Where traditionally cosmetic surgery is something that is predominately a woman's market, I have seen a marked increase of males requesting surgery over the past five years, and this is reflected as a UK trend by figures from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS).
According to BAAPS, male surgery numbers rose by 16% overall in 2013, in comparison to 2012, with body contouring procedures showing the biggest increase. This included a 15% rise in abdominoplasty procedures, a 24% increase in gynaecomastia (or 'man boobs') and a 28% increase in liposuction*.
Personally, I have certainly seen a noticeable increase in men requesting chest reductions and abdominal definition over the past few years. A lot of this involves VASER liposuction, which is an advanced body contouring procedure that selectively removes unwanted body fat. VASER uses ultrasound technology designed to gently reshape the body, which means that abs can actually be sculpted on a patient.
Why is this rise occurring? Well, I say pictures of David Beckham's torso are to blame! Our fast-paced, digitally-driven environment has meant constant bombardment of images of perfect looking celebrities and shirtless models. As with the effect the media has had on women to stay slim, men are becoming more body conscious and in want of a toned torso.
The difference is, that women often have cosmetic surgery for a partner or to get back into the dating scene, but men are more likely to do this for themselves, to give themself a confidence boost which enables them to feel more comfortable in their own skin.
Most of the men I see are in their late twenties or early thirties, many may have started greying, what they put into their bodies has started to show on their chests and stomachs and they no longer consider themselves 'young'.
However, whether you are male or female and regardless of the procedure you are having, the most important thing to ensure is that you are consulting with an ethical surgeon, who is a member of BAAPS and will help you to fully understand what you are undertaking before agree to the procedure.
*Reference
http://baaps.org.uk/about-us/press-releases/1833-britain-sucks