Plastic Surgery for Men - the next big thing?

The pressure seems to be mounting for men to improve their appearance in the way women have been feeling it for years.  It makes me so sad.  It certainly won't help if men are feeling the same stupid pressure we've been experiencing for so long.  Can we stop it now???

Here's an article  my husband sent me.  I'm not sure of the url, but it appears to be from HealthDay.

Pressure to Look Young May Be Sending More Men to Plastic Surgeons
Report finds increase in range of cosmetic procedures among American males
By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, March 21 (HealthDay News) -- More American men seem to be lining up for facelifts, Botox injections, nose jobs and liposuction than ever before.  A new report by the American Society of shows that the number of cosmetic procedures among men in the United States increased by 2 percent last year, compared with 2009. Men underwent more than 1.1 million cosmetic procedures, including both minimally invasive and surgical procedures, according to the report.

"Men are paying more attention to their appearance," said Dr. Phillip Haeck, the society's president.  However, the reasons that more men are having cosmetic procedures vary. "It all depends on the category," he said. Breast reductions, for instance, increased 6 percent. "That is driven by the fact that there is more awareness," Haeck said. "I call this guys'
dirty little secret." [More awareness is brought on by just such articles which make people start thinking about their own "dirty little secrets" and start to feel shame and a need to correct something they had no idea was there until they read the article.  It pisses me off.]

"They are embarrassed by it," he said. "They are interested in not letting anyone know that they have had this , but they are thrilled afterward. They can go out to the pool and not be embarrassed by the fact that they had what would be a woman's C cup." [It's exactly this kind of language which raises insecurity and leads people to feel they have to have such surgeries.]

Most men who undergo breast reduction, Haeck said, are younger than 30. "For them it's a lot of money, but they are tired of being embarrassed by it," he said. [I bet more men are embarrassed about it because of this article than had been before.

On the other hand, the increase in facelifts is largely driven by men in their 50s and 60s, Haeck said.  "That's the leading edge of the baby boomers," he said. "These are really fit people who have paid a lot of attention to keeping their bodies in shape." But, he said, they're getting a "turkey neck," which is something exercise won't get rid of. [This guy is quite a salesman - he knows right how to get people worried.]

"This generation has paid a lot of attention to how they look, and they don't want to grow old gracefully," he said.

The pressure to look young apparently affects other men, too -- especially those looking for work.  Haeck said that men have told him: "You've got to do something to help me because I need a job and I'm afraid I'm going to lose out because people are going to think I look too old." [In some societies, older people are actually revered and honored and respected for their age.  Looking older would be an honor.  In our youth-worshiping culture, it's apparently something we have to operate to change or else we won't be able to find or keep our jobs.  SCARE TACTIC.] "That's a recurring theme for guys who want to change jobs or who are out of work," he said.

In addition, Haeck said, he's noticed that women who've had cosmetic surgery often urge their husbands to have it as well.

According to the society's statistics, facelifts increased by 14 percent, ear surgeries by 11 percent, Botox injections by 9 percent, liposuction treatments by 7 percent, breast reductions by 6 percent and eyelid and dermabrasion by 4 percent each from 2009 to 2010.

Some procedures, though, were done less often, though they remain among the most popular for men. The number of nose reshapings declined by 4 percent, chemical peels by 3 percent and microdermabrasion by 10 percent, according to the report.

Dr. Seth R. Thaller, chief of plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, agreed that more men are getting cosmetic procedures to offset the effects of aging.  "They are not asking to look 25 or 30, they just want to look a little bit better," he said.  And Thaller said that he, too, is seeing more breast reductions among men who are embarrassed by their large breasts. "We are not only seeing it in adults, but we see it in teenagers," he said.  [So while girls get breast enhancement surgeries for their high school graduation presents, boys get breast reductions??  Maybe they could hook up a pipeline from one to the other to make it cheaper?]

Cosmetic procedures are usually not covered by insurance -- and they're not inexpensive, Thaller said. "But, can you put a price on quality of life and feeling good about yourself?" he asked.  [There are other ways to feel good about oneself besides spending a bunch of money on an operation.  Studies have shown that how people feel about themselves is actually NOT dependent on how they look, contrary to what advertisers and plastic surgeons would have us believe.]

Haeck said that a facelift costs, on average, $10,000 or more and that fees alone for breast reduction average $3,013 and $2,884 for liposuction. Physician fees and hospital charges vary across the country, he noted.

Minimally invasive procedures do cost less. For example, Botox injections average about $375, he said, and microdermabrasion usually is less than $200.  Though some men go back for additional procedures after undergoing one, Haeck said, women still make up the majority of those who have cosmetic surgery. For example, Haeck's practice is 92 percent women, he said.  [No wonder he's trying to make men worry - that's a large market he's potentially tapping into.] 

According to the report, the most popular surgical procedures for men are nose reshaping, eyelid surgery, liposuction, breast reduction and hair transplantation. Botox treatments top the most-popular list of minimally invasive procedures, followed by laser hair removal, microdermabrasion, chemical peel and soft tissue fillers.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons has more on types of cosmetic procedures.

Calf Enhancements

Did you  know that one of the most popular body enhancement procedures is now calf implants for men?  Apparently men don't want to have "bird legs", so they get crap put into their calves so they look bulked up there.

Here's info from a surgeon's website about the procedure:

"I like working out, but I just couldn't get my calves to look proportional to the rest of my body. Even specific exercises targeting that area didn't work. Calf implants gave me the look I had worked so hard to achieve."

—D.F. (age 41)

Who is a Candidate?

Calf implants can be very useful for people who have either severe asymmetry from trauma, or who have difficulty achieving balance with that portion of their body in respect to some of their other muscle development. The goal of calf implants is to create a balance in symmetry to the rest of the body.

