Men feel “the same pressure as women” to undergo cosmetic procedures to look better.
That is the conclusion of Save Face, the UK’s national register for professionals who perform non-surgical cosmetic treatments such as anti-wrinkle injections (Botox) and subcutaneous fillers.
The warning comes as a BBC poll suggests 50% of men aged 18 to 30 would “consider” having the procedure.
Meanwhile, the Spanish Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (SECPRE) stated on its website that although many more interventions are performed on women than men, the number of male interventions in 2017-2018 “shows significant growth” compared to the figures for 2013-2014.
Save Face warns that men are much more vulnerable to falling victim to bad practices due to their unwillingness to openly discuss the issue and their search for cheap procedures online.
The British government is preparing to launch a campaign in England to tackle failed cosmetic treatments.
Networks and reality shows
The BBC survey, commissioned by Radio 1’s Newsbeat and Victoria Derbyshire programs, found that of cosmetic procedures women had undergone in the past, abdominal implants and Botox had been the most common.
According to Derbyshire, almost half of respondents said that “getting a cosmetic procedure is just like getting a haircut.”
Save Face notes that more men are visiting its site than women, while the number of complaints regarding complications has risen dramatically.
“There is an increased tendency for men to seek these procedures and also more men suffering complications when procedures go wrong,” says Ashton Collins, co-director of the group.
She explains that images on social media and reality TV shows such as Love Island and Big Brother are partly responsible for fostering men’s desire to change their bodies.
And it seems that the perfect torso is the goal of many men under 30.
As part of the BBC survey, around 2,000 people, men, and women were asked which body part they would most like to change. The most popular answer among men was the stomach and chest, with 34% choosing these regions.
Mike’s case
Concerned about the appearance of his chest, Mike decided to undergo surgery to reduce what he calls his “man boobs,” or what is medically known as gynecomastia.
“You’re in the gym and you’re aware of it. Everywhere you go you’re aware of it,” he told BBC Radio 1’s Newsbeat.
Two weeks after the operation he insists that he has had no complications and is very happy to have gone ahead with the procedure.
“I just feel more confident in myself. It almost makes you feel more masculine, more of a man,” he says.
Exercise and diet
Diren Kartel, a personal trainer who offers online advice, confirms that many men tell him they want to improve the appearance of their torsos.
“I, when I first started training, wanted to have six-pack abs. When I was younger, I wanted to have six-pack abs. All men want to have six-pack abs.”
However, she notes that having defined abs doesn’t necessarily mean you’re healthy.
What is recommended is to exercise and have a balanced diet to achieve the body you want.
“The thought of having surgery to get six-pack abs shocks me. That’s not going to solve the problem. What you’re going to do is create more problems,” he warns.
“I would advise you not to do it. If you train well, eat well, and change your lifestyle, rather than going for a quick and easy fix, it’s going to be much more beneficial for you.”
Diren isn’t afraid to call out celebrities and social media influencers who aren’t honest about how they achieved the bodies they sport on Instagram.
“All these celebrities who have the perfect physique, if you don’t have the same as a child, you’ll think that’s a problem,” he says.
“If a celebrity purposely promotes the fact that having abs is healthy, that’s a mistake, because that’s not the case.”
Ashton Collins, from Save Face, is concerned that some men are more likely to fall victim to botched procedures because they are too embarrassed to talk about them.
“It remains an obstacle for men to speak openly with their friends, as women would, which leaves them vulnerable to bad practices and falling into the wrong hands,” she says.
“There are many men who are looking at social media for the cheapest prices, which inevitably leads to complications.”