Man-tenance: the rise of male surgery

A recent study conducted by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery has confirmed what we’ve been seeing at the Jan Stanek cosmetic surgery clinic over the past year – that more and more men are getting comfortable with the idea of cosmetic maintenance.

According to the survey, which questioned 618 men of all ages, 31% said they were ‘extremely likely’ to consider a cosmetic procedure, be it surgical or non-surgical. Of those who were willing to take steps towards improving their appearance, 44% said they would have a treatment done to feel better about themselves, 31% would undergo a procedure to keep their partner interested, 31% wanted to look less tired and stressed, and 25% would consider a procedure to order to stay competitive in the workplace.

What bothers men most

In the checklists of appearance concerns, it’s unsurprising that hair comes out on top, with 60% of men surveyed saying that their hair (or lack if it) bothers them most. As far as the body goes, the most important parts – tying at 44% each – were the skin and the eye area. A mere 22% of men were annoyed by the state of their chin and neck, while distinguishing forehead wrinkles – one of the biggest bugbears among women – only troubled 19% of men.

Clearly, there’s a pattern forming here: while men are less concerned about looking more mature (and actually liking the odd character-forming wrinkle here and there), they hate looking tired – and the quickest and most effective solution for that is Blepharoplasty, otherwise known as an eyelid lift.

The younger generation is already considering work

While the general conception amongst laypersons is that aesthetic surgery is for people who want to turn back time, the younger generation is already open to the benefits of a little work here and there. Of that 31% who are ‘extremely likely’ to consider having a procedure done to look better, 58%  fell between 25-34 years old, while 34% were 18-24 years old. This indicates a major generational shift in opinions on aesthetic surgery amongst men.

For now, though, the most popular procedures are still dominated by the more traditional concerns: recent figures published by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons showed that amongst men who underwent a surgical procedure, nose reshaping was the most popular option – followed by eyelid treatment, liposuction, facelifts and tummy tucks.

Whilst the number of male treatments are still a drop in the bucket when compared to the number of female procedures, it’s clear that the tide is turning when it comes to male attitudes towards cosmetic procedures. There’s still a way to go, however: the survey indicated that men are less inclined to go through as much pain and post-procedure downtime as women are, and are keen to ensure the transformations are as subtle as possible. But it’s clear that the benefits of cosmetic surgery are not just for women anymore.