Hans K. June 9, 2009

Females are not the only vain creatures these days – more and more men are resorting to plastic surgery in a proposal to improve their looks, albeit through artificial and painful means. But while some men are choosing to go under the knife for purely personal or aesthetic reasons, others are taking the leap because they believe it will improve their career professionally – and make them a more powerful – or at least more attractive - force to be reckoned with.

The unfortunate fact is, men desire the similar things that women want: to look younger, fitter and thinner, with regular, even features and a healthy glow. They are starting to recognize that in today’s aggressive market, looking tired and haggard with droopy eyelids, dark circles and a weak chin just will not cut it. And if they have huge boobs and a fat belly to boot – well, forget about becoming a vice president in the firm, let alone the CEO.

It is estimated that the grooming market for men is worth more than $3.5 billion these days, with more and more members of the male species going under the knife for cosmetic reasons. In one study of people of the masculine persuasion carried out by – not surprisingly – a plastic surgeon, it was found that:

* Four percent believed that their level of bodily attractiveness would affect their success on the job, and make them seem more powerful

* 42 percent believed that their career would be made stronger if they could only improve one little thing about their face

* 32 percent thought that looking younger would affect their business performance more positively

Plastic Fantastic

Here is a list of the most common plastic procedures for men, in no specific order:

* Gynecomastia, or Male Breast Reduction. it is estimated that about 15 percent of all men are dissatisfied with the size of their breasts, and now some are finally doing something about it. Men develop man boobs, or moobs, for a range of reasons, including hormonal changes, steroid abuse and being drastically overweight. Surgery to get rid of them sometimes involves a full operation, while on some occasions means utilizing the latest in liposuction combined with laser surgery.

* Eyelid Surgery. Also known as blepharoplasty for men, this procedure can be purely cosmetic, functional or both. It seeks to correct both sagging upper eyelids, as well as puffy bags underneath the eyes. Usually performed under just local anesthesia, it trims away excess fat, muscle and skin, with the remaining bits reattached in a manner that makes the eye area appear younger and more refreshed. The result: tighter, more taut eyelids and smoother under-eye areas.

* Pectoral Enhancement. Men who have tried everything but still maintain a chicken chest are currently relying on pectoral implants to allow them the bosoms they have always dreamed of. If no amount of exercise and diet has made your chest appear less than concave, your surgeon can insert implants made of silicone directly underneath the chest muscle to make the area seem more filled out. Requires general anesthesia and an overnight hospital stay – much like a boob job (ED: what’s the difference then?).

* Nose Job, aka Rhinoplasty. Carried out using a local or general anesthetic, depending on what needs to be done and individual preference, this is an out-patient procedure which can significantly influence a person’s looks. Costs will vary though the broad majority of men who opt for this op say it is money well spent. Men can have rhinoplasty from the age of 15, girls from age 13 (that is when their nose stops growing, evidently!).

* Liposuction. This form of weight loss involves using a cannula to literally suck the fat from your body. In men, problem areas are generally the breasts, love handles, tummy, thighs and neck. Tiny incisions are made so the great majority of folk, if not all, will not actually notice you have had the procedure done. Some men even have it done on their backs…

* Hair Transplants. Many guys think that nothing makes them look less tough than a lack of hair. Male pattern baldness affects a great many men, so if you can not stand your head resembling a ping pong ball, this could be the treatment of choice. it is fairly simple: your surgeon will take “donor” hair from the sides or back of your scalp, then surgically insert them in the bald patches, where it will probably begin to grow. Then again, you could simply purchase a stylish hat…

* Chin and Jawline Augmentation Surgery. Nothing spells out weakness more in a man than having a weak chin – or so proponents of chin surgery would have us believe. As a firm chin and jawline are considered signs of a “real” man, many men try to correct theirs when they fall flat (or rounded, flabby and soft). Surgery consists of varying types of chin implants which make your jaw more angled and square.

* Penis Extension Surgery. If slicing through the penile ligament sounds appealing, this is the operation for you. This operation, also known as phalloplasty or male enhancement surgery, does not actually make your member more massive, it simply makes it dangle lower. You may prefer a different – and considerably more invasive - procedure where fat from another part of your body is injected into your Johnson to raise its girth. Ouch!

Non-Invasive Cosmetic Treatments for Men

Apart from full-on surgery, men are also investing in less invasive cosmetic operations to look better. it is estimated that about one-seventh of all Botox anti-wrinkle injections are done on men, and guys are also jumping on the injectable filler band-wagon, to smooth out wrinkle lines and plump up lips. In fact, the American Academy of Facial and Plastic Surgery reckons that between 2000 and 2007 there was 91 percent hike in the amount of men non-surgical facial enhancements.

Men make up 20 percent of all laser hair removal procedures as well, according to statistics. They are getting to grips with unwanted hair in more ways as well, with male waxing salons becoming better and more common to make chests, buttocks and backs sleek and smooth. Pretty hands and feet are no longer a woman-only domain either: the number of male manicures and pedicures are on the rise, among men of all sexual orientations, and hair salons for men are frequently a lot more than the simple barbershop of Andy Griffith’s day.

If you want a bit of plastic surgery, it does not matter if you are a guy or woman – what matters is that you have reasonable expectations and get a qualified, Board-certified surgeon in whom you have absolute trust. But if you believe that changing your appearance will drastically alter your life, think again. Beauty is merely skin deep; in the long run, the oomph behind the front is generally more important.