The old adage goes “beauty is pain,” and never before have I considered this saying to be applicable to men, until the last few years. Our society is a place where attractiveness and vitality are increasingly held in high regard and for that reason, the number of aesthetic procedures for men continue to grow year over year. For example, between 1997 and 2012, procedures among men increased more than 100%. Even more, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, in 2013 men accounted for 13% of all procedures performed. Obviously, women are still responsible for the majority, but men are progressively making up a greater amount of the total.
Why are men seeking cosmetic procedures?
Both men and women live in America’s youth-oriented culture and for that reason, more men than before are admitting that they care about their looks and are willing to go to great lengths to maintain them. More specifically, men who are single and dating want to project a look of youthfulness and endurance to attract women who offer them the same in return.
Another reason for men to consider cosmetic procedures is the cutthroat nature of the job market. Many men feel that maintaining their youthful appearance through plastic surgery will allow them to remain more competitive in the work force and further advance up the corporate ladder. In a culture so obsessed by what is reflected in the mirror, some men find plastic surgery to be a key tool in their ability to succeed professionally.
What types of procedures are men most interested in?
We see the most men for these procedures:
- Liposuction, one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures, helps to sculpt the body by removing unwanted fat from specific areas. It provides men the ability to make their bodies more trim and fit with minimal effort or time required.
- Rhinoplasty, also known as nasal sculpting surgery or a nose job, is performed to increase or decrease the size of the nose to make it better fit the face and aesthetically enhances one’s appearance.
- Blepharoplasty, surgery of the eyelids (both above and below the eye) to correct bags, puffiness, and aging skin. This procedure can return a youthful look to an individual’s face.
- Male Breast Reduction, the removal of excess fat and glandular breast tissue due to a condition called gynecomastia (enlarged male breasts) which is estimated to affect 10% of men.
