Plastic surgery procedures for men are on the rise, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons; while women favor breast augmentation, men prefer subtle procedures, ones that hide their faults rather than flaunt their changes
BALTIMORE, Oct. 6, 2011 — Women get the lion's share (87 percent) of all the surgical and non-invasive cosmetic procedures in the United States. That's why most plastic surgery advertising is still directed toward them.
Plastic surgery for men, however, is on the rise. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, male cosmetic procedures were up 2 percent last year. Statistically, men preferred surgical solutions rather than repeated non-surgical treatments, which bucks the national trend. So although more men are undergoing non-invasive procedures, the number of surgical procedures for men are growing at a faster pace.
Male facelifts increased by 14 percent from 2009 to 2010, the fastest-growing procedure. Male rhinoplasty (nose reshaping surgery) is still the surgical procedure done most often. Both procedures, one could say, are the surgical equivalents of a man entering a barber shop and saying, "Take a little off the top." In other words, men want to look better, but not drastically different.
These trends highlight the primary difference between what women want and what men want from cosmetic surgery. The most popular surgical procedure for women (breast augmentation) helps women gain self-esteem by addition. Men, on the other hand, tend to favor more subtle procedures that erase their perceived faults, thus gaining self-esteem through subtraction.
Facelifts, rhinoplasty, otoplasty (ear surgery), and liposuction – all popular plastic surgery procedures for men – remove either wrinkles, bumps, or fat from the male body. Furthermore, the only cosmetic procedure especially for men, a surgical procedure to correct gynecomastia or enlarged male breasts, also improves by subtraction.
It's no surprise, therefore, that men want procedures with hidden incision points, minimal scarring, and results that elicit a response of: "Have you lost weight?" instead of a response of: "Is that your real nose?" Men's desire for subtlety has even led plastic surgeons to develop variations on common procedures. For instance, a man's facelift is handled quite differently from a woman's, for more subtle and masculine results.
Cosmetic surgery for men continues to grow and gain acceptance. It's not about economics; it's not about class distinctions; it's about self-esteem. As long as plastic surgery solutions remain safe, affordable, and effective, men will continue to "take a little off the top."
About The Cosmetic Surgery Center of Maryland: CSCMD is a nationally recognized cosmetic surgery practice located in the Baltimore area. Their offices, the Bellona Surgery Center, and the Be Lifestyle Luxury Medical Spa at 8322 Bellona Avenue, Suite 300, Towson, MD 21204 are less than an hour outside Baltimore. They can be reached at 410-296-0414 or at http://www.cscmd.com.
Contact: Lauren Weinberg, Cosmetic Surgery Center of Maryland, 410-296-0414, http://www.cscmd.com
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