A new survey has revealed record numbers of British men are embracing selfie culture - experimenting with grooming trends and even the odd bit of cosmetic surgery to boost their confidence and help them feel like their best selves online.
Exploring the rise of extreme male grooming in the UK, buyagift.com commissioned a YouGov survey of 1,000 British men.
Survey results
We asked men to tell us what they did to take care of themselves on a day to day basis, why they thought it was important to look good and whether they’d ever consider going under the knife.
1 in 4 young men want to look better on social media than anywhere else
Our survey has revealed that one in four UK men aged 18-24 feel that it’s more important to look good on social media than anywhere else, with looking hot on Instagram or Facebook prized more highly than on holiday, at work and even in the bedroom!
1 in 10 British men say they would consider ‘selfie surgery’
Extreme measures? One in ten UK men would consider undergoing a cosmetic procedure to look their best online.Fighting the ‘Dad Bod’
A third of all fathers with young children also want to look good on social media and would consider cosmetic surgery to improve their online image. According to the British Association of Plastic Surgeons, ‘dad bod’ bellies fuelled an ‘epic’ 20% rise in male liposuction in 2015.
“Oh Grandad, what big eyes you have!”
It’s not just the young ones who are at it - our survey also reveals that one in ten retired men would also consider surgery to look good on social media.
Men want to look more masculine
The areas men would most like to change are those typically associated with masculinity - toned torsos, full hairlines and bulging biceps. 21% of men aged 25-34 would also like to improve the appearance of their genitals!
"MYA Cosmetic Surgery, one of the leading providers in the industry, have seen a 38% increase in men having cosmetic surgery procedures between 2016 and 2017.
The most popular procedure for men in 2017 is rhinoplasty (nose reshaping), with 44% of men choosing this surgery. 17% of men opt for liposuction while another 17% of men have gynaecomastia (male breast reduction). Our findings mirror buyagift.com’s survey findings that more men are considering going under the knife.”
Pamina Gimber, MYA Cosmetic Surgery
“In the past, looking good for men has been limited to going to the gym and a new shirt every now and then. What we’re seeing now is men not only taking better care of themselves, but actually having fun doing it - booking grooming appointments, visiting spas and sharing their experiences and results online. At buyagift.com we've seen a steady rise in the number of male spa and grooming packages sold, around 16% on average year on year.
While our survey reveals that men want to look good for their partners, at work and at play, the ever-rising popularity of social media and promoting and celebrating of aspirational bodies is also emerging as a key influencer. It’s all about maintaining a positive balance - embracing looking and feeling good and whatever that means to you - but also knowing that looks aren’t everything. Be kind to yourself boys!”
Christine Ducker, buyagift.com