Why More Men Are Deciding to Undergo Cosmetic Surgery Procedures

Women have long been known as the demographic that’s most likely to go under the knife and getting cosmetic surgeries. In 2013, female patients accounted for 81% of all cosmetic procedures, both surgical and non-surgical.

However, that may be starting to change.

According to a January 11 Toledo Blade article, the number of men seeking out cosmetic procedures is on the rise. In the last 15 years, the number of middle-aged and older male cosmetic surgery patients has nearly tripled, in fact. But why?

The number of professions that value a healthy, good-looking appearance in male employees is rising — and for more competitive industries like the Silicon Valley tech sector, a man’s appearance is increasingly important way to impress potential employers.

And as Americans live and work longer, men need to appear youthful and energetic well into their 60s in order to keep up with their competition. Eating well and exercising regularly doesn’t cut it anymore; men have to look as good as they feel.

“More men are realizing that aesthetic procedures for facial rejuvenation and appearing refreshed can be performed sensibly,” says Dr. Kian Karimi, Pacific Specialists. “This has led to a significant increase in men performing aesthetic procedures. Men commonly have neuromodulators (Botox / Dysport /Xeomin) to soften wrinkles and not appear “angry,” fillers to help fill the areas under the eyes, and skin procedures such as laser resurfacing or microneedling for a fresher look. It is important to understand the differences in male and female aesthetics to avoid “feminizing” a male looking to simply have a fresher look and not to appear different.”

However, there are still some industries in which cosmetic surgery for men is somewhat more frowned upon. According to the Toledo Blade, the financial advising industry, where most advisers are older men, is one such place — “It helps to look experienced,” one patient said.

Cosmetic surgery is still largely exclusive to the men who can afford to pay for a procedure. The typical cosmetic procedure, which isn’t covered by insurance, can cost anywhere from $2,700 to more than $5,000. When facility fees, anesthesia and a slew of other costs are added onto that, it becomes a hefty price to pay for one’s appearance.

But if it means keeping one’s job or getting hired at a highly competitive company, no price is too great for these men.