Just a few years ago, it was extremely rare to see men undergoing cosmetic and aesthetic treatments. This trend started to shift recently, as more men are now turning to non-surgical procedures, including ‘tweakments’ like anti-wrinkle injections, to look and feel their best.

But why are more men now seeking these types of treatments?

Treatments Are More Accepted

One big reason behind this is that aesthetic treatments are a lot more accepted today. From celebs normalising procedures like dermal fillers to a cultural movement that is all about boosting mental health and being our best selves, tweakments like anti-wrinkle injections are now discussed a lot more than before.

In short, a rise in self-care, as well as the fact that aesthetic treatments now carry less stigma, means that more men are comfortable talking about – and requesting – these types of procedures.

Comedian Jimmy Carr, for example, has been very open about the tweakments he’s had done. He’s admitted having received Botox injections, cosmetic dental treatment and a hair transplant during lockdown, all part of a self-improvement package designed to help him look and feel better.

There Are Work Pressures in Play

For others, these tweakments are more of a necessity than an option. Some men feel like image is key in their jobs and that looking older can actually be detrimental. For them, and for those who want to be at their performance peak, treatments like dermal fillers and Botox can go a long way to boost their self-confidence.

Some jobs are also very fast paced, which can take a toll on one’s appearance and confidence. For example, working long hours, travelling frequently and being in a competitive environment can impact one’s looks over time. Add to this the natural process of ageing, and it’s no wonder more men are looking to improve their appearance to look less tired and more alert.

This was the case for Stephen Taylor-Brown, Managing Director of a marketing consultancy who says that “there is probably an implicit belief or assumption that if you look as if you’re in your 40s, that’s pretty good – you’re on top of the game and you’re the next big thing and the rest of it. Getting into your 50s and 60s maybe there’s a sense that you might be a little bit behind the times.”

Wanting to Feel Good

Men are also increasingly interested in skincare and aesthetic treatments because they wish to improve the appearance of signs of ageing, like wrinkles and fine lines. This helps them to feel better. Taylor-Brown says people look at him differently and have a more positive reaction to his appearance, which makes him feel good about himself.

Improving one’s self-esteem can enhance quality of life, which goes hand-in-hand with metal wellbeing. So, with tweakments, men are looking to take care of themselves a bit more and regain confidence.

The Influence of Social Media

Social media can be a double-edged sword, as it can help people to feel better or worse about themselves – this is why Instagram banned cosmetic fillers in the first place. With the rise of selfies and social profiles, men are also wanting to look their best for the camera; there isn’t anything wrong with that at face value, of course, as the issues only arise when this starts to affect people mentally.

However, social media can be a positive influence as well. More men now feel they can take charge of their appearance because they’re seeing it more and more on social channels. Tweakments, as well as other procedures like HydraFacial and hair transplant surgery, are becoming more normalised for men.

With public figures like Jimmy Carr and chef Gordon Ramsay opening up about work they had done, men are becoming more unafraid to ask for aesthetic treatments – and to admit to them.

We provide many treatments for men at our cosmetic skin clinic in Guernsey, cosmetic skin clinic in Jersey and cosmetic skin clinic in Belfast, so talk to us if you’re interested in any of our tweakments, including anti-wrinkle injections and dermal fillers.