According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), men accounted for about 10 percent of all cosmetic plastic surgeries performed in the US.  But while women still make up for the vast majority of patients, experts believe that males may catch up sooner with the growing number of middle-aged workers.

Over the past couple of years, nose job has been the most popular cosmetic procedures for men.  The procedure typically involves manipulating and reshaping the cartilage, which is the flexible tissue inside the nose, to reduce or increase the projection, correct nostril flare, and address other aesthetic problems.

Aside from nose jobs, Smaili says he sees a growing number of male patients seeking liposuction, a procedure to remove the excess fats underneath the skin.  This is not surprising since the surgery was the third most popular cosmetic procedure for men in 2010, according to ASPS data.

“Contrary to popular belief, most men, especially those working in the corporate industry, are conscious with the way they look.  This doesn’t surprise me as several studies have shown that male bosses who are pleasing to the eyes—not necessarily those drop-dead-gorgeous superiors—appear to be more credible and trustworthy,” Smaili says.

And with the growing number of baby boomers and middle-aged men, some experts suggest that facial rejuvenation procedures such as facelift, Botox injection, and eyelid lift will continue their popularity.

In fact, a survey released by ASPS showed that eyelid lift was the third most popular cosmetic plastic surgery in 2010.

Employment is often the primary reason of men seeking cosmetic procedures, particularly that more workers these days postpone their retirement, in addition to the fact that older people are living longer and healthier.

But when treating older patients, Smaili says that most of them simply want to regain their youthful appearance, even those who are asking for nose jobs.

“Older men have a well-imprinted body image.  They do not want to drastically change their appearance, for instance, those who are asking for nose jobs just want to correct their drooping nasal tip to make it youthful.  On the other hand, younger patients are more focused on changing the fundamental shape of their nose,” he says.

To date, many countries including the US require patients to be at least 18 years old before they can undergo breast implant surgery.  But take note that this age requirement generally applies if you will have the procedure solely for cosmetic purpose—e.g., you want to increase your bust size.

By contrast, age requirement is not important if you will have the procedure as a way to treat developmental abnormalities.

You have to remember that patients between 18 and 21 can only have saline implants which are filled with a sterile saltwater solution.  But when you reach the age of 22, you would be allowed to use silicone implants during your breast augmentation surgery.

The main reason why silicone implants require a higher age limit is because of the risk of rupture.  To prevent serious complications, you will be required to undergo MRI screening at least every two years.  By contrast, you will not need this if your implants are filled with saline, which in case of a leak, can be safely absorbed by your body, though your breasts will immediately appear somewhat “flat.”

While 18 years old can already have breast augmentation, many plastic surgeons believe that a woman should wait until she has reached her twenties because there is a likelihood that her breasts will further enlarge.

Imagine that if your breasts become larger after having plastic surgery, you may end up with a bust size bigger than what you really want.  While you can always have revisions to downsize your implants or even remove them without replacement, this means additional expenses and possibly more scarring.

If you decide to have breast augmentation in your teenage years, you will likely need revisions sooner than later.  Take note that breast implants are not designed to last a lifetime and are subjected to the natural wear and tear.

According to a data collected by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 65 percent of breast implant surgeries were performed on patients aged between 20 and 38, a clear indication that most women waited until their body has fully matured before they had the procedure.

Because of the stiff job competition and the growing number of men postponing their retirement, leading Los Angeles plastic surgeon Dr. Tarick Smaili sees more male patients going to his office to ask for cosmetic procedures.

“Contrary to popular belief, I think men nowadays are as conscious as women in terms of physical appearance.  In fact, a 2010 data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) has shown that the number of middle-aged men seeking medical enhancement is on the rise,” Smaili added.

Meanwhile, another survey shows men’s growing enthusiasm with plastic surgery.  UCLA has found that 23 percent of US men were interested with the procedure, although only a fraction will push through with their plans.  By contrast, women were about eight times more likely than male patients to go under the knife.

Smaili noticed that many men still view plastic surgery as the last resort to their problems.

“Based on my experience, men will more likely prefer non-invasive procedures such as Botox injection and dermal fillers while women are more willing to go under the knife to achieve the best result possible,” the cosmetic surgeon said.

A significant number of men seeking cosmetic surgery undergo facial rejuvenation procedures such as facelift and eyelid lift.  And with the aging baby boomers who are living longer and healthier, plastic surgeons across the US believe in one thing: more eager patients will fall in line outside their office.

