Cosmetic Surgery No Longer Taboo for Men
In the past, it seemed to be the general consensus that cosmetic surgical remedies were unmanly and reserved for the female species alone. This is no longer the case, however, and an increasing number of men are turning to cosmetic surgery to fix or improve areas of their bodies.
According to the 2011 report from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, cosmetic procedures performed on men accounted for around 800,000 of the total procedures reported for the year, which makes up only 8 percent. However, that 8 percent is a more than a 120 percent increase on statistics recorded back in 1997.
Among the top surgical procedures sought by men were liposuction (the removal of fatty deposits from different areas of the body), rhinoplasty (commonly known as a “nose job”), eyelid surgery (remove fatty deposits or fix sagging), ear surgery (to “pin back” larger ears), breast reduction (to remove excess fat) and even total facelifts.
Today’s men are really no different from the men one, ten or twenty years ago. However, attitudes toward work and casual, everyday life have changed. Men are more conscious of how they look, and how those looks are perceived by the world around them. According to the same research from the ASAPS, men are judged by what they look like more now than ever before. That translates into possible difficulty in finding jobs and maintaining relationships. Men today are more self-conscious of their flaws and how these flaws may be holding them back – and a growing number of men are seeking remedies to what they see as physical imperfections.
Cosmetic surgery among men is also becoming increasingly popular due to the emergence of more stylised male celebrities, openly expressing their strong desires for physical perfection. Celebrities such as Al Pacino and Robert Redford have spoken openly about undergoing facelifts in the past, while lifelong heartthrob Burt Reynolds has admitted to getting a hair transplant. The late Patrick Swayze was among the first male celebrities to seek porcelain veneers to improve the look of his teeth.
Men and women, rich and poor, celebrity and everyday Joe, have one thing in common, and that is the pursuit of perfection in all of its forms. There is no longer any shame in a member of the male species seeking that perfection through a cosmetic surgeon.
