For ages, men were conditioned to be low-maintenance in terms of grooming and their appearance. Only recently has there been a proliferation of skincare and grooming products targeted for use of the male population, in the same fashion as how makeup has always been predominantly marketed to females. With this primordial norm, there tends to be prejudice for any male person who has even the slightest inclination towards tending to his appearance more than what is considered basic (i.e., showering, shaving, and getting his hair cut) against them.
It is, therefore, understandable that the topic of cosmetic procedures remains the elephant in the room among men. Still, there are those who beg to differ from the majority and are more open to the idea of getting a part or several parts of their body medically altered through surgical or less invasive procedures. They don’t see any wrong with it because if women can aspire to look better, why not men, too?
According to a survey done by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in 2018, there has been a 29 percent uptick in males undergoing cosmetic surgical procedures versus the 2000 figure, with rhinoplasty or nose reshaping taking the huge slice of the pie (52,600). If you’re one of those who have been enduring a complex on any part of your body but are otherwise still on the fence about finally getting it done, perhaps this breakdown of the most common cosmetic procedures men undergo could help convince you that it is okay and, if you go to a certified surgeon, you will come out of the procedure in one piece:
Botox
Scientifically termed as Botulinum toxin type A, Botox is a minimally invasive procedure that could curb and delay the appearance of aging signs such as crow’s feet on the corners of the eye, laugh lines, and forehead creases. The effect of facial fillers goes skin-deep, too, as to reduce excessive sweating and even muscle fatigue. Unlike women, men prefer more to get Botox shots on their jawlines to accentuate their masculine features.
Laser Hair Removal
Men get their hair permanently removed through laser treatments because of similar reasons women may have. They might be on the hairier side of the spectrum and, in turn, could suffer effects such as excessive sweating, proneness to odor, and general discomfort. In 2018 alone, a total of 185,000 laser hair removal treatments were performed on men.
Every person’s hair grows in different thicknesses and speeds, and so the number of and intervals between sessions may vary from person to person. What is clear, though, is that the procedure is adjusted for men who have to grow thicker hair on more parts of their bodies. Men usually prefer to have their beard, back, chest, and stomach hair laser-treated.
Rhinoplasty
More and more men are also undergoing rhinoplasty, in other words, a nose job. This trend is mainly attributed to the general desire to give a better impression. More often than not, there is a consensus on how a masculine nose should look like, and that includes it being straighter, on the bigger side, but not excessively sculpted.
Blepharoplasty
Blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery was originally done for people whose eyelids have drooped, and so whose vision was obstructed, with age. But, lately, this has been done as a preemptive measure for when they get old. If not, this procedure is recommended for those who complain of looking perpetually tired, having eye bags that wouldn’t go away, or having an excess of eyelid tissue. Because this procedure is so common, surgeons have little problem making it look natural.
Liposuction
Just like women who want to say goodbye to muffin tops and arm flab, men also desire to tone their physique, particularly their abdomen and shoulders. Aside from diligently working out in the gym, some go the extra mile of getting excess fat removed surgically. Through liposuction, men can achieve those attractive muscle contours, hence, enhancing the strong persona they are aiming to project.
Conclusion
Anyone, regardless of sex, should not be deprived of their right to feel good in their skin. Feeling so plays a part in one’s quality of life, after all. You deserve to attain the solution to a physical problem that’s been bothering you for some time now.
It is about time that this form of self-care is normalized instead of being shunned as a wrongful vanity. Still, before having any part of your body done either for aesthetic or health purposes, you should heed medical advice first.
