The Changing Face of Male Cosmetic Surgery

Mr Debashis Ghosh

NHS Consultant
GMC Number: 4657664

Medically reviewed by a licensed NHS consultant

Last updated: 15/08/2019

The Changing Face of Male Cosmetic Surgery

Thousands of men across the UK are now going under the knife each year with the hopes of ‘improving’ their appearance.

Once a heavily female dominated industry, cosmetic surgery is now an acceptable option for a growing number of British men who are in search of achieving better looks – It’s said that a whopping 2,417 British men went under the knife last year alone.

Although this may seem like a large amount, cosmetic surgery amongst men only accounts for around 10 percent of the industry. But with that being considered, its reported that more men than ever before are at least ‘open’ to the idea of going under the knife.

So, what are men actually getting done? We take look at the most desirable procedures:

Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty, or better know as ‘the nose job’ is one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries amongst men in the UK. The reasonings behind the procedure are straightforward. Some men are just unhappy with the appearance of their nose ranging from the length, shape or just overall look. Although being ‘unhappy’ with the appearance is not always the case – others book the procedure for correction reasons ranging from a severe break to nasal breathing problems.

The operation should usually take around two hours but it’s a fairly simple procedure, the operation is carried out inside the nose so therefore no visible scars will be seen following the procedure. A single incision is made inside the nostrils which gives access to the bones and cartilage beneath. The surgeon then reshapes the bone either removing or adding tissue before folding the skin back over the new framework.

(Copyright:Artemida-psy/shutterstock.com)

Liposuction

Even if you’re on the strictest of diets and training regimes, some men can find it hard to shift excess fat that’s hiding that desirable six pack they’ve been working towards. Many variations of liposuction have been the popular go to option when the gym isn’t giving men the results they are wanting.

In some cases, there are areas of fat that unfortunately no amount of dieting or exercise can shift. With this sometimes being the case, liposuction can offer a fast and effective solution to those unwanted love handles. Taking up to as little as an hour to perform, the procedure uses ultrasound waves to break up the unwanted fat while leaving other tissues undamaged. The broken-up fat is then removed via a small tube.

(Copyright:Aksanaku/shutterstock.com)

Botox

Botox was first approved as a cosmetic procedure in early 2002 with the simple task of temporarily improving ‘frown lines’. Almost being on the cosmetic surgery scene for 17 years, this procedure continues to be one of the biggest breakthroughs in anti-ageing ever.

Although formerly more popular amongst women, men are now turning to the injections to fight aging after celebrities like David Beckham normalised the procedure for males. The procedure for men makes up around 15 percent of the industry with the intentions of achieving a more defined and chiselled appearance. As strange as it sounds to have deadly toxins injected into your face, Botox is the most efficient way to reduce wrinkles and lines. Being a fairly quick procedure to carry out, the injections block signals from the nerves to muscles. The said muscle can then no longer contract.

(Copyright:E.Druzhinina/shutterstock.com)

Otoplasty (Ear Pinning)

Otoplasty, better known as ‘Ear Pinning’ has become one of the most popular procedures amongst men with one in twenty Brits convinced their ears stick out ‘too much’. A relatively simple operation, it involves a re-sculpting of the cartilage at the back of the ear to reposition the ear closer to the head. Simply, some people are just unhappy with the appearance of their ears whilst others may have suffered an injury that needs rectifying.

The procedure can range from one to two hours and typically an incision is made at the back of the ear to expose the cartilage. The cartilage is then reshaped or partially removed, allowing the ear to adopt a more regular position. Results are usually permanent but due to cartilage having the potential to change over time, this may affect the overall results.

(Copyright:corbac40/shutterstock.com)

Gynaecomastia Surgery (Male Breast Reduction)

Excess breast tissue is what’s getting in the way of your defined pecks so gynaecomastia surgery can sometimes be the only way forward to remedy this. However, a poor diet and lack of exercise are not always the cause of this condition. Staggeringly over 50 percent of men suffer from this and surgery is one of the only ways to cure it.

The procedure can take up to 90 minutes with the surgeon making an incision around the areola to remove any excess fatty tissue. Liposuction may be used if there are large amounts of fatty tissue and the nipples are then able to be repositioned.

(Copyright:LadaHunt/shutterstock.com)

To conclude, cosmetic surgery, even the smallest of tweaks, involves risk. If you are considering going under the knife always ensure to do your research beforehand and if possible, consult a surgeon. Finally, be aware of overseas bargain procedures – It is vital that you do your research on the clinic and consider how you’d organise aftercare if necessary.