Men are trying to keep up with Joneses to look good

Many more men are deciding to have cosmetic surgery, but is it for elective reasons alone?
At one time if a guy mentioned that he was considering getting a facelift or his nose straightened out he would have been a laughed at or at least talked about. Male vanity has always been around, but now they are feeling pressured to look good forever. Research has shown that men opting for elective plastic surgery procedures have increased more than 25% in the last year.

Who are the men having work done? Civil servants, lawyers and accountants are among the more likely due to the fact that they are in the public eye and may feel the demands from their work environment to stay looking young to keep their jobs longer.

What plastic surgery procedure was the most popular? Male breast reduction operations saw an increase of 61% in 2008, while the number of mini-facelifts and ear correction surgery also increased.

While most of these procedures cost as much as $4000 many of you are thinking, WHY? Ivan Foo is a consultant plastic surgeon who works part-time for a private hospital that provides cosmetic surgery says that men are 10% of their patients. He has noticed a gradual increase in the number of men having cosmetic surgery over the last few years.

He states that men are just as concerned about their appearance and are becoming more at ease with the idea. The more they open up about the procedure(s) they have had done, the more having plastic surgery for men will be accepted. Also they feel the need to keep up with the Joneses….the Joneses being the younger men climbing up the latter in their profession.

Many plastic surgery centers are accepting credit, a payment plan or have credit companies available. This makes paying for the procedure more accessible for the average Joe and not just for the rich and famous.

Some patients cut back on other expenditures or take out loans to afford a plastic surgery, while others perceive the necessity only a minimal problem and not worth the risks; both financially and medically. There are medical risks involved with any cosmetic surgery, but they are fairly low. Foo explains that people need to be aware of the risks, the recovery period and the realistic expectations to expect from the surgery. And that is why he advises patients against surgery.

If someone is overweight and would like a male breast reduction he would advise them to diet and exercise to lose weight first. If their expectations were too high, too quick to make a decision and not ready for it, or if it is going to be a financial burden he wouldn’t advise them to do the procedure."

Today a nip and/or a tuck have become the norm and not the exception. Just a few years ago a facelift seemed an extreme measure in terms of how far we would go to make ourselves look good.

Looking good is now being marketed to men a lot more and men who have issues with their bodies are doing something about it. Men’s magazines advertise that it is normal to want to correct your flaws and have plastic surgery or a non-surgery alternative; such as a tummy tuck, chin liposuction, laser hair removal or eyelid surgery, which didn’t happen in the past.

Looking good also means that men feel the risks, pain and bruises are worth it. So let’s hear it for the boys, applaud that they do care about themselves and are doing something about it no matter what the cost or pressure from the Joneses.