Two Decades of Male Cosmetic Surgery: A Single-center Observational Study in Lebanon.

BACKGROUND

Cosmetic surgery has traditionally been dominated by female patients, but societal changes have led to increasing male participation. This study analyzes trends in male aesthetic surgery during 2 decades at a university hospital in Lebanon, comparing demographic patterns, procedure types, age distributions, and comparison with global trends.

METHODS

A retrospective observational study was conducted, reviewing all surgical procedures performed between 2000-2004 (P1) and 2020-2024 (P2). Data extracted from the operative registry included patient sex, date of birth, and type and date of surgery. Procedures were classified as cosmetic or reconstructive/maxillofacial. Statistical analysis focused on the proportion of cosmetic procedures, male participation, and mean age by sex and procedure type.

RESULTS

Across 4706 operations, cosmetic procedures constituted 54.38% in P1 and 50.06% in P2. The mean age for cosmetic patients increased from 29.4 to 38.6 years. Female predominance persisted (82.0%→84.8%). Rhinoplasty decreased from 82.8% to 38.5% of all aesthetic procedures, whereas all other cosmetic procedures increased in both sexes combined, with particularly strong male growth in abdominoplasty, blepharoplasty, liposuction, and otoplasty. Male participation rose markedly in body-contouring surgery, especially liposuction (2.6%→24.2%), abdominoplasty (5.7%→16.1%), and body lift (0%→45%). Men presented at younger ages than women in most body procedures.

CONCLUSIONS

During the past 2 decades, aesthetic surgery in Lebanon has diversified beyond rhinoplasty, with increasing male engagement-most notably in body-contouring and facial rejuvenation procedures. These findings reflect changing societal norms and highlight the need for male-specific surgical approaches, patient counseling, and targeted aesthetic education.