Prior to surgery it is necessary for the patient to vigorously exercise the calf muscles on a regular basis. By exercising, the fascia (fibrous membrane) covering the calf muscle is stretched. Approximately 2 weeks prior to surgery all exercise should be stopped, causing the calf muscle to shrink. The fascia remains stretched, allowing easier insertion and more secure placement of the implant.
The implants used are made of fully-cured silicone with a similar consistency to that of a contracted muscle. An individual consultation will determine the size and shape of the implants used.

The surgery is performed in a hospital or surgical setting under general anesthesia with the patient in a prone (facedown) position. Small incisions are made just behind the knees where the fascia overlying the muscle is carefully opened. Space is developed to accommodate the implant which is gently squeezed into place. The fascia and skin are then repaired and elastic wraps are placed over the legs. It is recommended that initial use of the legs is moderate—no excess walking for at least the first week. Other popular procedures that can be combined with calf enhancement include liposuction and thigh lift.

Recovery Time

Swelling and bruising gradually resolve, and a return to work is possible after 1 week, although there is continued tenderness in the calf area for a few weeks. Return to the gym is possible after 3 to 4 weeks.

Your Results

Calf enhancement allows for dramatic muscle development that ultimately brings the legs into balance with the rest of the body.

And from another site: (grammar and spelling mistakes are theirs)

According to Men’s Health, http://menshealth.about.com/cs/surgery/a/cosmetic.htm, The male grooming market is booming as is the fact that many more men are turning towards cosmetic plastic surgeons to make them feel and look younger. Botox Injections, Nose Reconstruction, Pectoral and AB Enhancement, Liposuction, Calf Enhancements, etc. are just some of the procedures today’s male is willing to undergo in order to look fit and  stay trim at the top of their game. The days of a rough and tumble man are over. Today’s Male Species is very concerned over their looks, especially in the workplace. You have to look younger, work harder, and multi task with out showing a hint of pressure.

When I read this stuff and read about the recovery, I wonder why anyone would do this to themselves?  Why would they feel the need?  It's horrifying to me.

Some people have worked out endlessly for larger, more defined and proportionate calf muscles with little to no results. Many people are dissatisfied with the look of their calves so much that they avoid wearing clothing that reveals their lower legs. (Notice they're giving us the fear and dissatisfaction here.) Calf implants are a relatively new and increasingly innovative procedure designed to increase and define the contours of the lower leg muscles. Desirable proportions, attractive balance, and increased mass and definition of the lower leg can all be achieved through calf implants.

Since the calves are particularly difficult muscles to exercise, many people have become increasingly frustrated with the muscle mass and muscle tone in their lower legs. Calf implants will give you the athletic legs you've always wanted that will not contract with age. The results last a lifetime. Interestingly though, men and women often seek calf implants for differing results. Men typically seek increased mass and definition through calf implants while women typically prefer anatomical balance with the upper leg.

Safe silicone implants in a variety of shapes and sizes inserted into the muscle bring about the natural-looking, well-balanced results of calf implants. To achieve more balance and enhancement, fat augmentation is sometimes used in the calf implant procedure as well. Calf implants are done allowing most patients to return home on the same day.

Most of the initial recovery following calf implants should be spent with your legs elevated. Some short-distance assisted walking is also encouraged to start slowly using your lower leg muscles. During the first week after calf implant surgery, your muscles will begin to adjust to the presence of the implants, and the skin will begin stretching as the incisions heal and the dressings can be removed. In the following weeks, walking may feel a little stiff but should slowly become less uncomfortable and more normal.
This process is highly variable from person to person, but in any case, running, heavy weight-lifting, bicycling and other highly strenuous activities are prohibited for at least one month. As swelling, slight bruising, and discomfort begin to recede, the shiny appearance of the stretched skin will also begin to return to normal following calf implants. Every patient's calf implants recovery process is different, but it usually takes one to two months before you can return to all normal activities. That's pretty intense - 1-2 months before you can do normal stuff?  I don't know many people who can afford that.

Besides calf implants, there are other physical issues men have to worry about:



Are gay men bears or bare?  Furry or shaved.  There is incredible pressure on gay men to be fit and fashionable, kind of like it is for women.

Then of course, men have pretty much always had to worry about their sex appeal if they become bald.  That's why Rogain has been such a popular product.

I think we need to be careful that we don't let the pressure that women have been feeling for years to look good start to come down on men.  It won't serve anyone well. 

I've noticed that in the sidebar in Hotmail, there are men with six pack abs advertising products.  (There's a plastic surgery procedure to help with that, too, of course.  And to enhance ones pecs.)  Along, of course, with the women with the overly sexualized looks in their eyes trying to sell me a refinancing package for my house.  Who wouldn't click on that, right?!  It does get my attention.  Every time.  Damn it.

I notice that boys are starting to talk about their bodies and how they need to lose weight, need to be built, need to have a certain physique.  The other day I read someplace that men's cosmetics are the newest thing.  I dated a man once who showed me his beauty regime - his sister had shown him how to apply just a little bit of blush so he would look younger and healthier.  I felt so embarrassed to have him share that with me.  It was more than I wanted to know.  A man putting on make up was beyond my conception of a man.  But now it seems as if it's becoming a thing.

 I will grieve for men just as I grieve for women if they begin to feel pressure to look a certain way to conform to societal expectations.  None of us needs that pressure.  There is too much to do with our lives to waste our time worrying about whether our calves are big enough (or, for women, if they're small enough!).  I'd so much rather spend my time time walking gently on the earth, seeing that of God in every person (to quote George Fox).