In fact, a 2010 data from ASPS shows that facelift performed on male patients increased by 14 percent.

Aside from employment reasons and Americans’ obsession to looking young, Smaili believes that the increasing number of patients seeking cosmetic procedures is caused by the changing attitude.

“In the past, cosmetic surgery was almost considered taboo, but now, many people would admit it without batting an eyelash.  More men are also open to treatments that would improve their appearance; this is proven by the invention of the term metrosexual, which is used to describe men who spend a lot of time and money for their appearance,” Smaili said.

Aside from facial rejuvenation procedures such as facelift and Botox, Smaili has also noticed an increase in number of male patients seeking liposuction especially in the chest area and abdomen.

On average, respondents claimed that breast enhancement surgery have increased their sex life satisfaction by 34 percent, while 61 percent said they had sex more frequently after the procedure.

By contrast, only 7 percent of the respondents said they had fewer sexual encounters after their breast augmentation or breast lift surgery.

On a scale of one to ten, one being the lowest satisfaction rate, patients experienced more than a two-point increase in their overall sex life satisfaction following their breast enhancement surgery.

Before the procedure, the average sex life satisfaction score was 6.07 and then jumped to 8.13 after the surgery.

While about 70 percent of respondents said that their overall sex life has improved, 28 percent said that breast surgery did not change anything.

Currently, the average cost of breast augmentation and breast lift in the US is $6,000 and $10,000, respectively.  But despite the procedures’ relatively high price, a number of patients seeking them has increased over the past couple of years.

In the US alone, about 296,000 patients had breast implant surgery in 2010.  Meanwhile, it has been estimated that 5 to 10 million people worldwide have augmentation surgery for cosmetic reasons, although a significant number of them also had the procedure to reconstruct their breasts after mastectomy or to transition from male to female gender.

On the other hand, approximately 90,000 breast lift surgeries were performed in the US in 2010 alone.

Dr. Tarick Smaili, one of the leading Los Angeles plastic surgeons, said he is expecting breast enhancements, particularly augmentation surgery, to further increase their popularity in the coming years.

“I think that the changing perception with cosmetic plastic surgery is the main reason why breast enhancements are enjoying their popularity.  Considered to be a taboo in the previous years, people are now more open to the idea that we have the freedom and the right tool to modify and improve our physical appearance,” Smaili said.

However, the cosmetic surgeon warned that not all people who want to have some “physical improvements” are good candidates for cosmetic surgeries.

“Of course there are many things to consider.  Does she have realistic goals and expectations?  Is she physically and psychologically healthy?  These are just some of the factors plastic surgeons would have to consider before taking any surgical step, particularly if it involves elective and cosmetic procedures,” Smaili added.

In 2010, 13.1 million cosmetic procedures were performed in the country, with about 88 percent accounting to non-invasive treatments.  Meanwhile, almost half of the patients were in their 40s and 50s, a clear manifestation of Americans’ obsession to youthful beauty.

One advantage of non-invasive cosmetic procedures over surgical ones is that they involve no recovery or require little downtime.  However, one consideration is that they often need maintenance so the patients can preserve their youthful appearance; for instance, Botox and collagen injection must be repeated at least every six months.

The International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine (IAPAM) is expecting that non-invasive cosmetic procedures especially those treating the signs of aging will increase in numbers.  Botox and Dysport, which both uses neurotoxin in small dosage, will continue their popularity.

Dermal fillers such as Restylane and Juvederm will also continue their popularity.  These treatments are used to “fill in” hollowed facial areas such as the cheeks although certain types can also used in lip augmentation.

In addition, non-surgical body contouring procedures such as VelaSmooth and Zerona will continue their popularity.

Over the past couple of years, liposuction has been one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries in the US.  But nowadays, new technologies have made it possible to perform the procedure without using incisions; in fact, some doctors simply inject a concoction of drugs to the fatty areas to melt these away, allowing the body to naturally flush these out.

These are the advantages of minimally invasive procedures over cosmetic plastic surgery:

• The treatments are performed quickly.
• Most procedures are relatively painless or at least the discomfort can be minimized by local anesthesia.
• Bed rest is not required because there is little or no downtime.
• Side effects are minor.  But in case the patients develop some swelling, redness, and bruising, these symptoms will likely subside a day or two.
• The procedures are ideal for patients who do not want the idea of going under the knife.
• Most non-invasive treatments provide instantaneous results because there is little or no symptom such as swelling and bruising.
• The non-invasive cosmetic procedures are much cheaper than plastic surgery.

