While it’s been estimated that about 87 percent of cosmetic procedure patients are women, that doesn’t mean that men are not interested in looking their best as they age. In fact, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that the number of men getting these aesthetic treatments rose by 2 percent over the last year.
Results from a recent Cosmetic Surgery Center of Maryland survey reveal that males are looking for more subtle enhancements, while women desire more noticeable changes, such as larger breasts.
Procedures meant to smooth out wrinkled skin or remove excess fat with minimal scarring and less noticeable results tend to be favored by men as a way to lift their self-esteem, as opposed to operations aimed at grabbing attention, said the study authors.
U.S. News has cited statistics from the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgeons which reflect that the number of men seeking spider vein removal skyrocketed 226 percent during the mid 2000s. Additionally, the rates of male laser resurfacing patients rose 172 percent, while men getting microdermabrasion and Botox injections increased by 159 percent and 42 percent, respectively, during this time period.
The news source also mentioned that the number of males getting invasive cosmetic procedures dipped by 10 percent from the early to the late 2000s, suggesting that men are looking to improve their appearance without scalpels and anesthesia.
A Forbes magazine supports this idea and reports that Botox, laser hair removal and microdermabrasion are the most common minimally invasive cosmetic procedures, and men are using them as a way to gain an edge in the office.
“As a guy in the public eye you want people to think you look really good, really rested, like you’re eating all your fruits and veggies,” said David McDaniel, Virginia-based director of the Institute of Anti-Aging Research, quoted by the news source. “You don’t want people to think, ‘I wonder who did his Botox?'”
Common sites of liposuction in men are the lower back, upper flanks and abdomen, according to the news source. Additionally, males are looking for removal of the extra flab under the chin. For this procedure, laser liposuction may be the best bet, since it tends to leave minimal scarring.
