Men and Cosmetic Surgery

If you don’t believe that cosmetic surgery has become a full blown trend even among the male population, all you have to do is pick up a glossy male magazine. With actors, celebrities, and reality stars regularly going under the doctor’s knife, it is hard not to believe that men too are getting nipped and tucked for more appealing physical features.

According to the data gathered by the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, between 1997 to 2011, there was 121% increase on the documented cosmetic procedures performed on male patients. Liposuction, eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty, male breast reduction, and hair transplant were among the top five surgical procedures for men last year.

Why Do Men Undergo Cosmetic Surgery

"Aging executives want to look younger, less tired and more vigorous, so that they can retain their jobs," remarks New York plastic surgeon Elliot W. Jacobs, M.D. "Men who have lost their jobs and are interviewing for a new one may seek plastic surgery so that they too look younger, less tired, and more vigorous, plus they can lie about their age on a job application."

What Are the Procedures Most Popular Among Men?

As early as 2003, men have already accounted for 13% of the 8 million cosmetic surgery procedures done in the US alone. What follows are among the most popular of these procedures:

1. Liposuction - It is no secret how obesity is among the world’s biggest health problems, no pun intended. Because of this, it is no surprise how liposuction easily tops the list of the most frequently performed cosmetic procedure among men. Liposuction costs range anywhere from $2,000 to $12,000 dollars.
2. Rhinoplasty - Nose jobs are popular among men who have busted their nose playing sports. Still, it is equally popular among men who are simply unhappy with the way it fits on their faces. Rhinosplasty is a straightforward procedure that restructures the bone and cartilage of the nose to make it bigger or smaller according to one’s preference. The procedure is normally done inside the nose and leaves no visible scarring on the face. Rhinoplasty usually takes about two hours to complete and about three weeks to heal. However, the operated nose will not heal into its final look until 6 months after the procedure.
3. Botox - As early as 2009, there already were already 337,000 documented Botox procedures performed on male patients. Botox is among the less invasive cosmetic surgery procedures. It eliminates unwanted lines and wrinkles to give a face a rejuvenated and more youthful appeal.
4. Gynecomastia – More commonly known as male breast reduction surgery, gynecomastia is steadily becoming to be a fan favourite. Last year saw a 5% increase in the number of men who underwent the procedure. Gynecomastia removes local fat and glands in order to eliminate signs of overdeveloped breasts. Gynecomastia is typically an outpatient procedure so patients do not need to worry about the hassles of an inpatient surgery.

Other cosmetic procedures that are popular among the male population include: facelifts, installing teeth veneers, ear tucks, pectoral and calf implants, and chin augmentation. 

Sharon Freeman is a professional freelancer who writes about plastic surgery and the latest surgical trends in the plastic surgery world.