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.