Over the past few years, there's been a huge boom in cosmetic procedures among men. According to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, about 10 percent of all cosmetic procedures performed in the United States in 2012 were on men – that's almost 1 million. In fact, the number of cosmetic procedures carried out on men has increased by a staggering 106% since 1997, and in today's image-conscious society, it's not difficult to see why.
It's not just America that has seen a rise in the number of men looking to improve their appearance. The London-based Private Clinic of Harley Street is also claiming that the number of male visits has increased more than 20% in the last year, and that men now account for a quarter of all their patients.
Dr Dennis Wolf, Joint Medical Director at The Private Clinic, thinks it's down to a change in the way people think. When speaking about male procedures, he said that he thinks it's fair to say that today men have a more open attitude towards cosmetic procedures. He also thinks men are now more aware of the treatments that are available to them.
'If we look back 5-10 years, you would find a far lower number of men willing to have cosmetic treatments to improve the way they look; not because they did not want to undergo the procedure, but perhaps because they were embarrassed or did not want others to see them as vain.
Now, however, perceptions have changed and people don’t associate cosmetic treatments solely with women,' he said.
It certainly seems as though men are becoming more preoccupied with the way they look; a recent survey by market research specialist Mintel found that men are now spending more than women on footwear. In August last year they revealed that 25-34 year-old males have spent an average of £178 on everything from shoes to trainers and sandals in the past year, while women of the same age spent a mere £171.
The difference is even greater among 16-to-24 year-olds, with younger men spending £154, 15 percent more than females of the same age.
These figures may seem unrelated, but Richard Cope, Mintel's principle trends analyst, thinks that they confirm that metrosexuality is now in the mainstream.
When speaking to the Telegraph, he said that younger men are now more worried than ever before about the way they look, and are taking considerably more time to "groom".
"Taking pride in and taking greater confidence from being well groomed now defines what it is to be 'a man' in today's society. Rather than being in a minority, men who buy grooming products to boost self-esteem or feel more attractive are now in the majority," he says.
So, if you are a man who prides himself on his appearance and are thinking of having a non-surgical cosmetic procedure, remember that they are not regulated in the UK, so it's vital to carefully research it before you make up your mind. Our Save Face fact sheets have all of the information that you'll need to help you make an educated decision.
Once you've made up your mind, find a Save Face accredited practitioner using our pioneering multi-faceted search engine. It'll help you ensure that you're in safe hands.