skin and underlying muscle that occurs during pregnancy, women tend to seek out abdominoplasty more often than men. But that’s not to say they don’t have benefits for guys as well.

In cases of extreme weight loss, a tummy tuck — which tightens the abdominal muscles and removes loose skin — may be the best and only solution to meet a patient’s goals. Joe, a father of two, lost a significant amount of weight through diet and exercise and found himself unhappy with the sagging skin left around his midsection. He opted with a tummy tuck with Dr. Brown that had a big impact on his sense of self. “I feel more self-confident and less apprehensive about going shirtless,” he shares.

4. Facial Rejuvenation

Not only seeking to undo their ‘dad bods,’ surveys show that men are also turning to cosmetic surgeons to help them look younger and maintain a competitive edge in the workplace. Both surgical and non-surgical facial rejuvenation procedures, especially eyelid surgery and Brotox — ahem, Botox® — are on the rise.

Botulinum toxin type A injections (like Botox®, Dysport®, Jeuveau®, and Xeomin®) and soft tissue fillers rank first and second, respectively, on the ASAPS’ annual list of the most popular minimally invasive procedures for men. In his practice, Dr. Brown has seen an increase in the number of dads requesting these tweakments. “They see their wives looking rejuvenated, and they want to keep up,” he says.

Alex*, a busy father of three, started getting Botox® when he felt his facial lines were making him look older. “I didn’t like looking like I was frowning all the time, but I didn’t want that frozen look either,” he confides. “When Dr. Brown explained that I would still be able to make expressions and that it keeps wrinkles from getting worse, I thought, ‘Why not try it?’”

The Takeaway

Much like the mommy makeover, the results and impact of a daddy do-over typically run deeper than the physical aspect alone. In addition to restoring a patient’s physique, many report an overall improvement in their self-confidence as well.

“I’ve got twin boys, so I get it. I don’t know anyone — dads included — who doesn’t want to look and feel their best,” says Dr. Brown, who practices what he preaches. “I do have filler in my face and some neurotoxin, and it has made a huge change in the way I look. That translates into how I feel. Upkeep is no longer taboo. It’s the norm for everyone, and why the heck not?”

*Patient names have been changed