When thinking about plastic surgery we often imagine middle-class women eager to get their ideal body. But times are quickly changing and, according to recent studies, men are getting more and more interested in these practices too.
The 2020 Plastic Surgery Statistic Report shows how cosmetic procedures in the male population have experienced a 29% increase in the last 20 years. This has even led some experts in the field such as Dr. Chris Funderburk to specialize in male plastic surgery. Dr. Funderburk is a diplomate of the American Board of Plastic Surgery, the highest level of certification for American plastic surgeons. Currently working at Neinstein Plastic Surgery, a clinic located in Manhattan, Dr. Funderburk has a 30% male patient base, a rarity in the field. Some of his clients include world-renowned drag queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race such as Thorgy Thor, Jasmine Kennedy, and
Jan Sport.
According to Dr. Funderburk, many men undergoing plastic surgery are part of the LGBT community. This is not too surprising as non-heterosexual men tend to face higher pressure when it comes to body image and are, therefore, more eager to look at their very best.
Body image and the LGBT community
According to an article by the Mental Health Foundation, gay and bisexual men tend to have lower body appreciation levels than heterosexuals. This may be due to the gay community which tends to put a greater emphasis on physical appearance with negative results on its members’ physical and psychological well-being.
For instance, in 2020, Jakeb Arturio Bradea made the news after being hospitalized due to heart failure caused by his high usage of steroids. Bradea declared that he decided to take illegal drugs following the high pressure from his peers and his inability to reach his ideal body despite the hours spent at the gym. Unfortunately, Bradea is just one of the many men who decided to resort to steroids damaging his health as a result.
Unlike steroids, plastic surgery is a safe practice that can help members of the LGBT community look their very best and feel comfortable in their own skin with minimal side effects. Talking about his patients, Dr. Funderburk commented, “These health-conscious and active individuals may have had a few areas of fat that wouldn’t go away, despite their best efforts. It is so satisfying to take out stubborn fat for patients who have been trying everything at the gym (…). I get to see their excitement as we make a dramatic difference in their appearance.”
The benefits of plastic surgery
Several studies have demonstrated how plastic surgery can be extremely beneficial for patients’ mental well-being. According to an academic paper written by Timothy P. Moss and David L. Harris, patients who underwent cosmetic surgery reported lower levels of depression and anxiety. Another study involving 228 participants found that 94% of people who made use of these practices further recommended their operation and that 84% of the total participants reported being satisfied or very satisfied with their final results.
Of course, plastic surgery alone cannot help patients recover from psychological conditions such as depression, or anxiety. Nonetheless, according to several studies, these procedures can be a valid tool to improve people’s body image, with positive consequences on patients’ general well-being.
Dr. Ryan Neinstein, founder of Neinstein Plastic Surgery commented, “Plastic Surgery is not designed to reverse time or to solve any other problem. (…) Our goal is to help enhance and contribute to people’s health and wellness.”
Fighting the stigma
Cosmetic surgery is getting more and more common, especially in the LGBT community, but despite this people are still constantly shamed for undergoing these practices. For instance, the Australian drag queen Tomi Grainger received several negative comments while documenting his facelift journey on his TikTok account. Despite this, Grainger decided to keep talking about his experience to help fight the stigma surrounding these procedures.
But there is some positive news. According to Dr. Funderburk, things are slowly changing. Referring to his experience working with men, he said “The idea back then was that if you are a male patient, you don’t want to be seen coming in the front door. Sometimes they would ask for off hours to come in. That’s all completely changed now.”
In the last few years, Dr. Funderburk has worked with popular drag queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race. He performed BBL surgery on Trinity the Tuck, as well as liposuctions on both Tina Burner and Jan Sport. Similarly to Tomi Grainger, these celebrities decided to openly document their journey with Dr. Funderburk, helping fight the stigma that still surrounds these practices.
Dr. Funderburk and drag queens such as Trinity the Tuck, Tomi Grainger, and Tina Burner are now helping plastic surgery get normalized so that members of the LGBT community will never feel the need to enter clinics from the back door. With time, we will all be able to enjoy the many mental benefits of these procedures without experiencing shaming for choosing to feel comfortable in our skin.