Friday, July 13, 2007
More Men Having Plastic Surgery
(AP) Turning 50 two years ago motivated Jose Aponte to change his lifestyle. He quit smoking, improved his diet and started exercising regularly. But while he felt better, Aponte said he still looked haggard.
So last year, Aponte spent about $15,000 on surgery to erase the furrows creasing his brow and deflate the puffiness around his eyes. Now he says his more youthful look matches the way he feels.
"I would spend the money again," said Aponte, a real estate developer in Jersey City, N.J. "It (the surgery) made a tremendous amount of difference in the way I walk, the way I look at people. A buddy of mine looked at me and said 'Time just stopped for you.'"
A growing number of male baby boomers age 40 to 58 are turning to plastic surgery to keep themselves looking younger. Doctors say America's youth-oriented culture is behind the trend, but so is men's increasing comfort with admitting they care about their looks - as evidenced by the popularity of shows like "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy."
Women still account for most cosmetic procedures but men are making up more of the total. Last year, men underwent 13 percent of all procedures, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
That's up from 11.7 percent in 2002 and 9.7 percent in 1998.
"We live in a youthful culture. Everyone want to look younger," said Dr. Thomas Romo III, Director of Facial Plastic Surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York.
Romo added that the stigma of plastic surgery has largely faded, and that has encouraged more men and women to consider the investment to improve their appearance. The total number of cosmetic procedures increased 18 percent last year to 7.2 million.
He said men make up about 35 percent of his patients. Five years ago, it was about 25 percent.
"Madison Avenue created an environment for men to use cologne and skin care products," said Romo. "So why not plastic surgery?"
Doctors said there are two primary reasons men visit a plastic surgeon. They want to look younger to remain competitive in the work force. And those who are divorced and dating again want to project an image of vitality to lure potential mates.
"Forty-five year old men want to pick up 29-year-old women, so they want to look young again," said Dr. Pradeep Sinha, an Atlanta-based plastic surgeon.
Doctors said women tend to start visiting plastic surgeons in their late 30s and early 40s to freshen their look with youth enhancers like Botox shots. Men typically pay their first visit in their mid-40s.
"Women spend more money on their looks when they are younger, "said Sinha "Men spend on money on other stuff when they are younger" - including cars and high-tech items.
Liposuction tops the list of most popular procedures for both men and women, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Men tend to rid themselves of love handles and sagging abdomens, doctors said, while women reduce flabby thighs and hips.
Rounding out the top procedures for men are nose jobs, eyelid surgery, breast reductions and hair transplantation.
Airline pilot Chris Bourgeois opted to have a procedure to eliminate the bags under his eyes and liposuction to negate his double chin two years ago when was undergoing surgery to clear his sinuses.
"I just wanted a more professional look," said Bourgeois, a 53-year old living in Fayetteville, Ga. "I wanted the people who fly with me to feel safe."
William Menzel owns his own food and restaurant consulting firm, and believes his rejuvenated look helps business. Three years ago he had eyelid surgery to evaporate bags and dark circles. Last year he had a procedure to smooth the wrinkles on his neck and cheeks.
"When I meet people they respond better," said the 57-year old. "I feel better about myself and I think it shows."
Still, Menzel said the main reason is opted for surgery was "pure vanity."
"I just want to look good," he said. "I didn't like getting old."
So last year, Aponte spent about $15,000 on surgery to erase the furrows creasing his brow and deflate the puffiness around his eyes. Now he says his more youthful look matches the way he feels.
"I would spend the money again," said Aponte, a real estate developer in Jersey City, N.J. "It (the surgery) made a tremendous amount of difference in the way I walk, the way I look at people. A buddy of mine looked at me and said 'Time just stopped for you.'"
A growing number of male baby boomers age 40 to 58 are turning to plastic surgery to keep themselves looking younger. Doctors say America's youth-oriented culture is behind the trend, but so is men's increasing comfort with admitting they care about their looks - as evidenced by the popularity of shows like "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy."
Women still account for most cosmetic procedures but men are making up more of the total. Last year, men underwent 13 percent of all procedures, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
That's up from 11.7 percent in 2002 and 9.7 percent in 1998.
"We live in a youthful culture. Everyone want to look younger," said Dr. Thomas Romo III, Director of Facial Plastic Surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York.
Romo added that the stigma of plastic surgery has largely faded, and that has encouraged more men and women to consider the investment to improve their appearance. The total number of cosmetic procedures increased 18 percent last year to 7.2 million.
He said men make up about 35 percent of his patients. Five years ago, it was about 25 percent.
