“445cc, moderate profile, half under the muscle!!!!! silicone!!! garth fisher!!! hope this helps lol” 99 characters were all it took to break the Internet. These were the specifications of Kylie Jenner’s breast augmentation, posted as a comment from her TikTok account responding to a fan’s open letter about her procedure. Given the family’s notorious history of denying plastic surgery and only ever crediting their standard-setting beauty to non-invasive procedures, lifestyle habits, and the myriad products they market, the act of transparency was monumental. Remember the time Kim did an X-ray on her butt to dispel rumours of implants as part of a zany subplot on their show? After months of buzzy speculation, came mother Kris Jenner’s admission in her Vogue Arabia cover story, attributing her visibly rejuvenated appearance to a second facelift, courtesy of Dr Steven Levine. As undeniable forces of pop culture, their actions signalled a shift in societal attitudes towards being open about getting work done. A popular genre of TikTok content, which involves medical professionals hypothesising the procedures undergone by public figures, has also attracted ethical discourse and genuine curiosity. The 61-year-old Brad Pitt was a notable example, placed under the spotlight by social media-savvy experts who postulated the measures taken to achieve his recent, more youthful, yet natural appearance during the F1 movie presser.
The decision towards self-refinement is personal. However, given the ubiquity of cosmetic procedures in the mainstream, which has led to the induction of terms like Rejuran, Ozempic and upper blepharoplasty into our day-to-day vocabulary, it is safe to say that an excess of information does not equate to quality dissemination. While procedures, across invasive and non-invasive forms, are now certainly normalised in the media, are they actually as sought after and appropriately prescribed to address the aesthetic needs of the modern man? Men’s Folio speaks to Dr Ivan Tan, an LCP-certified aesthetic physician who performs minimally invasive aesthetic procedures, and Dr Lee Kim Siea, a plastic surgeon with 27 years of experience and serves as the founding chairman of the Asia Aesthetic Breast Council, on what their male clients are focusing on, alongside ways to seek proper diagnosis for them.
Contrary to popular belief, there is not just one archetype of a male patient who stumbles into an aesthetic clinic. “Most of my male patients are between 35 and 55, with a high concentration of men in their 40s. They’re usually businessmen, entrepreneurs and professionals who consider grooming and how they present themselves to the world as part of their personal brand,” explains Dr Ivan. As their clients share a similar demographic age-wise, both physicians notice that their clients are either self-motivated individuals who arrive with concerns about their appearance, or exposed through their spouses. For a surgeon like Dr Lee, top concerns for his older crowd include signs of ageing, like sagging skin or pronounced eye bags, while the younger group look to enhance their features. “Sometimes they ask for a higher nose, a manlier-looking face, or have their eyelids done,” shares Dr Lee. As Dr Ivan’s practice focuses on more minimal procedures, his clientele mainly focuses on addressing wrinkles, acne scars and hair loss.
To reveal the factors that drive demand for cosmetic enhancements among men, Dr Ivan references a white paper published by pharmaceutical giant Galderma. The research concludes that current aesthetic trends are influenced by a desire to express one’s individuality — whether to enhance conventional markers of masculinity or to adopt a softer aesthetic popularised by Hallyu stars. “With evolving definitions of masculinity, being well-groomed is more of a necessity than a demonstration of vanity. Social media visibility and competitiveness in the dating scene also play a role in the need for one to look their best,” Dr Ivan shares. Additionally, there is a general sentiment shifting from the fear of ageing towards embracing agelessness and wanting to look like their best, most energetic selves. “Advancements in medical treatments and surgical methods that have allowed for faster recovery and more elegant results are also reasons why more people are getting procedures done. Exposure-wise, the younger audience is definitely influenced by Korean and Chinese media, with an aspiration to emulate some aspects of their idols’ beauty,” explains Dr Lee. However, these celebrities will not be used as direct references during the consultation phase, as both physicians agree that patients end up wanting a more refreshed version of themselves. “We also want to match how much they’re willing to spend, and align with how much we can do procedure-wise,” Dr Lee adds. This explains the target audience mentioned earlier, as Dr Ivan points out that higher disposable incomes among PMEBs (professionals, managers, executives, businessmen) have normalised spending on self-care. “In the corporate world, appearance often correlates with perceived competence,” he remarked.
