BY MIMI GREENWOOD KNIGHT
We’ve all heard of men experiencing sympathy pregnancy symptoms while their wife is expecting. Beyond an irresistible sitcom trope, couvade syndrome is an actual condition whereby men experience symptoms such as nausea, constipation, gas, bloating, weight gain, and irritability alongside their pregnant partner. But what about after the baby arrives? While the male body doesn’t go through all the alterations brought on by pregnancy and childbirth as a woman’s body does, he can still experience changes to his face and body because of changes in the household.
When a new baby arrives — and a second and third — life changes for everyone. A new dad’s diet, sleep, and exercise patterns fluctuate. Add to this the fact that he may also be experiencing the natural bodily changes of midlife. As all of this occurs, our society places emphasis on staying young, attractive, and fit, providing another reason more than a million men a year are improving their bodies and faces through plastic surgery.
According to the website PlasticSurgery.org, the most commonly requested plastic surgery procedures for men are:
- Eyelid rejuvenation
- Neck lift
- Rhinoplasty (nose surgery)
- Chin augmentation
- Liposuction
- Gynecomastia surgery (for those dreaded man boobs)
- Hair transplant
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, men of all ages are also turning to Botox to:
- Smooth crow’s feet, forehead furrows, and frown lines
- Diminish neck bands
- Improve the appearance of skin dimpling on the chin
- Lift the corners of the mouth
- Soften a square jawline
- Correct a gummy smile
Plastic Surgery Goals
Interestingly, many plastic surgeons are finding that their male and female patients are asking for the same procedures but for different reasons. As one surgeon put it, “Most women want to look younger, which generally isn’t the case for men. Guys are more interested in looking good for their age. So, a 50-year-old man isn’t trying to look 25 again. He’d rather look like a fit and healthy 50-year-old.”
The Zoom Effect
Male plastic surgery was already trending when the pandemic began. Suddenly, men everywhere were conducting business over videoconferencing and spending hours fixating on their double chin, sagging jawline, wrinkles, and eye bags on the computer screen. Plastic surgeons quickly coined the phrase “the Zoom effect” to explain the surge in pandemic-era surgeries that haven’t slowed yet.
Daddy Do-over
Lastly, it’s an erroneous stereotype to think only women care about how they look. Men of all ages want to look youthful, trim, healthy, self-confident, and attractive to their partner — and the world. Men as young as their 30s are enlisting the help of plastic surgeons to be their best selves. As with female plastic surgery, the goal is to avoid looking “done” but to go for subtle changes that leave him looking well-rested and refreshed. Especially if your man works in an industry where a youthful appearance is valued, there’s no shame in his game if he gets a few nips and tucks. And there’s no shame in yours if you wholeheartedly encourage him.
