More American Men are Seeing Plastic Surgeons

Posted on March 30, 2011 | by

According to statistics released last week by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the number of American men who had cosmetic procedures in 2010 increased by 2 percent over 2009. With over 1.1 million cosmetic procedures performed on men in 2010, that’s an increase of more than 20,000 procedures.

The statistics also reveal some interesting facts about men’s changing perspectives and priorities when it comes to plastic surgery.

Here are the top 10 surgical procedures that saw an increased popularity among men in 2010:

  1. Facelift (14% increase)
  2. Ear Surgery (11% increase)
  3. Soft Tissue Fillers (10% increase)
  4. Botulinum Toxin Type A (9% increase)
  5. Liposuction (7% increase)
  6. Breast Reduction (6% increase)
  7. Eyelid Surgery (4% increase)
  8. Dermabrasion (4% increase)
  9. Laser Hair Removal (4% increase)
  10. Laser Treatment of Leg Veins (4% increase)

Conversely, there was a decline in rhinoplasty, chemical peels, and microdermabrasion, although these remain among the most popular treatments for men. The most popular surgical procedure for men is rhinoplasty, or nose reshaping, while the most popular minimally invasive procedure is Botox.

Each of these categories represents changing realities for the American man. The rising popularity of breast reduction surgery lies mostly among men under 30 who are no longer willing to put up with the embarrassment of enlarged breasts at the beach or swimming pool. The increase in facelifts is largely due to men in their 50s and 60s who find that even good diet and exercise can’t prevent neck and facial skin from sagging.

The report also suggests that the growing popularity of cosmetic surgery among men doesn’t come from celebrities and other high-profile individuals, but from average Joes who want to look the way they feel. “The typical male cosmetic surgery patient that I see is an average guy who wants to look as good as he feels,” says Dr. Stephen Baker, an ASPS member from Washington, D.C.

“Most of my patients are ‘men’s men,’ the kind of guy you might not think would have plastic surgery.”