Cosmetic surgery is a medical specialty that focuses on using non-invasive medical procedures as well as invasive surgical procedures to enhance the patient’s appearance. Women represent the lion’s share of cosmetic surgery patients, accounting for approximately 92 percent of all plastic surgery procedures in the United States as of 2010. While men only accounted for approximately 750,000 cosmetic surgery procedures that year, that number represents an 88 percent increase over the number of male cosmetic surgery procedures performed in 1997.

The top five elective cosmetic surgical procedures for men include Botox, laser hair removal, microdermabrasion, chemical peel and soft tissue fillers. The top five invasive cosmetic surgery procedures among men include lipoplasty (liposuction), rhinoplasty (nose job), blepheroplasty (eyelid surgery), gynecomastia (male breast reduction), and otoplasty (ear surgery).

Elective Procedures

Botox is the most popular cosmetic procedure for both women and men accounting to 3000% increase, that is up to 9% from 2009-2010. This procedure is used to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles. Other patients also use Botox to treat conditions like Urinary incontinence, hyperhidrosis, migraine, multiple sclerosis. Botox cost varies per area, condition to be treated and surgeon fees. According to 2010 figures provided by ASPS, if the injection is administered by a board certified plastic surgeon, the cost is approximately $375.

Laser hair removal can help reduce the amount and coarseness of body and facial hair. This procedure works by applying focused laser light energy to the hair follicle. The light energy is converted into heat energy when it encounters the color pigment in the hair. This heat destroys the hair follicle, causing the hair to fall out. Because hair grows in cycles it is often necessary to undergo repeat visits to maintain the results. The cost for laser hair removal varies significantly based on your geographic location and on the part of the body being treated. Facial hair removal may require six visits and cost $2700 while hair removal on the larger area of your back may require eight visits and cost $4,400 according to hairremovalforum.com.

Microdermabrasion and chemical peels are both used to improve the condition of the skin, typically of the face and neck. These procedures involve removing the damaged upper layers of the epidermis, either through mechanical or chemical means, to allow the fresh new layers of skin to emerge. The cost of these procedures will vary based on the extent of the damage to your skin and the region where you live. Individual treatments may run from $75 to $150, according to the Ceatus Media Group.

Soft tissue fillers, sometimes referred to as dermal fillers, act as a kind of liquid facelift. The natural aging process can result in sagging skin. Soft tissue fillers can help to plump up those areas, giving you a more youthful appearance. Cost for injectable fillers averages around $950, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, but the cost may be affected by the type of filler used, the experience level of the plastic surgeon, and other associated fees such as anesthesia and facilities fees.

Clinetix photograph by Kris Kesiak Photography
Botox photograph by AJC1