Cosmetic surgery for men in US tops $1million

More than 1 million men chose to have cosmetic plastic surgery in 2000, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) reported today as it released its expanded 2000 statistics, the most comprehensive survey of cosmetic plastic surgery to date.

ASPS statistics now represent procedures performed by member surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery as well as other physicians certified by American Board of Medical Specialties' boards.

"These statistics confirm what we are seeing in our practices," said Walter Erhardt, MD, ASPS president. "The general stigma surrounding cosmetic plastic surgery as something done only by the vain and rich is vanishing. Men are concerned about their appearance, and as more of them choose to have cosmetic plastic surgery, the need to check doctors' medical credentials becomes paramount. One of the most important steps a person can take in preparation to having a procedure is to select a plastic surgeon certified by

the American Board of Plastic Surgery."

Men comprise 14 percent of all the cosmetic plastic surgery procedures performed in 2000. The five most popular invasive surgical procedures for men in 2000, were nose reshaping, eyelid surgery, liposuction, hair transplantation and breast reduction. The top five male non-surgical procedures in 2000 were chemical peel, laser hair removal, Botox(R) injection, microdermabrasion and collagen injection.

Of invasive surgical procedures performed on men in 2000, nose reshaping to change the shape or size of the nose was the most popular procedure with 150,185. Eyelid surgery, which corrects drooping upper lids and puffy bags below the eyes, was second with 57,641 men having the procedure done. Liposuction to remove fat from the body while improving body contour was third with 51,779. Hair transplantation and breast reduction were fourth and fifth. Hair transplantation was performed on 40,630 men in 2000. Breast reduction in men (gynecomastia), the correction of enlarged male breasts caused by excessive glandular tissue or fat, was performed on 20,351 men in 2000.

Chemical peel was the most popular non-surgical procedure performed on men in 2000 with 201,117 performed. The procedure involves a chemical solution being applied to the face to remove damaged outer layers of skin, allowing new, healthier skin to emerge. Laser hair removal, a lasting hair removal procedure, was second with 133,142. Botox(R) injection, where Botulinum toxin is injected into muscles near facial wrinkles to smooth and soften lines, was third with 94,104.

The fourth and fifth most popular male non-surgical procedures in 2000 were microdermabrasion and collagen injection. Microdermabrasion, a procedure that blasts fine aluminum oxide particles to exfoliate the skin and smooth lines and wrinkles, was performed on 86,050 men, and 46,166 men had collagen

injections last year.

"Men, too, want to feel good about how they look," said Dr. Erhardt. "Their reasons for plastic surgery vary from feeling like they obtain a professional edge, achieving a look that has eluded them even with a healthy

diet and exercise or simply changing or enhancing a feature that has bothered them for years."

For more information visit The American Society of Plastic Surgeons web site: http://www.plasticsurgery.org 

12-July-2001 Source:  Newsdesk