More men are trying to maintain their youthful looks through surgery, with 14 percent more having facelifts last year over 2009 and 7 percent more having liposuction, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Men underwent more than 1.1 million cosmetic procedures, both minimally invasive and surgical, the ASPS reports. However, the majority of the fastest growing cosmetic procedures among men are surgical, which bucks the previous trend of a rise in minimally invasive treatments, according to an ASPS statement. Overall, cosmetic plastic surgery procedures in men were up 2 percent last year compared to 2009.
"The growth in cosmetic surgical procedures for men may be a product of our aging baby boomers who are now ready to have plastic surgery," ASPS President Dr. Phillip Haeck said in a prepared statement. "Minimally invasive procedures such as Botox and soft tissue fillers work to a point. However, as you age and gravity takes over, surgical procedures that lift the skin are necessary in order to show significant improvement."
The type of man seeking the services of plastic surgeons also is changing, more of a so-called “man’s man,” says one surgeon.
"Typically people think of celebrities and high-profile men undergoing cosmetic surgery," said Dr. Stephen Baker, an ASPS member surgeon based in Washington, D.C. "And while that may be true, the typical male cosmetic surgery patient that I see is an average guy who wants to look as good as he feels. Most of my patients are ‘men's men,' the kind of guy you might not think would have plastic surgery."
The following is a list of the fastest growing surgical and minimally invasive procedures for men from 2009 to 2010, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
1. Facelift – 14 percent increase
2. Ear Surgery – 11 percent increase
3. Soft Tissue Fillers – 10 percent increase
4. Botulinum Toxin Type A – 9 percent increase
5. Liposuction – 7 percent increase
6. Breast Reduction in Men – 6 percent increase
7. Eyelid Surgery – 4 percent increase
8. Dermabrasion – 4 percent increase
9. Laser Hair Removal – 4 percent increase
10. Laser Treatment of Leg Veins – 4 percent increase
© 2011 Newsmax. All rights reserved.
