IN THEIR search for the perfect male anatomy, more men are undergoing cosmetic surgery. In the United States, the number of cosmetic procedures performed on men has more than tripled since 1997. Males got 10 per cent of all enhancements last year, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
CALF IMPLANTS
One of the latest crazes in male cosmetic surgery is silicone implant to beef up toothpick legs. Some men say they shy away from wearing shorts, going to the beach and playing water sports because of their scrawny calves.
"I just feel a lot better about myself. It's like when you get an amazing new haircut or you decide to dye your hair a different colour or you buy a shirt that you really like," the 25-year-old marketing student told a Canadian newspaper. After years of trying to bulk up at the gym proved fruitless, he forked over $8,000 to a plastic surgeon to insert the implants.
Other popular male cosmetic procedures include rhinoplasty to refine noses to liposuction to erase love handles and create chiselled abdominal muscles, also known as six-packs.
Buttock and pectoral implants are also on the rise, as well as male breast-reduction surgery to correct a condition that is often the result of hormonal imbalance or weight gain.
MORE IN THE MALE BEAUTY WORLD
In recent years, men have been won over by the need to moisturise, a sort of insurance policy against the tide of ageing. So anti-wrinkle cream, moisturiser, exfoliant and other skin care products are on the rise.
MEN, ARE YOU LETTING YOURSELVES GO?
Take our quiz and find out how you shape up.
1. Your worn-out, at-home sweats have ventured into the streets and over into going out.
True False
2. Taking a shower feels like a mini vacation.
True False
3. When you pinch your side, you can grab a few inches.
True False
4. You refuse to be weighed.
True False
5. When you and your wife are getting ready for bed, you turn off the light before changing into your pyjamas.
True False
6. Your 20th school reunion is next week and you're still trying to squeeze into the blazer you had when you started your first job.
True False
7. When a group photo is being taken, you automatically suck in your gut.
True False
If you answered true to 3 or more, it might be time to shape up. Women are no longer into the beer-belly look.
