Dubai: Cosmetic surgery is no longer the choice of women and celebrities alone, there is a growing trend of men in the UAE opting for procedures such a breast reduction and hair transplants.
Overall, cosmetic surgery has become a popular phenomenon in the UAE, medical experts said. The demand is keeping pace with the expansion of this medical field through the introduction of new, quick and promising non-surgical procedures.
“If you compare the number of people undergoing cosmetic surgery procedures of all types now with numbers from three years ago, you will see an obvious increase in Dubai clinics and hospitals,” Dr Allen Rezai, consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon at the Elite Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery Group clinic, said.
Dr Rezai said more men are becoming conscious of their appearance. “The ratio of male to female patients under going cosmetic surgery is around 30 per cent males to 70 per cent females at the clinic.”
The most common procedure for men in the UAE is breast reduction followed by hair transplants, Dr Rezai said.
For women, nose reshaping, body countering, and breast enlargement continue to be the three most popular procedures. “Many women come in to reduce their abdominal area by undergoing a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) or liposuction.”
Dr Rezai explained that the common reason for choosing cosmetic surgery is improving self-confidence and self-esteem. “From what I see, around 99 per cent of the patients, whether male or female, come to the clinic with the purpose of improving their confidence.”
Non-surgical procedures have also become more popular. “Many patients choose non-surgical procedures like botox and fillers because they are quick, easy and have no recovery time — you can get them done during your lunch break.”
The growing trend to modify or change specific parts of the body, however, is not restricted to a specific age group. According to the clinic’s records, patients undergoing cosmetic surgery procedures range from 18 to 65 years of age. “People of all ages come to the clinic for different procedures, but many patients fall between 25-40 age bracket,” Dr Rezai explained.
Dr Jeehan Abdul Qadir, Executive Chairperson at the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery hospital at the Dubai Healthcare City also told Gulf News that the hospital has seen an increase in the number of medical tourists in 2013. The increase is due to the Dubai Government initiative that has promoted Dubai as a top medical tourism destination, he said. “In 2013, there was a 25 per cent increase in patients from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, especially Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar, seeking cosmetic treatments (invasive and non-invasive) in the UAE compared to 2012.”
The number of international medical tourists coming to Dubai solely for cosmetic surgical and non-surgical treatments is projected to double in the current year, he added.
