Cosmetic surgery and aesthetic treatments, once primarily associated with women, have become a normalised and widely accepted part of self-care for men as well.
While Botox injections and fillers are now common topics of conversation among women, men are increasingly embracing these enhancements to refine their appearance and boost confidence.
The numbers speak for themselves. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Botox injections among men have surged by 182% from 2000 to 2020.
Additionally, there has been a 29% rise in cosmetic surgeries and non-surgical aesthetic procedures for men between 2000 and 2018, with this trend gaining momentum year after year.
“There are several reasons for an increase in males seeking aesthetic treatments,” says Dr Alek Nikolic, aesthetic medicine specialist and owner of Aesthetic Facial Enhancement in Cape Town.
“It is becoming more acceptable socially for men to have treatments. Males are also starting to realise that they can look on the outside the same as they are feeling on the inside. And they are being urged on by their female counterparts who are having treatments done,” he says.
As the world continues to become more accepting of aesthetic enhancements, self-care and men’s beauty standards, it’s evident that men also want to look and feel their best.
Social media, endless Zoom meetings, and how the media portrays individuals have increased pressure across the board to look one’s best with more men looking for short and long-term treatments in their quest for beauty.
Even though there used to be negative connotations around men having plastic surgery, this has certainly changed.
“Men are realising that looking after one’s health includes looking younger. Also, the advent of male celebrities being more open about certain treatments has allowed men to explore the possibilities,” says Dr Nikolic.
“I feel that South African men are still new to these treatments but their concerns and needs are similar to international trends. There is an emphasis on wanting to achieve natural-looking results so that others do not know they have had any work done.”
When it comes to what kind of procedures men are having done, Botox remains one of the most popular.
Men have Botox done to treat frowns, crow's feet and hyperhidrosis which is excessive sweating.
Another popular treatment is soft tissue fillers.
This is used to help with jawline definition, enhancing chins and under-eye bags.
Dermapen, which assists with skin regeneration, and chemical peels which are ideal for exfoliation, brightening and hydrating the skin are other treatments that more men are looking into.
When it comes to invasive procedures Dr Nikolic believes that the current popular treatments will lead the trend for the future including jawline definition, eyelid rejuvenation, neck lift, nasal rejuvenation, chin augmentation, liposuction, and male breast reduction.
Before having any cosmetic procedure done, he says that all patients have to go through a full consultation.
The consultation starts with a full examination of the face/neck and any other areas of concern.
Followed by an in-depth discussion of the changes noted on examination.
He then presents all the possible treatment options both surgical and non-surgical to the patient.
Thereafter, they make sure the patient has a good understanding of what was discussed and that the patient has realistic expectations.
If there is any concern the patient is referred to a professional for counselling before any treatments are considered.
“I would advise anyone considering aesthetic treatments to do their research, consult with qualified medical doctors, and consider all aspects of the procedure including their desired results before proceeding,” says Dr Nikolic.
“I’d also recommend consulting with a practitioner that understands the male face and treats men regularly.”
So how much would it cost to have treatments like Botox and fillers done?
As a general guideline Botox frown, forehead, and crow’s feet will be around R4,500 and filler is dependent on the type and amount of fillers used in one setting but these will vary for one filler between R4,800 and R5,800.
IOL Lifestyle