Equal Opportunity

The major stereotypes of the male cosmetic medical patient have been the aging, narcissistic homosexual actor and the young, narcissistic homosexual bodybuilder. Now there is a new stereotype and label for a man who cares about his appearance but does not want to be labeled gay—the metrosexual. In fact, there are plenty of males who seek cosmetic interventions who do not fit into any of these categories.

Men have the same basic concerns about appearance that women do, and there are cultures past and present where male adornment is as important if not more so than female adornment. Still, the aging process has always been more socially acceptable in men than in women. Aging tends to emphasize a man’s masculine features and tends to garner him more respect. Older men, especially successful men, have less trouble finding romantic partners than do older women. Having said that, men (and women) value fi rm, muscular, well-proportioned physiques for men. Features such as waistline fat, saggy eyelids, and too little or too much hair on certain body parts are not favored. Read the rest of this entry »