Under the Knife

Back in 2004 The Times focussed an advert on the issue of cosmetic surgery which featured Gordon Ramsay and Jodie Kidd debating whether a face with character and detail was better than a plastic one enhanced by the surgeon’s knife. Ramsay, with his visibly wrinkled face, argued it was better to have the odd line, wrinkle or two as they are inherent as part of our individuality. Well, it has been reported fairly recently that Ramsay has given in to the media pressure and had some ‘work done’ as it were. Is Ramsay just another example of someone in the entertainment industry attempting to maintain their youthful looks, or perhaps more worryingly, does Ramsay represent a growing phenomenon of men of all backgrounds seeking fight against aging by turning to cosmetic procedures?

On dealing with the effects of aging and surgery, Ramsay reportedly said, "I could deal with that at 21, but not at 42. Simon Cowell suggested that now I'm a success in America, I should do something, so I had a filler put under the deep crevices. It hurt.” It appears the ever outspoken Simon Cowell touched a nerve with Ramsay. It wouldn’t bother me as much if Ramsay’s career was being held back by his aging, but as he has made a name for himself with a face of character there is no real need to have any work done. To be honest I wouldn’t exactly call Mr Ramsay my moral touch stone, however, I must say I lost a little respect for him for having surgery, even a small procedure, especially as he had such a staunch public view on the subject before.

It seems that Ramsay is not the only man who is feeling the pressure to look youthful; it has been reported that the number of male botox procedures increased by 5 percent in 2009, and that men now account for 18 percent of all procedures in the industry. One report accounted the rise to a growing number of city bankers spending their bonuses on small procedures. It seems a little too easy to blame the bankers for everything.

The figures show that it is not just men in the public eye who are feeling the pressure to look a certain way. Apparently more men are opting for liposuction, tummy tucks and male breast reduction to get rid of ‘moobs’. High profile ad campaigns featuring David Beckham in nothing but underwear are perhaps contributing factors.

The other day I read an online article about Gerard Butler who was snapped whilst at the beach and has apparently “let himself go”. It seems men are being placed under the same kinds of media scrutiny that women have been subjected to for years. The article itself didn’t bother me; it was the comments which took me by surprise - one woman wrote a rather nasty “ha, now men know how it feels to be judged on their looks” comment. I will agree I don’t think the media scrutiny of women and their body image is fair; however I don’t think it is solved or made any better by an increase in those kinds of views on the male appearance. It will only continue to heighten those values and a looks obsessed culture.

It is often considered that women are given a confused message by the media - some outlets promote the super skinny and others present personality and curves as attractive. We must consider the diversity of taste, but I would argue men are also presented with a confused notion of what is attractive and how men should look. Does Men’s Health magazine promote the epitome of the attractive man, perhaps the tiny indie boys are more attractive, or maybe rugged older men is a better look? Who knows? It’s all subjective anyway.

There’s no denying there has been a major rise in the male cosmetics industry, even in the economic recession. Granted it is nowhere near the scale that it is for women, however the media scrutiny of male appearances seems to be heading in the same worrying direction.

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