The main reason why silicone breast implants require a higher age limit is that they pose risk in the event of rupture or leak.  For this reason, you have to undergo regular MRI screening to detect any “silent leak.”

By contrast, the examination is not necessary if you will choose the saline implants because in the event of implant failure, your breasts will deflate within hours after the rupture, thus allowing you to seek revisions right away.

Generally speaking, female patients under the age of 18 cannot have breast augmentation surgery unless there is an issue of breast deformity.  The problem with younger people is that their body is still maturing and they may not yet fully understand the ramifications of cosmetic plastic surgery.

It is important to note that even if you are flat-chested at the age of 15, there is still a chance that your breasts will enlarge as years pass by.  And with large implants and ongoing breast development, you may end up having oversized busts that look unnatural and asymmetric to the rest of your body.

Another concern is that patients below the age of 18 are not emotionally mature.  In fact, a study has suggested that teenagers see cosmetic surgery as a way to fit into their crowd.  By contrast, adults seek the procedure to stand out from the rest.

As mentioned earlier, your plastic surgeon may allow you to have breast augmentation at a younger age if you are suffering from certain types of deformity including tuberous breasts in which they appear too pointy because of the unusual structure of their base.

Breast augmentation performed at a younger age may also be necessary if you develop a very large breast on one side while the other is too small or even “absent.”  In general, age is not an issue in reconstructive plastic surgery.

While the US is quite strict when it comes to cosmetic breast augmentation, certain countries allow the procedure on patients as young as 16.  This lower age limit is not acceptable to many American surgeons who believe that the body should be allowed to mature first before any aesthetic or elective surgery is conducted.

By contrast, cosmetic rhinoplasty surgery requires patients to be at least 14 years old or slightly older when dealing with males (as their nasal structure takes longer than girls to become fully matured).  In this way, the results after surgery are less likely to change as the years pass by.

Aside from physical issues, patients younger than 14 are not yet emotionally mature to fully understand the ramifications of cosmetic plastic surgery, which in turn makes them a bad candidate in the first place.

According to a previous study, teenagers have a different view of cosmetic.  While adults see this as a way to stand out from the rest of their peers, younger people seek this to fit into their crowd.

It is safe to say that 16 is already an ideal age to have nose jobs as long as the teenagers are emotionally mature and they have realistic goals and expectations.  As any self-respecting doctor would say, “there is no point of conducting aesthetic surgery if it would not elicit a smile from a patient.”

But as mentioned earlier, reconstructive rhinoplasty does not have an age requirement especially if a patient is experiencing breathing problems and severe deformities. In fact, most doctors will likely address the issues as soon as possible so an individual can live a more normal life.

Either performed for reconstructive or cosmetic reasons, nose surgery is a relatively safe procedure because it does not involve major blood vessels and organs.  However, there are still some risks, although usually minor or at least can be easily treated.

While most teenagers can return to school just a week to 10 days after their nose surgery, some residual swelling and bruising (which can be covered up with make-up) can last for a couple of months.  Also, they can resume most of their daily life’s activities within four to six weeks.

Meanwhile, older patients can also enjoy the benefits of rhinoplasty surgery; but unlike teenagers and young adults, they often seek to regain the youthful appearance of their nose rather than change it dramatically.  This is not surprising since those in their 40s and 50s already have a well-imprinted body image.

However, the girl’s mother started to be alarmed when she caught her trying to staple her ears.  That’s when she decided to consult a facial plastic surgeon.

In November 2011, the girl had otoplasty in which her ears were pinned back to make them look smaller and in harmony with her face.  Just after the procedure, her self-esteem has improved dramatically and the bullying has stop—of course it all happened after the school authorities had intervened.

While her story has a happy ending, it is important to remember that plastic surgery is not a quick fix to everything although it can prevent or at least heal emotional scars caused by teasing and name-calling.  For this reason, some doctors even recommend “intervention” while the patient is still young.

Otoplasty is particularly ideal for children, although adults can also have this procedure.  However, one consideration to make is that older patients’ cartilage is less flexible than kids, making the procedure more challenging to perform.

