It is often believed that body image is a concern mainly for women. However, men are also worried about how they look, even if they are not always willing to admit it. As a result, more men are turning to cosmetic surgeries to correct the flaws they see in their appearance. Nevertheless, many men hesitate to acknowledge anything that could be viewed as weakness or imperfection. Dr. Dennis Schimpf, founder of Sweetgrass Plastic Surgery, explains that for many men, especially older men, being concerned about their appearance is not considered manly. They feel that they need to project confidence or be indifferent to their looks.
Despite this, some men are taking steps to improve their appearances. For instance, tummy tucks for men increased by 12% between 2012 and 2017, liposuction procedures rose by 23%, and breast-reduction surgeries increased by 30%, according to a study by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. However, men who do explore the idea of plastic surgery for cosmetic reasons often seem embarrassed. Dr. Schimpf notes that sometimes a man will come in with his wife, who will talk about herself first, and then bring up the conversation about what he is considering having done, almost as if it’s an afterthought.
Dr. Schimpf says that more men are willing to make changes to their appearance as times and attitudes change, and technological advances in plastic surgery allow for less invasive procedures. Men are looking for procedures that deliver more subtle changes with quick recoveries because they want work done “under the radar”, essentially. They don’t want others to know they’ve had something done because of what they believe people will think. Additionally, social media’s influence has made it more challenging to ignore what others think about their appearance. Dr. Schimpf says that patients often discover they have a double chin when they take a selfie on their cell phone.
Dr. Schimpf emphasizes that anyone considering plastic surgery should make the decision based on what is best for them and not based on how other people view them. People are going to think what they want, and those who are the most critical of others often have many issues themselves. If you try to do what someone else thinks is reasonable, you won’t be happy. Dr. Dennis Schimpf is the author of Finding Beauty: Think, See, and Feel Beautiful, and the founder of Sweetgrass Plastic Surgery, a multi-faceted practice focusing almost exclusively on cosmetic plastic surgery of the face and body. He is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and American Board of Surgery and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), as well as a member of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) and the American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS).
