The demand for cosmetic surgery among men is on the rise.

According to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, a third of its members saw an increase in enquiries from men seeking virtual consultations last year.

In the UK almost 1 in 10 cosmetic surgery procedures are performed on men, with the most popular procedures in 2020 being rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery, ear correction, breast reduction and liposuction.

Here, we look at the reasons why more men are interested in getting cosmetic surgery.

 

Lockdown

The stress of lockdown has resulted in 11% of men feeling as though they look five years older, according to a report from Uvence clinic. The combination of ‘lockdown face’ and having to endlessly stare at ourselves for over a year has led to what’s now being called the ‘Zoom Boom’ in the cosmetic surgery field.

Not being able to go out and about meant thinking of other ways to treat yourself; with holidays a no go, the rise in demand for cosmetic surgery suggests this was one way people were choosing to invest money typically spent elsewhere.

Staying at home also allowed for recovery time. Certain procedures can result in bruising and swelling, so being able to stay indoors whilst these side-effects reduce is an appealing prospect. 

 

Career

Corporate pressure to look young seems to be increasing, meaning the motivations behind more men seeking cosmetic surgery may include career success.

Living in a youth-oriented society, as men start to age they may worry about the competition posed by younger colleagues. There can be pressure to appear current and relevant, especially in fields such as the tech industry. 

When going for the top jobs, appearances count according to a study titled “The Face of Success: Inferences from Chief Executive Officers’. The study found that certain facial characteristics lead to expectations of higher leadership competence. In fact, there are now cosmetic surgery procedures aimed at those who want a Fortune 500 face. 

 

Social media

Contributing to the increase in men opting for cosmetic surgery is the rise of social media and selfies.

The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery reported that the number of its members seeking cosmetic surgery procedures to look better for their selfies jumped from 15% in 2018 to 72% in 2019.  

Social media appears to be making us more aware of body image, plus gives us the ability to edit that image with filters, ultimately inspiring an increasing number to seek cosmetic surgery for more permanent changes.

 

More acceptance

Men wanting to look good, saying they want to look good and doing something about it is becoming increasingly accepted. The taboo surrounding men getting cosmetic surgery is fading as more and more men feel comfortable discussing their insecurities.

The increasing acceptance of cosmetic surgery comes also from the media and the internet. An abundance of information accessible at the click of a button, more celebrities sharing their cosmetic surgery procedures and the popularity of programmes like Love Island, all contribute to the destigmatising of cosmetic surgery.

 

If you’re considering cosmetic surgery and would like to chat through your options with an expert, give us a call on +44 121 288 4552.