I remember seeing a newspaper article about ten years ago with the headline “Good Looks Really Do Go Far.” Its premise was that good-looking people get farther in the workplace than those who are, well, less good looking.
You may be thinking, “Well, sure, that’s obvious. Look how far I’ve come based on looks alone.” Funny or absurd, the perception really seems to be that this is indeed the case. And as you can see from the title, it isn’t only women who feel this way. The number of men interested in cosmetic surgery has been increasing in the last several years.
What Are The Reasons?
It seems that some men want to go beyond diet and exercise to achieve washboard abs and bigger pectorals and biceps. And I’m not talking about steroids here. They want to surgically restructure their looks, and the number of men who look into cosmetic surgery is increasing. The reasons for this are as different as the men who want it.
Societal pressure to look good is certainly one of them; aging gracefully hasn’t been the only option for years now. And the role of media cannot be overstated. Being bombarded with images of the perfect and the ideal certainly has an effect on all of us. So, why should anyone be surprised that more men want cosmetic surgery?
What Kinds of Surgeries?
According to the ASPS, the top five cosmetic surgeries for men in 2006 were:
- Rhinoplasty
- Blepharoplasty
- Liposuction
- Hair transplants
- Gynecomastia
And there are procedures that aren’t so common. We could include in this list pectoral implants, penis enlargement, and testicular implants.
There are definitely times where one might want to correct a “flaw” or reconstruct parts of the body harmed through accidents or illness. However, this is plastic or reconstructive surgery, not cosmetic surgery. But in an age where youthful appearance is the gateway to eternal happiness, more and more men have decided that they, like legions of women before them, will not go gently into that good night. They are making a conscious choice to change their natural appearance.
What to Remember
Whatever your reasons for choosing cosmetic surgery, remember some of the rules. You want an experienced cosmetic surgeon; you need to be realistic about the results; and you need to be doing this for yourself and not anyone else. And finally, remember just because you now look like Brad Pitt, you’re still not getting Angelina Jolie.
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