Men less inclined toward cosmetic surgery in tough economy

Published May 6, 2009 by Dr. Mark Mandell-Brown

Cosmetic procedures on men declined 2 percent last year, while the number of procedures done on women increased by 29 percent, according to statistics from the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery.

“For the time being, males and females are beginning to separate themselves in regards to cosmetic surgery,” said AACS president Dr. Patrick McMenamin. According to Dr. McMenamin, women’s acceptance or willingness to try non-invasive cosmetic procedures like dermal fillers, Botox and laser treatments, may explain the percentage gap.

More widespread economic trends could be a more primary cause. In February, The Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that men lost 2.7 million jobs since the start of the recession – a figure that represents 82 percent of the total number of jobs lost.