JOB INSECURITY

In some cases, it is precisely that job insecurity fueling interest in cosmetic surgery. “It’s a tougher job market, so they want to look better and younger,” says Seth R. Thaller, chief of plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. “They want to look less tired and more alert. They don’t want the drooping jowls or eyes.”

On the other hand, StephanBaker, a plastic surgeon in Coral Gables, says his patients are successful businessmen who have accomplished a lot and don’t feel threatened by younger men. “They’re pretty successful people and it’s more of an ego thing. They don’t have to prove anything. They just want to look good.”

Carlos Wolf, another Miami plastic surgeon, says many of his male patients look at cosmetic surgery as “an investment in their future. I often hear, ‘I’m between jobs, but I need to look good for interviews.’ Or, ‘I look older than I feel.’ ” He says men are willing to try something they believe will give them an edge in an interview or a deal.

Amoedo of Southwest Miami-Dade negotiates vertical real estate contracts for wireless carriers and looking good is an important part of his business. “When you walk into a building to negotiate, you want to portray a youthful look. You want to look energetic,” he says. “But it’s also for yourself that you do it. How you look does affect how you feel.”

‘BIG MOTIVATOR’

Some men are prompted to visit the plastic surgeon for other reasons. Quite a few find themselves suddenly single and want to date again — usually younger women.

“That’s a big motivator,” Wolf says. “It gives them a wider age range for dating.”

Men’s expectations of cosmetic surgery is vastly different from women’s, according to local doctors. Men take much longer to make up their mind about a procedure and they tend to do a lot of research. They usually come to consultations alone, though wives or girlfriends sometimes tag along for support.

“It’s still considered a female kind of thing,” Baker says. “A woman will come in at 40, but a guy will wait longer.”

Men also tell surgeons they don’t want a drastic change in appearance, just enough to make them look better. “For the most part, they don’t want to go from 60 to 20,” Thaller says. “They go for the subtle look. They want natural.”

While Botox, fillers and other noninvasive procedures have led the way in male cosmetic procedures, South Florida plastic surgeons say they still see plenty of men who prefer a one-time full makeover.

“They don’t want to take too much time on it,” Baker adds. “They don’t want to have to come every few months for something like Botox. They want to get it over with all at once.”