Men Do It Too

Australian blokes are increasingly having cosmetic procedures according to a recent survey conducted by the Cosmetic Physicians Society of Australasia (CPSA) and cosmetic medicine website Costhetics.

The survey found almost 40 per cent of respondents say they know a man who has had a non-surgical cosmetic medical treatment. A further 25 per cent of those who took the survey also know a man who has had a surgical cosmetic procedure.

However, it’s not only increasingly common for men to undergo a cosmetic procedure; it’s also becoming more widely accepted. The survey identified that it’s becoming less taboo for men to have a cosmetic procedure with 96.8 per cent of respondents agreeing it is more acceptable than it used to be for men to have treatments such as anti-wrinkle injections.

“We are definitely seeing an increase in the number of men walking through our doors, with the majority of them seeking anti-ageing treatments,” says Dr. Susan Austin, spokesperson for the CPSA. “The other popular procedures requested by male patients are treatments for hair loss and balding as well as laser and IPL treatments for skin rejuvenation and hair removal.”

“Hair removal is one of the most common requests I receive from male patients, both for practical and aesthetic reasons. Some men, particularly athletes, choose hair reduction treatments to help them avoid shaving and painful waxing treatments and inflamed ingrown hair. Others choose it because they don’t want a hairy chest or back,” Dr. Austin says.

The CPSA estimates that men typically make up around 11 to 15 per cent of patients who seek cosmetic medicine. However, Dr. Austin reports that up to 70 per cent of patients in skin cancer clinics are men and these patients are increasingly gaining access and advice regarding cosmetic treatments in these surroundings.

“Australia has one of the highest rates of sun damage in the world, and exposure to the sun is one of the primary causes of premature ageing. I often find that men will seek initial treatment for sun-damage but love the results and then seek additional treatments,” Dr. Austin says.

For more information on the survey visit CPSA www.cosmeticphysicians.org.au