More Men Opting for Cosmetic Surgery
Cosmetic surgery procedures performed on men were up 2 percent in 2010 compared to 2009, in part due to aging boomers who want to look their best and stay competitive in the job market.
The statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons revealed the increase and some surgical procedures, including face lifts and liposuction, showed large increases among men (14 percent and 7 percent, respectively).
Dr. Phillip Haeck, the society’s president, said the increase in face lifts is largely driven by men in their 50s and 60s.
“That’s the leading edge of the baby boomers,” he said. “These are really fit people who have paid a lot of attention to keeping their bodies in shape.” But, he said, they’re getting a “turkey neck,” which is something exercise won’t get rid of.
“This generation has paid a lot of attention to how they look, and they don’t want to grow old gracefully,” he added.
Haeck has also seen men come in for procedures to look younger while looking for work. He said men have told him: “You’ve got to do something to help me because I need a job and I’m afraid I’m going to lose out because people are going to think I look too old.”
Breast reductions for men, which increased by 6 percent, on the other hand, are usually performed on men younger than 30, according to Haeck. “For them it’s a lot of money, but they are tired of being embarrassed by it,” he said.
Nose surgery remained the number one surgical procedure for men, and Botulinum Toxin Type A (Botox, Dysport) was the top non-surgical procedure.
Here are the top five cosmetic procedures for men in 2010 (surgical/non-surgical):
- Nose Reshaping / Botulinum Toxin Type A
- Eyelid Surgery / Laser Hair Removal
- Liposuction / Microdermabrasion
- Breast Reduction in Men / Chemical Peel
- Hair Transplantation / Soft Tissue Fillers
