Men and cosmetic surgery: prevalence and motivations

Men and Cosmetic Surgery

The past decade has seen the dramatic rise of cosmetic surgery performed on men and women. According to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) the numbers grew by 457% from 1997-2007. The cause of this has been attributed to many factors such as television, magazines, and the Internet. In the past, cosmetic surgery has been associated with women who are thought to be more conscious of the way they look. This time, however, it is men who are becoming more aware of their appearance and the need to improve it. As of 2007, men comprise 9% of those undergoing cosmetic procedures. This increased by 17% since 2006 (ASAPS, 2007). This paper aims to show that while stigmas still exist, more men are opting for cosmetic surgery because of the availability of new, less invasive procedures.

Body

In 1997, only 286,790 men underwent cosmetic surgery. In 2007, the numbers grew 283% to 1,098,550 (ASAPS, 2007). Plastic surgeons also noted at least a 10% increase in their male patients (Troy, 2004). Unlike women, men preferred a natural look preferring to enhance their existing features rather than undergoing a drastic change. The most common types of surgery performed on men are liposuction, eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty (nose reshaping), breast reduction, and hair transplantation (ASAPS, 2007). Other procedures that are gaining popularity are Botox injections (to remove wrinkles), cosmetic dentistry, and pectoral implants. Men in their twenties prefer to enhance their nose, while those in their thirties and up prefer facelifts and eyelid surgery (Andruss, 2002). It was also noted that the increase tend to spread from coastal to inland cities. This may be due to the fact that coastal cities have more temperate climates and people tend to expose more of their bodies (Troy, 2004). One study, however, pointed out that the increase in numbers not only favored men but also women, and that the gender ratio is still the same (Troy, 2004). In addition to this, male perception regarding the treatment had not significantly changed (percentage of men who would not be embarrassed of having cosmetic surgery: 1997: 76%; 2007: 79%) (ASAPS, 2007). Nevertheless, the 1.1 million men who underwent cosmetic surgery last year is a huge increase and this breaks down several misconceptions about the treatment. The increase is not just a U.S. phenomenon, but extends to other countries. In Bogota Colombia, men account for 30% of all cosmetic surgeries (as compared to 9% in U.S.). Other countries such as Brazil, Argentina, and other Latin American countries are also part of this trend (Troy, 2004).

The increase of elective cosmetic surgery for men can be attributed to several factors. One surgeon observed that most male patients are usually brought in by their female partners (Troy, 2004). Women seem not only concerned with their own appearance anymore but with their partner's appearance as well. The males of the baby boomer generation are becoming part of the prominent age group that avail of cosmetic treatments. The television and Internet have also been instrumental in disseminating information about cosmetic surgery. The "before and after" images have tremendous selling effect on potential clients. The overemphasis on beauty is also a major contributing factor. In addition to this, greater access to information allowed men to make educated decisions about the different options they have on improving their appearance. Increased competition also made cosmetic surgery more affordable, as well as the increase in income. Non-surgical and less-invasive procedures also allowed treatments to heal more quickly and go back to work sooner than in the past.

The cultural changes of the past decades also removed some of the stigmas associated with cosmetic surgery. Previously, men who underwent the procedure were thought to be vain, extravagant, or gay. These stereotypes were broken when more and more information about cosmetic surgery changed the public perception. The procedures were also made more affordable by innovations in medicine and increase in personal incomes. In addition to this, later generations such as the baby boomers broke a lot of cultural taboos regarding men's appearance. The term "metrosexual" is an example of this. A growing number of men now know how to look well by taking care of themselves. Men are also more likely to talk about their surgical improvements, in contrast with the past where the topic is a cause of embarrassment.

Some men undergo cosmetic surgery to compete better in their careers. In a lot of industries, looking good has a long-term effect on a person's career. When a man feels better about himself, he exudes more confidence and this eventually improves his personal and business relationships. Men also want to maintain a youthful image especially in industries where they have to compete with younger people. There is the growing impression that HR staff now look closer at wrinkles and gray hair, rather than wisdom and experience. An older person now seems slower and less efficient. A number of men, on the other hand, simply want to look good. The medical advancements and increased interest in overall health of this generation also allowed people to live longer and hold their careers longer than in previous generations. Thus, it became important to take care of one's health and appearance even as one gets older.