As much as possible, the request to have otoplasty should come from children themselves.  It should not be forced upon them because not all kids are bothered with their appearance; in fact, I’ve known someone who can deal with teasing that her bullies were the ones who ended up crying.

However, severe deformities caused by accidents or congenital abnormalities should be addressed as soon as possible in order to improve body function, achieve a more normal appearance, and allow the patients live a normal life.

While reconstructive plastic surgeries can be performed at any age, this is not the case in cosmetic procedures in which the sole purpose is to improve one’s appearance.  First and foremost, these require both emotional and physical maturity to achieve the best result possible.

For instance, cosmetic breast augmentation cannot be performed on patients younger than 18.  Unlike otoplasty which is a relatively simple procedure, this is a major surgery that involves potential risks—something which may not be fully understood by children and teenagers.

As mentioned earlier, plastic surgery cannot solve all our problems or prevent bullies from making harsh remarks.  But if performed to the right candidate, this can have a positive impact on one’s self-esteem and body image.

The survey, which involved 810 children, has shown that half of girls and a third of boys are considering “extreme measures” such as plastic surgery in an effort to achieve a “perfect body”, which is defined by celebrities they see on TV.  Researchers said the finding was troubling as it shows that kids appear to be increasingly insecure about their physical appearance.

In addition, the survey has suggested that one in eight girls consider taking laxatives and diet pills to achieve a slimmer figure while one in ten boys said they would take steroids to get a more muscular body.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, Central YMCA chief executive Rosi Prescott said “quick fixes are increasingly becoming a trend”, something which he described as “unhealthy and unfulfilling.”

Prescott also noted that body image issue, which used to be only prevalent among young girls, is now affecting boys.

He attributed the alarming trend to the “growing pressure on young people to conform to unrealistic body image ideal” which is often determined by television, movies, magazines, and Internet and other forms of digital media.

With the pressure to look “unbelievably” beautiful or skinny, some children as young as five have been previously reported to suffer from anorexia and other forms of eating disorder.

Experts believe the fashion industry, celebrities, advertisements, and digital media are further encouraging the obsession to become thin.  They suggest that the only way to tackle the problem is to hold campaigns that would help people feel more confident and “satisfied” with their body.

The unrealistic body image ideals are also believed to be fueled by edited or “photoshopped” pictures of celebrities circulating the Internet and magazines.

Meanwhile, Oprah Winfrey was once quoted saying that she does not look like herself when she sees her magazine photos because of the “extreme photoshopping.”

And in July, a cosmetic advertisement featuring Julia Roberts was banned in UK because it was digitally altered to make her face look “unbelievably” flawless.  The ban has been imposed after one lawmaker issued a complaint stating that the “ad was very misleading to the public.”

While reconstructive plastic surgery is obviously necessary for teenagers as this will improve their body’s function, treat physical difficulties, and help them live a normal life, this is not the case for cosmetic surgery which is solely performed to improve the physical appearance.

One of the most cited reasons why teenagers should delay cosmetic plastic surgery is that their level of emotional maturity may not be enough to understand its limitations and risks.  In addition, they are prone to social pressure compared to other age groups; in fact, a study conducted by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) has shown that teens view surgery as a way to fit into their community while adults see this as a way to stand out from the crowd.

Aside from emotional maturity, another important consideration is a patient’s physical development.  According to plastic surgeons, a teenager’s body is still growing which may affect the result of cosmetic procedure, and for this reason, she will most likely need a revision treatment in later years.

For example, if rhinoplasty or “nose job” is performed on patients aged younger than 14, there is a great chance that they will undergo a revision procedure several years after their initial treatment since their nasal structure is not yet fully developed.  It is important to note that subsequent surgery is usually more expensive and complicated and involve more risks.

Because the natural development of the body may affect the result of a particular cosmetic procedure, plastic surgeons consider the age of their patients and usually turn down anyone who will not meet this requirement.  For instance, breast augmentation surgery through the use of saline implants require a person to be at least 18, or 21 years old if she will have the silicone version.

In liposuction treatment, most doctors also require their patients to be at least older than 20 since some people just appear plump because of their “baby fats” which usually disappear in later years.  But in some cases, this procedure is given to male teenagers who are suffering from gynecomastia, a condition in which their breasts become enlarged due to the excess fats, skin, and/or tissue.