Cosmetic Surgery for Men is on the Rise
Most people know by now that many men undergo cosmetic surgery. You hear of Hollywood actors having a facelift here and there, or undergoing liposuction on their abdomen and flanks to get rid of those "love handles." There are also, unfortunately, plenty examples of men on TV today (usually reality TV stars -- hmm, I wonder why? ) who have had just one or two facial surgeries too many and have that scary "facelift face," just like the women. Not that anyone wants to look like that!
It isn't only Hollywood stars or reality show actors who are getting cosmetic surgery. Not only are ordinary men seeking out cosmetic surgeons in increasing numbers, the reasons they are doing so might not be what you think. Of course, there are men who undergo cosmetic surgery to correct serious body defects from surgery, accidents, or scarring. And there are men who use cosmetic surgery to correct a body issue that brings them shame and affects their self-esteem. One common such surgery among men is chest liposuction to improve gynecomastia, or enlarged and swollen breast tissue. And men are certainly going for procedures to make themselves look trimmer or younger, as we have heard many times in the media.
But what about cosmetic surgery...to land your dream job? According to The Australian, men are undergoing procedures like rhinoplasty (a "nose job") and eyelid surgery (to correct drooping eyelids) in order to seem younger, fitter, and more attractive to a potential employer. In this difficult economic climate, with the recovery only slowly getting underway, men are looking for any edge that might get them on the fast track to a good job.
Philip Haeck, the President of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, says:
"A lot of my business is with people in the tech industry, from Microsoft to Google and everything else that is located here,'' he said.
"When you are the only 50-year-old working in a cubicle-sea full of 20-somethings who are tech-savvy and you had to learn it all... I see some guys with almost a chip on their shoulder about being the old guy in the office.''
Originally Published Mar 21, 2011