The Male Plastic Surgery Surge: Top 3 Procedures for Men

You may have seen the recent Time magazine cover story that essentially proclaimed getting cosmetic procedures is the new normal for most aging people in the U.S. That is hyperbole, of course, but statistics definitely show a surge in plastic surgery, and men are helping fuel the increase. We’ve seen more and more men for non-surgical treatments such as fillers and BOTOX® injections at our Orlando-area practice, as well as an uptick in male patients interested in surgical procedures such as a facelift.

The trend was recently confirmed by a RealSelf survey that showed 73% of plastic surgeons and dermatologists are seeing more men at their practices than they were a year ago. RealSelf is a popular website where people considering plastic surgery can have questions answered by board-certified specialists. Its survey of 400 specialists also identified the elective procedures that were most popular among male patients.

More men are getting BOTOX treatments than ever before. This 46-year-old patient is shown before and after BOTOX injections, helping him look younger and more relaxed.

With social media and teleconferencing a routine part of our personal and professional lives, it’s not surprising that men are seeking ways to look more youthful and energetic. Some of the top procedures that men want include:

• BOTOX Cosmetic and fillers: 42% of the physicians responding to the survey told RealSelf men come in to get BOTOX or injectable fillers. BOTOX for men is so popular that there’s even a nickname for it — “Brotox.”
• Facelift surgery: Cosmetic surgery for the male face requires a different approach than for female faces. Men generally want their chins to be more prominent and desire chiseled, more angular features.
• Eyelid surgery: When you talk about adding years to your appearance, bags under the eyes and dropping upper lids are 2 of the biggest culprits. Blepharoplasty is desirable for men because it can have dramatic results without significant downtime. The results are also really discreet, and patients generally hear that they look like they just got back from a great vacation, rested and refreshed.

At my practice, all these treatments are common for men. I’ve treated men looking for an edge at work, those heading out into the dating scene, and men looking for a refresher before a big event such as a child’s wedding or a class reunion. I expect this trend to only increase as more men start to realize that getting cosmetic treatments is no longer taboo.