Plastic Surgery Procedures for Men

Henry Mentz, MD, FICS, FACS

Houston, Texas

Dr. Mentz has been a leader in plastic surgery for men. He developed and published "abdominal etching" as a specialized liposuction technique performed to create the "six pack" abdomen in 1991. He later established a modified version so that regular guys could get "athletic abs" through special liposculpting techniques in 1995. He has recently introduced "pectoral etching", which utilizes the same philosophy of detailed liposuction sculpting to achieve a more masculine chest in 2003. Also in 2003, he introducted puncture removal of gynecomastia (overdeveloped breast glands in men most often removed through larger incisions). Pectoral implants are sometimes used to augment the pectoral muscles.

In addition Dr. Mentz's credentials in men's athletic contouring, he has special credentials in facial surgery. He has written regarding facelifts (rhytidectomy), necklifts, eyelids (blepharoplasty), rhinoplasty (nose job), and fat grafting. Dr. Mentz's reputation as a leader in this field of aesthetic plastic surgery for men has made him a highly sought after writer and speaker.

Abdominal Etching for Men in Houston, Texas

The "six pack," more commonly referred to as the ripped, washboard or athletic abs, is a liposuction procedure designed by Dr. Mentz in 1991 to contour the abdomen and waist for male patients to maximize the athletic appearance. The procedure also involves Liposculpture, which serves to actually make the abdominal muscles appear more muscular.

The procedure is simple and is usually performed in less than one hour under general anesthesia. While the patient is asleep, fat is selectively removed through a small hollow tube inserted through one or more tiny incisions. Most of these incisions are hidden in the pubic hair and in natural creases of the body leaving only very small scars. The abdomen is suctioned to thin the fat pad, then more aggressively over the external obliques, linea alba, and transverse incriptions. This technique reveals and enhances the musclar contour to achieve a more athletic appearance. Recovery is usually 3 to 5 days and patients usually are back to workouts within a week.

Male abdominal etching is not a substitute for weight loss, and the best candidates are of relatively normal weight with isolated pockets of fat that do not respond to diet and exercise.

Please contact Dr. Mentz for a consultation. See Dr. Mentz's articles on etching.

Male Breast Reduction or Refinement (pectoral muscle etching) in Houston, Texas

The medical term for overdeveloped breasts in men is gynecomastia. The breast is comprised of approximately 50% fat and overdeveloped breasts occor in 40 to 60% of all men. Male breast reduction surgery is designed to remove excess fat to decrease the size of the breasts. The use of steroids also may increase muscle mass in men leading to possible breast enlargement.

In 2003, Dr. Mentz developed "puncure removal," a special way to remove unwanted chest fullness through a small puncture. During male breast reduction surgery, a small specialized cannula is used to carefully sculpture the chest by suctioning out excess fat. After fat removal there may also be residual glandular material. This has traditionally been removed through a semicircular incision around the areola, but now can be removed through a tiny puncture incision. Patients have welcomed the procedure as an new breakthrough for men. The chest can be contoured and the gland removed and there is little to no visable scar. The surgery takes less than an hour and most patients can expect to return to work in three to four days, but will want to avoid heavy exercise for about two to three weeks.

"Pectoral etching" was developed by Dr. Mentz in 2004 specifically for athletic men or men who were after a more athletic appearance. It's design is similar to the abdominal etching and is adapted to enhance the appearance of the pectoral muscle. It is often performed with gynecomastia liposuction and puncture removal and adds 20 to 30 minutes to the surgery. During surgery, the axilla, lateral and inferior borders of the pectoralis major are aggressively liposuctioned. This technique reveals and enhances the muscular appearance of the pectoral muscles.

Dr. Mentz will determine if you are a candidate for male breast reduction or refinement surgery, as well as discuss all associated risks of the procedures with you during your office visit.

Rhytidectomy (face lift for men) in Houston, Texas

A face lift, or rhytidectomy, is a procedure used to reverse the signs of aging by removing excess fat, tightening underlying muscles and reshaping the skin of your face and neck. Male patients considering a facelift will be evaluated based on your skin type, amount of fat, muscle and bone structure.

During your evaluation, Dr. Mentz may also suggest other procedures to maximize your facial appearance goals, such as nose reshaping or chin augmentation.

During a face lift, Dr. Mentz will make incisions within the hairline at the temples, and extend in a natural line around the ear then behind, to the hair behind the ear. After removing excess fat and skin, and tightening the underlying muscles and soft tissues, the incisions are carefully sutured. Your sutures should be ready for removal after approximately five days, although your scalp may take additional time to heal. Dr. Mentz will discuss with you all precautions to take following surgery, as well as any associated risks.

Hair Replacement for Men in Houston, Texas

Hair loss in men is primarily caused by a combination of hormones, aging, and family history, and while some theories exist that vitamin deficiencies, poor circulation, or excessive hat wearing can contribute to hair loss, these theories have been largely disproved.

Hair replacement procedures use existing hair from the back and sides of your head to fill in thinning areas. Good candidates for hair replacement have dense hair growth at the back and sides of the head.

To begin the process, Dr. Mentz will remove a small strip of hair (usually from the back of the head) and then will dissect each hair follicle using magnification. Single, double and triple hair grafts are placed several millimeters from each other in the balding area. Dr. Mentz will take great care to harvest and place the grafts so as to create the most natural look possible. More dramatic results to treat baldness can be achieved with surgically reducing the balding area in the procedure called a scalp reduction.

Hair replacement procedures are completed under local or general anesthesia. Factors such as hair texture, color and curliness may affect the final result. Most patients can return to work after this procedure in a few days.

To learn more about Surgery for Men surgery contact Dr. Mentz at
713-799-9999.

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