If you thought only women could have sleepless nights in anticipation of undergoing cosmetic surgery then think again. Times have changed and so have our men! No longer are they happy with the way nature has made them. They, too, want to look their best, and will go to any extent… even as far as going under the knife, literally. When one of my best buddies confided in me about her spouse's craze to go for liposuction to get rid of that “unseemly bulge and those love handles”, I could not believe it.
We have been brought up in times listening to our parents tell our brothers that cosmetic and beauty treatments are solely for girls. However, with the changing times, the mentality of most has also changed, with people now saying there is nothing wrong in trying to improve on what you have been blessed with. Nazim Bhatti, 48, loves to swim. But his jaunts to the pool were restricted as he was terribly conscious of his sagging stomach, till he decided to undergo liposuction. Now, he can go swimming with all the confidence in the world.
Thirty-year-old Salman is a man on a mission. The aspiring model wants to get a nose job done to shape his crooked nose. And he won't rest till he finds the best surgeon to sculpt his nose.
From nose jobs and liposuction to taking botox injections, more and more men are going under the knife - in the quest for perfection or to turn back the wheels of time and look young for numerous reasons. Surgeons at a Harley Street clinic call it "The Sarkozy effect"; although there is no suggestion that French President Sarkozy has gone under the knife to impress and ultimately marry supermodel Carla Bruni, 13 years his junior. And the couple is surely making waves, with the hubby as President and wife, Carla, vying to become a famous singer after her stint with modeling. However, famous Hollywood stars who have had surgery include the actor Michael Douglas, who is 25 years older than his second wife, Catherine Zeta Jones.
On an international level, it has been observed that men, close on the heels of the fair sex, are willing to pay to alter their appearance. According to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, there has been an increase of 17.5 per cent in the number of male surgeries over a year. A nose job is the top choice among men followed by tummy tucks, liposuction, male breast reduction, hair transplant and laser hair removal. Apart from these, there are other specialized non-surgical services like facial rejuvenation, fillers and facelifts that are becoming a rage to ensure the feel-good factor.
The popularity of treatments can be further categorised according to age. Nose jobs and laser hair removal are hot among 18-30 year olds who are crazy about how they look. On the other hand, for 30-50 year olds, pot belly reduction, liposuction, hair transplant and other age-defying and fat reduction treatments like botox, fillers, micro-dermabrasions and facelifts are extremely popular.
So, what happened to the macho man? Till some time ago, a hairless body or removing wrinkles was considered feminine amongst the male species. Today, a smooth chest or a 'six-pack' ab or shelling out a lac rupees for 'pectoral implants' to give that muscled look only adds to a man's machismo.
What is triggering off this love for a cosmetically corrected image among men? Why would a man want a 'hairless' body like Salman or a 'Hrithik nose' even when there is nothing wrong with what nature has provided? "No doubt, film stars leave an impact on a young man's mind but other factors like professional demands, social appearance or, for that matter, attracting the opposite sex also play a major role in bringing a man to a cosmetic surgeon," explains Dr. Sajid Ali, cosmetic surgeon at a private hospital.
"Looking good is the primary factor for today's male, irrespective of the age. With financial power in his hands and awareness about the treatments available, he is ready to find some quick fixes to his flabby, saggy imperfections," adds dermatologist Dr. Sabiha Saad.
More than a personal choice, it is the societal demand to look perfect that lures a large number of men to explore surgical options. "Today, a greater than ever importance is being attached to looks - to the extent of relating looks to a man's self esteem, which makes him realise that even he is required to look good, else he'll lose upon personal and professional grounds. People are no longer embarrassed about improving themselves aesthetically,” explains Dr. Sajid Ali.
Is It A Mental State?
Talking to Minhaas, a 47-year-old architect, who opted for a potbelly reduction treatment, makes one realise that it's not just about the physical improvement but also the mental and moral boost that a modern-age beauty therapy ensures.
"My personal as well as professional life came to a halt as I couldn't even walk due to my big belly. Whatever little amount of exercising I was doing made me feel exhausted and didn't do any good to reduce weight. So, I underwent this surgery and today I feel much lighter and healthier. My looks have improved, I look much younger and my confidence has doubled."
For Danish Manzoor, a banker, getting a nose-job added to his confidence. "The inferiority complex has just vanished and I appear more presentable now. I can feel the difference in the kind of reception I get now. Those strange looks have just vanished and my clients look more impressed now."
Monetary equations
Modern age beauty treatments are no longer the privilege of models and actors. Be it a lawyer, a media professional or a doctor... today, just about anybody who can afford it is ready to go under the knife in order to look and feel good. The 'men, money and beauty' equation which was limited to just a hair-cut, a good shave or, for that matter, a head massage, till sometime back has altered its form over time. Men who were mere partners accompanying their wives to a skin clinic are gradually transforming into active treatment takers. Now, an increased number of men are ready to shell out moolah like never before on a variety of beauty treatment options available to them, both surgical and non-surgical.
Talk about the average amount a modern man is ready to spend and answers Dr. Sabiha, "Men who come to us are game to spend anything between Rs. 10,000-50,000, once they are convinced about a treatment and the effect it is going to have on them."
The Risk Factor
Once you have made up your mind about a treatment, telling your doctor exactly what you are looking for is the first and the most important step. But like every medical procedure, there is some element of risk here, too. "However, getting treated by an experienced person always helps," says Dr. Sajid Ali. "Patients should understand that cosmetic surgery can help only to the extent of making corrections under realistic parameters, you cannot change your complete appearance with a surgery.”
Different people may have different perspectives about undergoing cosmetic surgery or not to improve their looks, however, this scribe belongs to the school for the old fashioned as, in my opinion, you should be happy with your lot and avoid tampering with nature. But then again, to each their own, so if cosmetic surgery will really make you feel better, then go for it! n
