Having realistic expectations is important 

Women are not the only vain creatures these days – more and more men are resorting to plastic surgery in a bid to enhance 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 enhance their career professionally – and make them a more powerful – or at least more attractive – force to be reckoned with.

The sad fact is men want the same things women want: to look younger, fitter and thinner with regular, even features and a healthy glow. They are starting to realize that in today’s competitive market, looking tired and haggard with droopy eyelids, dark circles and a weak chin just won’t cut it. And if they have big boobs and a flabby belly to boot – well, forget about becoming a vice president in the firm, let alone the chief executive officer.

It’s estimated 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 survey of people of the male persuasion carried out by – not surprisingly – a plastic surgeon, it was found that:

• Four percent believed their level of physical attractiveness would affect their success on the job and make them feel more powerful.

• Forty-two percent believed their career would be made better if they could just improve one tiny thing about their face.

• Thirty-two percent thought that looking younger would affect their job performance more positively.

Plastic Fantastic The following is a list of the most popular plastic procedures for men, in no particular order:

• Gynecomastia, or male breast reduction:

It’s estimated that about 15 percent of all men are unhappy with the size of their breasts, and now some are finally doing something about it. Men develop man boobs, or moobs, for a variety 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 way 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 have a chicken chest are now relying on pectoral implants to give 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 appear more filled out. The procedure requires general anesthesia and an overnight hospital stay.

• Nose job, aka rhinoplasty, is carried out using a local or general anesthetic, depending on what needs to be done and personal preference, this is an out-patient procedure, which can greatly affect a person’s looks. Costs will vary, but the vast majority of men who opt for this say it’s money well spent. Men can have rhinoplasty from the age of 15, girls from age 13.

• Liposuction: This method of weight loss involves using a cannula to literally suck the fat from your body. In men, problem areas are usually the breasts, love handles, tummy, thighs and neck. Tiny incisions are made so the vast majority of folk, if not all, will not even know you’ve had the procedure done. Some men even have it done on their backs.

• Hair transplants: Many guys believe that nothing makes them look less virile than a lack of hair. Male pattern baldness affects a great many men, so if you can’t stand your head resembling a ping pong ball, this could be the treatment of choice. It’s 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 starts to grow.

• 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 strong chin and jawline are considered signs of a “real” man, many men seek to correct theirs when they fall flat (or rounded, flabby and soft). Surgery consists of various types of chin implants, which make your jaw more angled and square. Non-Invasive Cosmetic Treatments For Men Apart from full-on surgery, men are also investing in less invasive cosmetic operations to look better. It’s estimated that about one-seventh of all Botox antiwrinkle injections are done on men, and guys are also jumping on the injectable filler bandwagon, to smooth out wrinkle lines and plump up lips. In fact, according to the American Academy of Facial and Plastic Surgery, between 2000 and 2007 there was a 91 percent increase in the number of men having 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 other ways as well with male waxing salons becoming more and more popular 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. Hair salons for men are often a lot more than the simple barbershop of Andy Griffith’s day.

If you fancy a spot of plastic surgery, it doesn’t matter if you’re a man or woman – what matters is that you have realistic expectations and find a qualified, boardcertified surgeon in whom you have complete trust. But if you expect that changing your appearance will drastically change your life, think again. Beauty is only skin deep; in the long run, the oomph behind the facade is usually more important.

Sarah Matthews is a copywriter for Yodle Local, a business directory and online advertising company. Find more mens plastic surgery tips and info at local. yodle.com/articles.