Men Under the Knife

Image via Second Act

Today’s modern man, often known as the ‘metrosexual’ man, no longer needs to hide the fact that he cares about his appearance. Where, once upon a time, cosmetic surgery only ever applied to women, an increasing number of men are now going under the knife in order to achieve the perfect look. In fact according to the results of a recent study undertaken by American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), 15% of its patients are now male and around 20% of clients requesting Botox injections are men.

So why is it all of a sudden acceptable for men to enter what was previously only thought of as a woman’s world? Maybe it has something to do with celebrities such as David Beckham, Ashton Kutcher, Zac Efron and many, many more making it not only acceptable, but incredibly cool to be a modern metrosexual man who cares about his appearance. Or could it be more to do with the increasing number of women voicing their admiration for a man who likes to take care of himself and his appearance? Slobs are most definitely not on the dating agenda where today’s women are concerned.

But exactly how far are men prepared to go? Some further than others, that’s for sure. For, despite what current trends might suggest, some men will still look upon cosmetic procedures as vain, stupid, not for real men and embarrassing. However, for those who can afford it and are not afraid to go for what they want, cosmetic treatments are definitely on the rise. So, what are the options? What is becoming not only acceptable, but popular and what do these procedures cost?

Nose Reshaping

Nose reshaping (rhinoplasty) was one of the first cosmetic procedures to become widely accepted among the male population and continues to be one of the most popular procedures to date. No longer do men need to go through life lacking in confidence and being ridiculed for an “imperfect” nose as rhinoplasty surgery from a reputable clinic can cost between £3,000 and £4,000.

Chin Implants

Chin implants are becoming increasingly popular as men seeking that chiselled, masculine look will undoubtedly be seeking a strong, manly chin. Chin implants can make your chin larger or just improve the shape to suit the type of face you have, allowing your features to appear more proportionate and balanced. Chin implants can change your entire look and are often combined with other procedures in order to achieve good facial symmetry. This perfection, however, comes at a cost with the average implant starting at £4,000 to £5000.

Eye Bag Removal or Eye Lift Surgery

Another popular procedure for men wishing to appear younger than their years is the eye bag removal or eye lift. The stresses of everyday life, hard work, lack of sleep, too much sun, smoking or even some hereditary factors can all contribute to the eyes sagging, resulting in premature aging. You can have the upper eyelid corrected, the lower eye line, or indeed both procedures together for an effective outcome and a far younger appearance with prices starting at anywhere upwards of £2,000.

Chest Reduction & Implants

Men have often said that one of the most embarrassing body defects to be cursed with is a large chest – i.e. man boobs, or moobs as they’re often referred to. These fatty deposits can develop around the chest during puberty and often disappears with age however unfortunately for some, it can also remain into adulthood.

Weight loss and aging can also cause the chest to look large and saggy and an increasing number of men are looking towards male breast reduction surgery in order to address this problem. A chest reduction involves liposuction to remove excess fat and sometimes the removal of glandular tissue or loose skin is also required. Typical costs for this type of procedure are between £2,000 and £3,000 but can provide men with a new lease of life and level of confidence that can far outweigh the cost of surgery.

For reasons more to do with vanity, some men are now considering pectoral implants in order to give them that perfect bodybuilder type shape. If considering this type of enhancement, make sure you go to a recommended surgeon (as with all surgery) as there seems to be an increased amount of clinics abroad offering to carry out this procedure a little too cheaply. The implant is inserted through an incision in the chest or armpit, whichever is more suitable, under a general anaesthetic.

Due to the invasive nature of the surgery required to achieve the perfect pectorals the recovery time for such a procedure could extend over a number of weeks. Potential patient’s pockets may also take some time to recover as reputable clinics can charge anywhere between £6,000 and £10,000 for pectoral implants.

This noticeable shift in social acceptance of men going to such lengths to enhance what nature gave them bundled with the decreasing cost of these procedures as the demand soars and competition starts to squeeze clinics’ margins seems to highlight a cosmetic trend that is only going to grow. It must be advised that whatever type of surgery you are considering please be sure to get grounded and impartial advice from your own GP and other accredited medical sources rather than being swayed by results that seems too good to be true and the temptation to go for the cheapest option available.

The article was produced by Ed Beardsell a writer for the cosmetic surgery comparison site Clinic Compare which offers free advice and guidance on all aspects of male cosmetic surgery.