We all know that more women than men tend to get cosmetic surgery, but this year American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) aesthetic data reveal an ever-increasing proportion of male patients. In fact, 44 percent of physicians expect an increase in male patients this year, up 5 percent from last year. As more men turn to in-office solutions and seek plastic surgery, we’re starting to get a better idea of what they want and expect in terms of cosmetic results. Among cosmetic procedures for men, rhinoplasty dominates.
We spoke to experts to find out why a nose job is the most requested cosmetic procedure for men and what they see on the horizon for male plastic surgery.
Introducing AAFPRS
The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is an accredited association of board-certified surgeons specializing in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery and requires prior certification by the American Board of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery or the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
Their annual member survey offers an inside look at this niche of plastic surgery, and with life finally settling into a post-Covid norm, this year’s stats give us our best idea yet of the state of the industry. While COVID brought a lot of people in plastic surgery, causing notable increases across the board, there is still a consistent trend: more people are getting cosmetic surgery.
The 2023 survey, released this month, shows that while the plastic surgery craze has slowed, there is still steady growth in cosmetic surgery. If you ask surgeons, they will tell you that the growth comes from many different places.
Campbell, CA, plastic surgeon Kamakshi Zeidler, MD explains that she has seen an influx of both male patients and younger patients in their 30s seeking cosmetic procedures. “I practice in Silicon Valley, so I would say the younger millennial population in my community is in a good position financially, especially because of COVID,” explains Dr. Seidler. “I think this group of patients we’re seeing in their 20s and early 30s are really looking to invest in themselves, even in material things.”
This includes a growing interest in facelifts for the younger crowd, more prejudice than rejuvenation, and an increased focus on maintaining skin quality.
What is Rhinoplasty?
“Rhinoplasty is basically a reconstruction or reshaping of the outline of the nasal cartilages, nasal bones, and sometimes the nasal soft tissue,” explains Palo Alto, CA, facial plastic surgeon David Lieberman, MD. “Although this is often done to address cosmetic issues, the function of the nose must be considered in any nasal surgery.”
Palto Alto, CA, facial plastic surgeon Jill Hessler, MD explains that subtle nose reshaping can create many changes. “The nose is such an important central component of the face, so subtle changes can have a big impact,” says Dr. Hessler.
New York-based facial plastic surgeon Matthew White, MD, adds that facial balance is the primary aesthetic goal of a rhinoplasty. “When you see a patient interested in rhinoplasty, their nose is usually out of balance in some way,” explains Dr. White. “They might find it too big for their facial features or the tip too exaggerated. And that’s why, in their private and professional lives, when people see them, the first thing they notice is the nose. That’s where they draw their eyes.”
The personal philosophy of Dr. White for rhinoplasty, then, is to draw a person’s eye to yours.
“We’re talking about those milliseconds where you meet someone for the first time and you can feel them scanning your face and making judgments,” says Dr. White. “So our whole strategy is to make these milliseconds about your eyes, not your nose. To create real harmony in the face.”
Why are more men getting rhinoplasty?
“I see a lot of male rhinoplasty patients, so it’s no surprise that this is the most common procedure for men,” says Dr. Hessler. According to her, one reason for this popularity is that a rhinoplasty can be done at any point in a person’s life.
“Rhinoplasty is an operation that lasts many decades of life. Often men in their late teens to their sixties or seventies can seek refinement in their noses. Although I often perform blepharoplasty and face and neck lifts on men, this is generally in a slightly older demographic, whereas rhinoplasty can be done at any age.”
According to the AAFPRS President, Sherard A. Tatum, advances in surgery have also been linked to an increase in popularity among men. “As minimally invasive technology continues to advance, this opens the door for more men to receive discreet, fast-healing cosmetic treatments,” says Dr. Tatum. “From non-invasive neck lifts to needle-free enhancements, there are more options than ever for men to continue to look as vital and youthful as they feel. The rise of minimally invasive options appears to be slowly closing the gender gap in facial plastic surgery.”
