As we draw closer to the third decade of the 21st century the landscape of cosmetic surgery for men is beginning to change. Once regarded as an almost exclusively female option aesthetic work is becoming increasingly common amongst men.
There are no exact figures for the cosmetic surgery industry in the UK but every year, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) releases figures from their members, including Mr Nigel Horlock. Last year alone, BAAPS reported that 2,471 had some kind of cosmetic procedure in the UK.
Men and women opting for different cosmetic surgery procedures
It’s not just simply a case of the playing field levelling itself out between the sexes, though. The report also indicates that men and women aren’t necessarily opting for the same kinds of procedures. The stats would suggest that women seem to be much more body conscious whilst men are focused on the face when it comes to getting work done.
According to BAAPS here are the five most popular procedures with UK men last year:
- Rhinoplasty: Nose jobs are steadily on the increase in the UK with a 5% increase between 2016-17. There isn’t really a single standard approach to this procedure as it might be carried out for a whole range of reasons from purely cosmetic enhancement to correction of a sporting injury. With 554 men opting for rhinoplasty last year it’s the number one procedure on our list.
- Otoplasty: Ear correction came in a close second in 2017 with 419 men undergoing some work last year. A relatively minor procedure (which doesn’t typically require a general anaesthetic) the process involves the removal of some of the cartilage so that the ears move closer to the head and don’t stick out. There has been an almost imperceptible dip in the number of procedures between 2016-17 and the expectation is that it will continue to be steady moving forward.
- Blepharoplasty: Eyelid reduction, on the other hand, has seen a dramatic increase of 25% between 2016-17. This anti-ageing procedure is designed to tackle the sagging effect caused by the skin losing its elasticity and the wrinkles and crow’s feet that build up over time. The procedure can be carried out on upper, lower or both eyelids and 403 men opted for it in 2017.
- Gynaecomastia: Male breast reduction remains relatively stable although there was a slight decrease of 6% between 2016 and 17. Typically, this is a relatively minor operation requiring liposuction although there may also be a need to cut out glandular tissue in some cases which could leave small scars around the nipple.
- Liposuction: The drop off in liposuction procedures for men is quite marked at 20% and it seems to confirm the observation that men are becoming more focused on facial rather than general body surgery. The procedure itself is quite routine with a small tube inserted under the skin to literally suck out excess fat leaving a more sculptured and toned body shape. In 2017 only 270 men opted for the procedure.
For more information on the male cosmetic surgery procedures that Mr Horlock offers, call us on 023 8076 49 69 to arrange a consultation.
