When Kevin Maguire first began seeing Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD, of Crutchfield Dermatology in Eagan, it was because he was being treated for skin cancer.

On his next visit, Crutchfield encouraged Maguire to try Botox. “I had this frown line on my forehead,” Maguire recalled. “Dr. Crutchfield gave me Botox there, and it just went away. It was a dramatic change.” Soon Maguire tried Restylane, a filler made of natural hyaluronic acid that is injected in the skin to smooth out facial wrinkles and folds and also in a crevice on top of his nose. “The effects of Restylane happen right away,” he says. “I was very happy with the results; immediate gratification is there, and it has lasted well over a year.”

Maguire is one of many Twin Cities’ men having cosmetic procedures. According to a study by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the number of American men receiving minimally invasive cosmetic procedures increased by 43% and cosmetic surgery by 16% from 2000 to 2004. The numbers are similar in the metro area, with cosmetic surgeons, dermatologists, and medical spas reporting more male clients than ever.

Men are seeking a range of nonsurgical, or minimally invasive, and surgical treatments. Because of the quick results and lack of down time, one popular course for men is the use of injectables, most notably Botox and Restylane.

According to Dr. Crutchfield, Botox works better for dynamic wrinkles—those caused by muscle movements and facial expressions—because it temporarily relaxes the muscles in question and therefore causes those lines to temporarily disappear. Restylane, on the other hand, works better for static wrinkles—the ones you see just looking in the mirror without facial expression—because it literally fills in the lines and wrinkles.

Botox and Restylane compliment each other. They both extend the length of time the other one works, Dr. Crutchfield says. Men are also using Restylane to fill in thin lips and scars, he adds. While men are filling in some areas, they are melting away others. The hottest rage of all would be mesotherapy, Crutchfield says. It is an injection of vitamins and enzymes to take away cellulite and smooth out other unwanted areas of fat. It is nonsurgical replacement for liposuction. It can’t be used all over like liposuction; however, in specific areas like tummy, love handles, saddlebags, and under the chin it works like magic approximately 75% of the time. It is relatively painless and takes only five minutes for a treatment.

Dr. Crutchfield adds, “It’s also important for the buyer to beware. There is a wide offering of minimally invasive cosmetic services available in the Twin Cities, some from non-physicians and from strip mall medi spas that have no physician on site. It’s very important before having any cosmetic procedure done to review a list of very important questions.” This list is available at www.SafeBotox.com. It is also important to remember that price is only one factor when considering a cosmetic treatment. Dr. Crutchfield says, ”I remember when I was in medical school, I used to take my shoes to a shoe repair shop and on the wall they had a small sign that said ‘The bitterness of poor quality lasts much longer than the sweetness of low price.’ “ For additional information on pricing, please listen to the information line at 651-209-3694. Dr. Crutchfield says the most important consideration is that “Quality matters.”