Insight: July 9

This week, Insight looks at what’s driving some men to change their looks.

Some Australian men are taking grooming to the next level: from botox and ‘manscaping’ to more intrusive surgeries like six-pack and calf implants. Cosmetic and plastic surgeons say they’re seeing a big increase in men going under the knife.

Some admit it stems from vanity and mid-life crises while others say they feel pressure to measure up to an idealised notion of western male beauty.

Guests include:

Jan Handerek
Jan Handerek is a 55 year old Melbourne train driver who has had ten cosmetic procedures. He had liposuction to turn his stomach into a six pack, had his “love handles” and “man boobs” removed and had an eye lift and botox. Jan says he was partly motivated by having a new girlfriend who is 10 years younger than he is.

Johnny Rahme
After five rhinoplasty operations, Johnny says he is finally happy with his nose. He was first operated on as a young teenager after pressuring his parents to allow him to get surgery. He feels he’s judged by his looks and describes his nose as very “Lebanese”. Johnny believes that if he had blonde hair and blue eyes he’d have more money and earning capacity.

Martin Babanour
Martin recently had rhinoplasty because he thought his nose was too big and “meaty” and hated how he looked in photos. He says the procedure has helped with his breathing and increased his confidence.

Laith Barnouti
Laith Barnouti is a plastic surgeon who has had a nose job himself. He says he’s had a 50 percent increase in male clients over the past three years. He says some of his clients are older men having surgery in order to improve their employment prospects. Dr Barnouti says he also sees a lot of Middle Eastern men requesting nose reductions and many Asian men wanting nose enlargements.

David Castle
David Castle is a Professor of Psychiatry at St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne. He says many men who get cosmetic surgery actually need psychological help and that surgery can often make them worse. Professor Castle believes all people wanting cosmetic surgery should first be screened for Body Dysmorphic Disorder.

Tuesday at 8.30pm on SBS ONE.