Locate providers:   

More Men Are Going Under the Knife - 2012 Male Plastic Surgery Trends

 

Recent statistics show that men are increasingly undergoing various cosmetic procedures to enhance their appearance and they are doing it for a variety of reasons.

When you think about who undergoes plastic surgery, your first thought is probably a middle aged woman, right? Recent statistics show that men are increasingly undergoing various cosmetic procedures to enhance their appearance and they are doing it for a variety of reasons.

Why the Increase?

In today's society men have become more conscientious of their appearance. We have seen a significant increase in male patients coming into our practice for cosmetic procedures. Men want to feel better about how they look as they begin to age. Many of our male clients believe cosmetic enhancements will help them advance in their career.

Men and Cosmetic Surgery
Another possible reason for the increase: more people (men included) are open to talking about cosmetic procedures they undergo. Even as recently as a decade ago, patients overwhelmingly kept their procedures a secret, making it a forbidden topic of discussion. Nowadays, plastic surgery is more commonplace, with the mainstream media even calling for an end to the stigma surrounding plastic surgery.

Celebrity Men & Plastic Surgery

The list of famous men who've undergone a cosmetic procedure (either surgical or non-surgical) is quite long. Male celebrities are coming forward to disclose what procedures they have undergone:
  • Mickey Rourke has undergone multiple face surgeries.
  • Simon Cowell is not afraid to admit he regularly gets Botox injections.
  • Bruce Jenner underwent rhinoplasty and two facelift procedures.
  • Burt Reynolds has had eye surgery.
  • Howard Stern had a rhinoplasty and facial liposuction to remove his double chin.
Current Stats Show Significant Growth in Male Cosmetic Procedures

Historically it's true that the majority of plastic surgery patients have been women. However according to a recent study by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, men accounted for over 1.25 million cosmetic procedures (both surgical and non-surgical) in 2012, which accounts for 9% of all procedures performed that year. Specifically, they accounted for 13% of all surgical procedures and 8% of all non-surgical procedures in 2012. Overall, the number of cosmetic procedures for men performed in 2012 increased by 22% from the year 2000, illustrating a major increase in men seeking to alter their appearance. While 1 out of 10 male plastic surgery patients chose to undergo liposuction, there were a variety of other treatments sought by men:

Top 5 Surgical Procedures for Men in 2012:
  • Rhinoplasty (61,771, or 25% of total procedures)
  • Eyelid Surgery (29,050, or 14% of total procedures)
  • Liposuction (22,914, or 11% of total procedures)
  • Breast Reduction for men or Gynecomastia (20,723, or 11% of total procedures)
  • Facelift (11,913 or 9% of total procedures)
Top 5 Non-Surgical Procedures for Men in 2012:
  • Botulinum Toxin Type A (Botox, Dysport) (389,569 or 6% of total procedures)
  • Laser Hair Removal (193,937 or 17% of total procedures)
  • Microdermabrasion (182,654 or 19% of total procedures)
  • Chemical Peel (90,416 or 8% of total procedures)
  • Dermal Fillers (such as Juvederm, Restylane, or Radiesse) (88,704 or 8% of total procedures)
Bottom Line

Today's society is one where altering your appearance through cosmetic procedures is no longer seen as taboo. Men are increasingly becoming concerned about their appearance leading the "Average Joe" to look into cosmetic options. This is great news, as men should feel confident about how they look just as much as women do.

About the author

Cameron Craven, MD is a board certified plastic surgeon currently practicing at Austin based Westlake Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery.