Cosmetic procedures for men are gaining popularity.  While millions of people have some kind of cosmetic surgery every year, cosmetic surgery by women still far outnumbers the amount of procedures done on men. What the procedures seem to have in common, however, is that the most popular cosmetic surgeries performed on both genders are similar although they may rank differently.

The most common surgical cosmetic procedure for men is liposuction, but the most common procedure among men for purely cosmetic purposes is currently nose reshaping, better known as rhinoplasty. While botox injections seemed to be the most popular in 2007, nose reshaping has now taken over as the number one procedure for men with 75,000 men having this procedure done in 2008. Liposuction for men however is on the rise, moving up from the sixth most popular procedure overall in 2007 to the third most popular in 2008. Microdermabrasion, which is the removal of or lessening of dark spots or scars on the skin as well as the removal of sun damaged skin, was the third most popular cosmetic surgery among men in 2007, but is no longer in the top five.

Eyelid surgery has also become one of the most common procedures among men, with 31,000 men choosing this type of cosmetic surgery in 2008. While the cosmetic procedure of laser hair removal is still a popular one as well, it has declined since it had been the number two most common procedure performed on men in 2007 and was no longer in the top five in 2008.

18,000 men opted to have breast reduction surgery in 2008, making this the fourth most popular cosmetic surgery for men. Hyaluronic Acid, which is more commonly known as wrinkle smoothing, had been the fourth most popular in 2007 but has declined in number as well.

Hair transplantation had 13,000 men undergoing this procedure in 2008, making this the fifth most common cosmetic procedure for men. The removal of skin imperfections, better known as IPL laser treatment, was number five on the list in 2007, but other cosmetic surgeries have knocked this off of the top five list too.

Cosmetic procedures among men are on the rise, and leading the way in these types of surgeries are Asian-American men. This is the fastest growing ethnic group in the industry, with the most typical male in this group being in their forties.

For men considering any type of cosmetic surgery it is important to find a surgeon that is certified in their area of expertise by an appropriate board. The board should be recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. Seeing your regular physician is also something that is recommended to make sure there are no predisposing characteristics that may increase the risk of any complications that could be caused from the result of the surgery.

The most common cosmetic procedures for men seem to change from year to year, but it appears liposuction has remained one of the most popular for a few years now. With more men getting different procedures done every day, it ‘s hard to tell what the most popular of these cosmetic surgeries will be in the future, but one thing is certain….More men are undergoing some type of cosmetic surgery than ever before.

Permanent makeup may be a great time saver, but be careful.  A little homework will go a very long way.  Usually referred to as permanent cosmetics and sometimes dermapigmentation, permanent makeup can be an absolutely wonderful thing, enhancing already lovely features and preventing the hassle involved with reapplying makeup.  However, there are some facts about the process you should know.

Permanent makeup is often used for eyebrows, eye and lip liner, but can also be used in cases where a medical issue has caused discoloration of the skin. There have been great strides in the use of permanent make up, also, in creating a more natural look after breast surgeries, and other scarring issues. Using a specialized tattoo machine, known as a cosmetic tattoo machine, the salon technician or tattoo artist will fill in lines sometimes only for enhancement, sometimes more dramatically.

Make no mistake. Though the machine looks different, you are getting a tattoo. As such, making sure that the person who is doing your permanent make up is not only certified in cosmetic tattooing, but aware of blood born pathogen and sterilization procedure is key to your safety. Also bear in mind that though it is called ‘permanent’, there are similar options for removal as with tattooing. Laser resurfacing, surgical removal and abrasion are all still options in this. However, most find that once they see the results, they are not only amazed at how brilliantly the procedure works for them, but some are also rather surprised at just how subtle it can be.

On the whole, permanent makeup is a wonderful investment in your look. Done safely and well, the enhancements are immediate, and the results can be quite dramatic or toned down, depending on your preference. Being able to see those results right away and having the convenience of not laboriously applying makeup day in and day out is well worth it.  Plus, many women who face difficulty in applying makeup because of such ailments as Parkinson’s, or simply farsightedness, greatly improve their quality of life.

Having an active lifestyle doesn’t always mean having time or the inclination to put makeup on and take it off, so this option is not only quite convenient, but gives you time to do other things.  Additionally, more activity means more perspiration.  Having permanent makeup means sweat won’t wash it away.  Being aware of your procedure, and where it is taking place as well as the cosmetologist or artist doing the work, buyer can also be quite happy.