Cosmetic surgery as an investment? More and more men are enhancing their looks to improve their career prospects.
The term ‘plastic surgery’ often conjures up images from the movies of people radically altering their appearance to adopt a whole new face. In real life however, cosmetic procedures are most often used to help people appear younger and slimmer. And these days they’re becoming just as popular for men as for women.
Let’s face it: looks matter.
Numerous studies have found that more attractive men and women earn an average of 3 or 4 per cent more than their plainer looking coworkers, which adds up to a significant amount of money over the course of a career.
A Yale study found that in the US, good-looking workers earn a lifetime total of $230,000 more than those considered to have below-average looks. Attractive men in particular earned nine per cent more than unattractive men in that study.
Beautiful people also have an easier time getting hired, are promoted more quickly, and are more often singled out for management training. [Source]
So, perhaps it isn’t surprising that more and more men are choosing to have cosmetic procedures done as a career move. Being physically attractive isn’t just important for media personalities or people whose career is at least in part based on their looks.
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“The reasons men decide to have something done (to their faces) are similar to why women do them — such as to improve self-image and boost self-confidence,” said Dr Huang, plastic surgeon. “However, men probably feel more pressure than women to look their best in the workplace, especially as they get older and start worrying about job competition from younger and better-looking men.”
Even if your appearance has no connection to the nature of your role, people who are comfortable with how they look have more self-esteem and confidence, which greatly impacts their levels of success.
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“Typically, people think of celebrities and high profile men undergoing cosmetic surgery,” said Stephen Baker, MD, an American Society of Plastic Surgeons Member. “And while that may be true, the typical male cosmetic surgery patient that I see is an average guy who wants to look as good as he feels. Most of my patients are ‘men’s men,’ the kind of guy you might not think would have plastic surgery.”
A new report out just this week shows that most often it is men over 40 who are seeking cosmetic surgery including facial rejuvenation which can do everything from removing acne scars to erasing age spots and tightening the skin. Facelifts help men have a stronger jawline and look more youthful and energetic. This impact how people perceive them professionally, enhancing their life both at home and at work.
Men are also looking to improve their looks and self-confidence by opting for liposuction or a tummy tuck. Guys who have tried eating right and exercising but still have stubborn pockets of fat that they just can’t lose are also turning to plastic surgery in much larger numbers than ever before.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons said there’s been a nearly 20 per cent increase in men choosing to have cosmetic procedures done since 2010. According to the ASPS, these are the most popular cosmetic procedures for guys.
Top five male cosmetic surgical procedures
- Nose Reshaping
- Eyelid Surgery
- Liposuction
- Breast Reduction in Men
- Hair Transplantation
Top five cosmetic minimally-invasive procedures for men
- Botulinum Toxin Type A
- Laser Hair Removal
- Microdermabrasion
- Chemical Peel
- Soft Tissue Fillers
How about you? Do you think your appearance has impacted your career – and would you ever consider a cosmetic procedure to appear more youthful and attractive?
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