More men are turning to plastic surgery, new report finds

A new report from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) has revealed that body image is becoming more commonly discussed among men, and that more men are turning to plastic surgery to improve their confidence. The researchers found that over 1.3 million cosmetic procedures were performed in 2017 on men alone.

Dr. Lorelei Grunwaldt is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

“More and more men are coming to my office to have an open discussion about their insecurities,” said Dr. Grunwaldt.

“When I explain the wide range of surgeries and procedures available to help them achieve their goals, I can see the look of relief on their faces. For a lot of men, just having a procedure on an area of their body that they’re self-conscious about can really make a positive impact on how they see themselves.”

According to Dr. Grunwaldt, a lot of young men are seeking out body contouring procedures. Statistics released by the ASPS showed that liposuction is up by 23 percent among males over the past five years, while tummy tucks are up by 12 percent. In addition, male breast reductions have increased by about 30 percent in that time.

Dr. Grunwaldt found that 19-year-old Landon Pringle had gynecomastia, a swelling of male breast tissue caused by hormones, and she performed surgery to remove the stubborn excess fat.

“After the procedure, his confidence went through the roof and led to even better results,” said Dr. Grunwaldt. “He felt more comfortable in his own skin and was motivated to get out and exercise and really take control of his weight loss.”

“Every time I step on the scale, I see a smaller number,” said Pringle. “In 2006, I was 299 pounds, and I had no idea what to do about it. Now I’m down to 204 pounds, and I know that wouldn’t be possible without surgery to get the process started.”

Meanwhile, older men are more commonly enhancing their looks with minimally-invasive surgeries. In 2017, nearly 100,000 men had filler injections, which was a 99 percent increase compared to the year 2000.

“Some people call it the ‘executive edge’ because a lot of patients report that they want to look younger to continue to compete in the workplace,” said ASPS President Dr. Jeffrey Janis. “But I think, more often, men just want to look as young as they feel. That’s where a board-certified plastic surgeon can help.”

Dr. Janis emphasized the importance of finding a board-certified surgeon to ensure that safe and ethical standards are used. These surgeons are also more versatile, offering a wide range of options to fit the needs of each individual patient.

“Choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon is critical to your safety, your comfort and your happiness,” said Dr. Janis. “The extensive training that these doctors go through gives them the versatility to offer their patients more choices so that each person receives the right procedures to meet their goals.”

The ASPS is the world’s largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons, and is recognized as a leading authority on aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery.

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By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer