Cosmetic surgery is often perceived as the preserve of women, but figures released recently by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons point to a surge in men opting for aesthetic work. It’s true that women still outnumber men by 10 to 1 when it comes to getting work done but the report shows a 29% increase in male cosmetic surgery between 2000 and 2017 with 1.3 million men undergoing a procedure last year alone. Some surgeries are even reporting as much as a tenfold increase in the number of men approaching them for cosmetic work.

It’s hard to point to any specific reason but it certainly seems to be true that men are becoming more body conscious.  The report indicates that up to 31% of men would consider a cosmetic procedure.  Maybe this change can be partly attributed to the rise of social media and the associated selfie phenomenon, with men simply becoming more aware of their appearance. It might also be the result of an increasingly competitive and youthful workplace where experienced executives find themselves competing with younger co-workers and feel the need to opt for some anti-ageing work.

Male cosmetic surgery no longer stigmatised

Another reason for the increase could be that male cosmetic work is no longer stigmatised in quite the way it was. It may not have become completely acceptable but it’s becoming quite commonplace for celebrities from the sport and entertainment world talking openly about work they’ve had done. According to the Society’s President, Jeffrey Janis, “Men were a little bit more reluctant to talk about it,” he said. Now, that’s no longer the case.”

In the US, there’s also been a drive to open male only surgeries which create a more comfortable environment for men to talk openly about any aesthetic work they might be considering. From a male receptionist to surgeons specifically trained on the male anatomy this type of surgery is helping to make the whole process of cosmetic work more enticing to men. Actually finding a surgeon that specialises in the male anatomy is quite important. Procedures can vary dramatically between men and women. Rhinoplasty, for example, requires a very different approach when creating a strong masculine nose as opposed to a delicate female one. When it comes to injectables much larger volumes are required simply because men have larger muscles.

Top four male cosmetic surgery procedures

Although there are some differences in the type of procedures carried out on both sexes the main areas are broadly aligned according to the society’s report. The top four for men and women are nose jobs, eyelid surgery liposuction and breast reduction. After this comes a male-specific procedure in hair transplants, although this is hardly surprising given that at least half the male population has a hair loss problem by the time they hit 50. There’s also a noticeable difference between the types of work carried out dependent on age. Younger men tend to favour body sculpting and toning procedures whereas as older men are opting for anti-ageing work.