Given the proliferation of cosmetic procedures on social media, Dr Lee also notices the mismatched expectations that some clients possess, given the oversimplification of processes for the sake of brevity and engagement. “Social media seems to portray what we do as something that happens by walking in today and leaving tomorrow, looking beautiful. It’s unrealistic, as non-surgical procedures do not produce dramatic results. While surgery yields a more obvious outcome, it requires time, good sets of skills from the surgeons, none of which are nuances that any TikTok video can easily cover,” Dr Lee confesses. When a patient comes in with unrealistic or predetermined expectations, it is essential to say no and explain that the procedures they initially have in mind are not suitable for achieving their desired results. “Very often, a patient learns of a certain medical term, like a blepharoplasty, and comes in asking for it. However, it basically means an eyelid surgery, and could be done on the upper or lower lid. Without an actual idea about what the actual procedure is, our job is to educate them with a more suitable procedure to consider.” Dr Ivan shares a similar sentiment, emphasising the need to properly discuss what the patient truly needs. “With the rise of proactive beauty, where the patients focus on prevention and ‘prejuvenation’, there’s always something appropriate for each stage. It’s about aligning goals with reality, rather than pushing procedures.”
Rather than leading with a medical term and asking for specific procedures, Dr Lee recommends starting by identifying concerns or areas for improvement. While the research may involve looking up information on social media, it is important to regard it with a pinch of salt. Based on preliminary research that suggests whether solutions are surgical or non-invasive, the patient should then consult a general practitioner, aesthetic physician, dermatologist or plastic surgeon. “For Malaysians, first confirm that the doctor is qualified and fully registered with the Malaysian Medical Council — if they aren’t on the registry, they cannot legally practice here.” While personal recommendations are always helpful, Dr Lee cautions against agents who broker clients for doctors, as profitability may override their priority to recommend the best doctor in the field. During the consultation, patients should ask what exactly the doctor’s plans are to address their concerns and reflect on whether those plans make sense to them. “Ask how confident the doctor is towards giving the patient satisfactory results and whether the doctor could provide a solution if there are problems that arise from the procedure. Besides the do’s and don’ts associated with pre-, during- and post-surgery, patients also need to be briefed on the recovery process and the potential issues that could arise.”
More than just a pursuit of vanity, both doctors have had memorable experiences with patients whose lives have been bettered by cosmetic enhancements. “A 49-year-old entrepreneur who also creates social media content became self-conscious about his jowls after viewers pointed out his tired and sad appearance. With a mixture of skin-tightening devices and collagen biostimulator injections, he not only regained his facial definition, but also developed his on-screen confidence,” shares Dr Ivan.
A young woman who felt embarrassed about her larger breasts, and only ever wore oversized, baggy clothing — even hunching her back to hide her figure — sought Dr Lee for a reduction surgery. “After the operation, the patient regained her confidence and was excited to explore different styles of dress,” Dr Lee recalls.
In the business of confidence, I asked if there was a difference in using cosmetic procedures to “correct flaws” versus “unleashing one’s full potential”. For Dr Ivan’s practice, he believes in cultivating an appreciative mindset, rather than one based on deficiency. “Focusing on flaws can spiral into anxiety and dissatisfaction. Instead, I ask them what they like about themselves first. Once we recognise those strengths, we can work on enhancing them.” Dr Lee, however, sees both elements as yin and yang on the opposite ends of the same spectrum. “To correct the patient’s flaw is to unleash their full potential. We first find out their negative expressions and then turn that into something positive.” A haircut, a new outfit, a laser treatment or going under the knife — we are constantly on the journey of self-improvement to feel more in our skin. What matters more are the informed decisions we make, rather than succumbing to fads.
Dr Ivan Tan (@dr.ivantan) currently practices at Beleco Clinic (@belecoclinic) in Petaling Jaya.
Dr Lee Kim Siea currently practices at KALO Cosmetic Surgery Clinic (@kalo_clinic) in Kuala Lumpur. He is the former Secretary General of the Malaysian Association of Plastic, Aesthetic & Craniomaxillofacial Surgeons (MAPACS).
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