Does the job market affect the rate of plastic surgery procedures among men?

Botox and Cosmetic Procedures among Career-Oriented Men

Just a decade ago, you’d probably have a hard time finding a man who would admit to having plastic surgery – much less a “medical spa” procedure like Botox or a chemical peel. But the American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS) reported that 390,000 men had Botox at least once in 2012 – up 7% from 2011. (To give you some perspective, the number of women getting Botox increased by just 8% within that time frame.)

Why the upswing in Botox sessions? Some doctors attribute the rise in popularity – and lack of stigma – to the current job market. Profitable, fast-growing fields like technology tend to favor innovative, young employees. And if your job tends to be client-facing – think marketing and sales – a more attractive visage can work wonders. If a man has been laid off and is looking for a new job, research shows that he’s simply more likely to be hired if he is seen as attractive.

We might talk about cosmetic surgery and medical spa procedures more frequently in the context of women – but there’s definitely pressure on men to be “youthful” well into old age these days.

Inpatient procedures as interview prep?

We can’t equate correlation to causation, but here are some common procedures among men that other surgeons are noticing:

  • Many men use Botox to discourage underarm sweating, according to Dr. Aksari Townshend, medical director of Skin clinics. Townshend explains that visible underarm sweat can give the wrong impression when businessmen are “under pressure or negotiating a deal.”
  • In 2011, Seattle M.D. Phil Haeck said that men in their 40s and early 50s typically seek liposuction, Botox injections, and cosmetic fillers, while men in their late 50s and 60s ask for face lifts.
  • Dr. Cynthia Mizgala explains that Botox is a sort of foot in the door for many men. After having a first Botox injection and finding it convenient, almost painless, and natural-looking, male patients often “come back and maybe do a little more [the] next time, or a different area.”

Compared to women, men made up a fairly small percentage – just 9% – of cosmetic procedures patients in 2012. But within the male population, that number is actually a 5% increase since 2011 and a 22% increase since 2000.

Since 2000, we saw the Great Recession in late 2007, and the unemployment and underemployment rates peaked in 2010.  Again, we can’t say that correlation equals causation – but both statistical and anecdotal evidence both seem to indicate that the tough job market really has affected how men view cosmetic surgery and procedures. 

Genesis Plastic Surgery & Medical Spa specializes in cosmetic procedures for men as well as for women, no matter where you are in your career. And while a face lift or a Botox injection might help you at work, they’ll definitely help you feel and look your best – and that’s an investment worth making.

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