Fighting Ageism in the Workplace

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ageism
ageism

The Race to Keep a Youthful Appearance

With the competitive nature of today’s fast-paced society, men are increasingly feeling the pressure to look younger to combat ageism. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that there has been an almost 20 percent increase in men going under the plastic surgeon’s knife, laser or needle since 2010, and the number of men receiving Botox specifically has increased by 27 percent. Men are turning to plastic surgery to help boost their self-esteem and better compete with their younger counterparts.

For the past few years, consultations with male patients have been really interesting to observe and learn the motivation behind their cosmetic enhancements. Trends in plastic surgery continue to evolve, and lately I have noticed an uptick in men requesting injectables that spans most age groups. The workplace has been a consistent factor across the board as to why they seek our services. Male patients say that a quick injection boosts their confidence and helps them stay competitive in the workplace. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons’ national statistics are really reflective of the Texas and Houston markets; and I have seen some correlation between the increasing number of male clients seeking minimally invasive procedures and competitiveness.

Most men are not well-versed in specific products and may not know to ask for Botox, Juvéderm or Kybella by name when they call, but they know they want to improve certain features and rely on our expertise to get them to their end goal. I find that celebrity influence can definitely play a significant role, especially with women, but most men simply want to appear as the best version of themselves, which usually means they want to look like they did 10 years ago. We always encourage patients to bring “wish pics” to ensure that everyone is on the same page and their expectations are managed throughout the entire process.

This trend has really transcended age and profession. Traditionally, around age 40 is when we see men start to become more concerned with aging and seek viable options for ways to make a change. Now we are seeing men of all ages coming to us with different concerns, whether it’s based on a specific feature, preventive care or simply treating current signs of aging. We tend to see men of all professions looking to make improvements — small or large. Whether he’s a lawyer, oil and gas executive or a medical sales representative, looking younger seems to have some sort of prestige attached to it.

Other treatments on the rise for men that require more time are liposuction, eyelid surgery, neck lifts, chest sculpting for gynecomastia and post-weight loss body contouring. Many of the noninvasive procedures we offer can be done in less than an hour with minimal recovery time, two of the dominant concerns among male clients.

The most common noninvasive procedures male patients request are Botox, Juvéderm, Kybella, and CoolSculpting. Botox has become the most widely used cosmetic injectable in the world and is a popular wrinkle treatment that can smooth out crow’s-feet, frown lines and forehead wrinkles for a more youthful, well-rested appearance. Fillers such as Juvéderm can fill in lost facial volume and minimize deep creases in the face for a smoother, younger result. Kybella, a nonsurgical treatment, can break down fat to eliminate the double chin and sculpt the jawline. Also noninvasive, CoolSculpting delivers controlled cooling to target fat cells in the area being treated. This process causes the fat cells to crystallize and then die, helping reduce stubborn fat.

Having a location close to downtown Houston in the Texas Medical Center makes it convenient for busy professionals to stop by during their lunch break for a quick injection; and they can be back in the office without breaking a sweat.

Men typically demonstrate less concern with an aesthetic routine; they soon come to find out that if they want to maintain the results, they must follow the recommended treatment plan. The best part of my job is when I notice a drastic boost in patients’ confidence at their follow-up appointments or even while talking to them on the phone. This confidence usually translates into the workplace and their social life. It is extremely gratifying to witness how noninvasive procedures can still dramatically change lives.

 

About the author: Dr. Bob Basu is an American Board of Plastic Surgery certified plastic surgeon and has performed more than 11,000 cosmetic surgery procedures. He is ranked in the top 2 percent of cosmetic plastic surgeons in the nation by RealSelf. For more information or to schedule a consultation, please call 713-799-2278 or visit www.basuplasticsurgery.com.

 

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