AM concern at rise in male cosmetic surgery numbers
21 Mai 2009
Plaid Cymru Assembly Member for South Wales West, Bethan Jenkins has today (5th May) voiced concerns at figures released by plastic surgery provider, The Harley Medical Group, which reveal an increase of more than a quarter of the number of men having cosmetic surgery.
The private cosmetic surgery group operates 26 clinics and has revealed that one fifth of its Botox patients are now men, many of whom are aged between 25 and 30 years. The group also revealed that breast reduction surgery for men was among the most popular procedures.
Speaking today, Ms Jenkins, said:
“I’m concerned by the increase in the numbers and believe we need to find out the reasons for the significant increase in the number of men seeking cosmetic surgery. Undergoing surgical procedures is not straight-forward and completely risk free and I think questions need to be asked about why in the last 12 months more men have taken this option.”
Ms Jenkins, who founded and is chair of the Assembly’s Cross-party Group on Eating Disorders said the growing pressures on young people to look ‘magazine-perfect’ could be a factor.
Ms Jenkins added:
“Traditionally, the pressures on young women to live up to certain celebrity-standards of vanity have meant that women have become susceptible to eating disorders or have felt pressured into cosmetic surgery. The rise in the numbers of men undergoing surgery would suggest that the social pressures are now beginning to bear on young mane too.
“I’m concerned that all the options to specific issues of appearance are not being made as available as possible to people. The benefits of a healthy lifestyle, including healthy eating and regular exercise need to be made to people who are considering procedures such as lypo-suction. I have written to the Minister for Health asking her for clarity on the number of people in Wales who have received cosmetic surgery and have implored upon her the importance of providing adequate information on all the options available to people.”
ENDS
