You can schedule an online, video consultation with psychologist Cristina Anescu by accessing this link: Consult psychologist Cristina Anescu
Modifying body aesthetics through surgery is an increasingly common occurrence in Romanian society. Although there are still some societal prejudices regarding cosmetic surgeries, for women this type of intervention has overcome the barrier of taboo. By contradiction, cosmetic surgeries for men are a subject that can be uncomfortable, both for those who want this type of intervention and for those around them. When should men consider modifying their body aesthetics, what are the psychological advantages and disadvantages of such a process? Here are the answers to these questions, provided by one of the specialists of the Digital Clinics telemedicine platform, psychologist Cristina Anescu (clinical psychology and psychotherapy).
A pleasant aesthetic appearance has been and continues to be a desire for each of us, regardless of gender. They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but when it comes to physical beauty, we unconsciously relate to the unanimously adopted social norm. The criteria by which a person is considered "beautiful" have undergone changes over time, but the common denominator has always been harmony. The way we perceive ourselves, from an aesthetic point of view, greatly influences self-esteem, self-acceptance and the confidence we have in ourselves.
Numerous studies conducted by teams of psychologists have shown that people with a pleasant physical appearance achieve success more easily, on various levels, are healthier and more fulfilled, compared to people who have a physical appearance perceived as less pleasant. We ourselves are tempted to be kinder, more communicative with a person we consider beautiful. On the other hand, we do not seek the company of a person who, for us, has a less pleasant appearance.
We can acquire a pleasant physical appearance in two ways: we are born with it or we do everything we can to obtain it. We are willing to make many efforts to have a pleasant appearance, starting from various physical exercises, cosmetic procedures and strict diets, to undergoing aesthetic surgeries. The technology used today in the field of aesthetic surgery allows us to correct, to a certain extent, what exactly makes us dissatisfied with the way we look.
The motivation for which a person, regardless of gender, resorts to aesthetic surgery can take two forms. On the one hand, it can be an anatomical need, when parts of the body that require correction are non-functional or have an appearance that attracts criticism. On the other hand, the motivation can be the result of the existence of a body dysmorphic disorder, in which case a person may have an excessive concern about one or more defects, real or perceived, in their physical appearance. This latter reason requires that the person who wants aesthetic surgery be evaluated by a psychologist, before the operation is performed.
If at the beginning of aesthetic surgery, women were the category that used these services, nowadays more and more men end up in the cosmetic surgeon's office, wanting to look and "function" better. Preconceived ideas, according to which "men should be a little more handsome than the devil", no longer find their applicability now.
Men have become aware of the fact that society emphasizes a beautiful and youthful appearance. Therefore, many of them resort to surgical interventions to raise the eyebrows, remove excess skin around the eyes, facelift, liposuction, hair implants. These, of course, are procedures that we also find in the case of women, but there are also interventions specific only to men, such as those to modify the appearance and functionality of the genital apparatus or liposculpture, which replaces a more voluminous abdomen with a "six pack" one.
The advantages of cosmetic surgery depend greatly on the degree of success of the intervention and the reason for which we resorted to this surgery. If the patient's expectations are realistic, and the intervention was successfully performed, the benefits that will soon appear in the patient's life are:
Men should know one important thing. Cosmetic surgeries can also come with disadvantages, such as:
Men's interest in cosmetic surgery is also increasing considerably due to changing societal standards, with most men wanting to acquire physical features appreciated by women, associated with dominance and physical strength.
The masculine ideal has undergone major changes under the influence of cultural, economic and social factors. The modern man of today is idealized as having an athletic physique, has given up body hair, has a complexion comparable to that of women, has pronounced cheekbones and arched eyebrows.
If all of this is complemented by increased self-confidence, intelligence, and communication and relationship skills, success in almost all areas of the man's life is almost guaranteed.
You can schedule an online, video consultation with psychologist Cristina Anescu by accessing this link: Consult psychologist Cristina Anescu