"Madison Avenue created an environment for men to use cologne and skin care products," said Romo. "So why not plastic surgery?"
Doctors said there are two primary reasons men visit a plastic surgeon. They want to look younger to remain competitive in the work force. And those who are divorced and dating again want to project an image of vitality to lure potential mates.
"Forty-five year old men want to pick up 29-year-old women, so they want to look young again," said Dr. Pradeep Sinha, an Atlanta-based plastic surgeon.
Doctors said women tend to start visiting plastic surgeons in their late 30s and early 40s to freshen their look with youth enhancers like Botox shots. Men typically pay their first visit in their mid-40s.
"Women spend more money on their looks when they are younger, "said Sinha "Men spend on money on other stuff when they are younger" - including cars and high-tech items.
Liposuction tops the list of most popular procedures for both men and women, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Men tend to rid themselves of love handles and sagging abdomens, doctors said, while women reduce flabby thighs and hips.
Rounding out the top procedures for men are nose jobs, eyelid surgery, breast reductions and hair transplantation.
Airline pilot Chris Bourgeois opted to have a procedure to eliminate the bags under his eyes and liposuction to negate his double chin two years ago when was undergoing surgery to clear his sinuses.
"I just wanted a more professional look," said Bourgeois, a 53-year old living in Fayetteville, Ga. "I wanted the people who fly with me to feel safe."
William Menzel owns his own food and restaurant consulting firm, and believes his rejuvenated look helps business. Three years ago he had eyelid surgery to evaporate bags and dark circles. Last year he had a procedure to smooth the wrinkles on his neck and cheeks.
"When I meet people they respond better," said the 57-year old. "I feel better about myself and I think it shows."
Still, Menzel said the main reason is opted for surgery was "pure vanity."
"I just want to look good," he said. "I didn't like getting old."
visit www.colombianplasticsurgery.com for more info.
CBS News
Cosmetic surgery a boom in Cali, Colombia
An intense tanned in the skin is normal when returns from vacations, but how to return with largest breasts, a correction in the nose or with less weight and without wrinkles?.It sounds rarely, but the trips that include that type of transformations are promoted for travel agents and plastic surgeons of Cali Colombia that try to attract a growing demand of tourists in search of changes to their aspect.
Savings in price and the good reputation of hospitas and medical services in Cali, Colombia are some of the advantages that the travel agents and the surgeons try to promote abroad.
They seek to take advantage of the tourist boom that this South American nation have since 2005 when, for the first time in more than two decades, attracted a million tourists, according to the Institute of Commerce and Tourism.
"Of all that people that is entering (to colombia), about a 3% come to medical procedures in Colombia, that in the 2004 were approximately 21.000 people and in the 2005 about 30.000"
Not official statistics on the number of tourists exist that arrive to country to change its image, but they say that in cities as Cali "the volume is gigantic".
The president of the Colombian Association of Plastic Surgery, Alejandro Jaime, declared that "in the two last years has come in increase the quantity of patients come from other parts... because they have know-how that our plastic surgery and esthetics are very well positioned on a worldwide basis".
There are patients that come from nearby countries as Ecuador, Panama, the Antilles, but especially of "United States and Spain have been important markets that are beginning to come to see the kindnesses of the Colombian medicine".
visit www.colombianplasticsurgery.com for more info.
Plastic Surgery in Colombia
Plastic surgery in Colombia has triplicated. High quality and technology, human talent and low costs in our country let people from all around the world to be interested by plastic surgery in Colombia
Cali, Colombia is city where you can find the best clinical infrastructure in Latin America, to the level of the better of the world with recognized professionals in health care.
In the last ten years, cosmetic surgeries has increased by 70% according to the Colombian Society of Plastic Surgery and Colombia has been recognized internationally as the leader in this area of esthetics medicine."Our country is at the same level of the U.S. in everything that refers to technology and scientific advances, also we handle lower costs and lower law suits index in comparison with North America. Our prices are five times lower . The most common surgery is the liposculpture and breasts implants. At present, people of the entire world Internet for medical consultation and they get answers of their particular case and the costs of the operation and air tickets to our country in less than 48 hours. The on line consultation through email delivers a 100% accurate diagnose if the patient sends his photographs.
In this way, our country have another richness to be emphasized and to felt proud. Now we have a new attribute of export, high-quality plastic surgeries. The number of people that enlist a trip to Colombia has been increased. Not only to enjoy its biodiversity, landscapes and cultural wealth. Now, also, hundreds of men and women do it to arrive with a spectacular and different image to their countries of origin.
Visit www.colombianplasticsurgery.com for more info.
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