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What men really want: a good nose job
By Sophie Goodchild and Annabel Fallon
29 February 2004

One in 10 cosmetic surgery operations in Britain is carried out on a man, with nose jobs, liposuction and eye-bag removal top of the most frequently requested treatments.

Clinics reporta doubling in the number of image-conscious men who have gone under the surgeon's scalpel over the past two years, to rid themselves of flabby buttocks or double chins.

Cosmetic surgery is now most popular among men aged 31 to 40, although the revelation last month that Silvio Berlusconi, the 67-year-old perma-tanned Italian prime minister, had undergone a "partial facelift", served to illustrate that nip and tuck treatment is no longer the preserve of ageing Hollywood actresses and glamour models eager for career-boosting breasts.

Programmes such as the American television drama Nip/Tuck are likely to make plastic surgery even more acceptable in the future.

The new figures come from Transform Medical Group, one of Britain's largest providers of private plastic surgery, which claims to treat around 1,500 men a year. Two years ago, men represented 5 per cent of business. This has risen to 10 per cent.

Male patients are even demanding injections to plump up lips and smooth out frown lines. Transform, which has 13 clinics across the UK, said that 20 per cent of Botox treatments, 30 per cent of nose jobs, 17 per cent of eye-bag removals and 15 per cent of liposuctions are now carried out on men.

Antonio Susinni, a 29-year-old choreographer and dancer with appearances in Bombay Dreams and Saturday Night Fever in London, had rhinoplasty (nose reshaping surgery) in September to alter his "potato-shaped" nose after teasing at school and years of self-consciousness.

"It was nothing to do with vanity or my job - I had felt uncomfortable with my nose for about 15 years," said Mr Susinni. "I was teased at school and finally found the courage to have the operation."

He says more men are choosing plastic surgery because there is less of a stigma surrounding the operation and more pressure to look "normal".

Saif Khan, a plastic and aesthetic surgeon based in Harley Street, said there was a big demand among older men for face and eye lifts to get rid of hooding, whereas younger men wanted nose jobs and liposuction.

"They are part of a generation who are not ashamed to spend money on their looks, with expensive haircuts, designer clothes and spending money on gym membership," he said.

"They are now not embarrassed about having surgery as well. Five years ago they wanted subtle changes so that their mates would not know, but now they want dramatic results."

Lindsay Mullins, a spokeswoman for Transform, said that the popularity of television programmes like Nip/Tuck were making plastic surgery more acceptable.

"The non-surgical treatments have increased alongside the explosion of male skin-care products ... and treatments like Botox are the next logical step for lots of men wanting to maintain a youthful look," she said.
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health/story.jsp?story=496244