One of the main reasons older gays are using plastic surgery to look younger is gays are coming out at a younger age. It's hard trying to get attention in the gay community when you're in your 30s and 40s looking haggard from all those years of circuit parties. You've got bars with 18+ year olds that have been out for years to compete with now and if you're not at the top of your game it's highly unlikely you're going to get any attention.

A growing percentage of gay men over 30 have had some type of surgical procedure performed on their body or face (American Society of Plastic Surgeons). An even larger percentage of men said that they would like to have some work done when and if they can afford it. “I’ve thought about it, especially liposuction,” says Thomas, a 30-something gay man who didn’t want to give his last name. “I’m always working out and I watch what I eat, but it’s almost impossible to get a six pack. It would be so much easier to just get it sucked out.”

A quarter million Americans underwent some sort of liposuction last year, skyrocketing the surgery as one of the top-five cosmetic procedures of 2009. In the last 15 years, the proportion of men pursuing liposuction surgery has jumped from 10 percent to 15 percent. Last January, male patients started outnumbering women in the practice.

Sexual orientation isn’t a question on a patient questionnaire, so specific numbers relating to gay men undergoing elective cosmetic surgery aren’t available. Although men with no children and disposable incomes are typical patients.

Many gay men find a surgeon a friend recommends because he's had surgery done with that doctor before and they keep coming back again and again. "Men – gay men in particular – have become a friend of my practice" according to Dr. Chasen of Beverly Hills, who says he gets a lot of support from his Southern California based gay clientele.

Gay men tend to be much more knowledgeable about plastic surgery. They’re into aesthetics, they want to look good, and gay men are not afraid to tell their friends about their surgery and help spread the word. Plastic surgery is not as stigmatized as it once was, especially in the gay community. Many clients come in on referral from friends. Some want more or less work done than others.

Botox injections are still the number one non-invasive procedure performed on men, according to the ASPS. Nearly one half million men underwent the procedure last year. he number of men who elect for the procedure is growing more rapidly than in women though. A man is judged by his outward appearance – just as much, if not more than a woman and if he's obese, he may be perceived as lazy or incompetent at his job, because he is unable to take care of himself properly. An overly aged man may not seem appropriate for some jobs and he may have difficulty meeting other guys.

Gay men seek plastic surgery for the same reasons that women do – to boost their self-esteem and allow them to appear on the outside as whom they are on the inside. Over time, the age of desirability for gay men seems to get younger and younger. The age discrimination and lack of attention older or mature gay men receive is synonymous to the pressure some women feel to get married or have children by a certain age.

Today, gay men are coming out at younger ages. It’s no longer a shock to hear of an openly gay 14-year-old or a 16-year-old in a gay relationship. Even gay bars see floods of 18-21 year old gay boys seeking love and sex from their peers, leaving older gay men on the side lines. The recent attention and broader acceptance of gay marriage has also contributed to increased pressure for gay men to find love “before it’s too late” or “while they are still desirable.”

Some gay men argue that other gays continue to search for the “fountain of youth” with plastic surgery, eating disorders, excessive gym hours and am obsession with body image Those who do undergo a procedure like liposuction should expect to change their lifestyle behavior if he wants to maintain the trimmer waist line. If you get lipo and you still lie around the house and eat crap all day, your weight will come back. It's important to become and stay active before and after a procedure so you will maintain your new body.

Although plastic surgery is no fountain of youth, combined with diet and exercise it can certainly make guys look good on the outside. When you exercise, you have a peripheral dilation of your skin which is your largest body organ, it dilates, gets blood, oxygen, and nutrition to your entire body. If you exercise regularly, your skin will look better.

Having your body, nipped, tucked or sucked is not the only way gay men are taking advantage of the growing industry and drive to look and feel younger. Many gay men who want to be free of having to wear glasses and see perfectly for distance take advantage of the work and procedures by an ophthalmologist. Lens removal has also become popular. Such procedures literally take the glasses and place them permanently in the eye. It is the same as cataract surgery, except there isn’t a cataract. Instead the lens is removed and a multifocal lens is implanted for middle aged guys who don’t want to wear any glasses at all.

Another reason why cosmetic surgery and other related procedures are so popular among gay men is simple: higher disposable income. Gays don’t have a lot of extra expenses to burden them like children, and college tuition. The community has a little more expendable income in order to spend it on more extravagances.

For those not ready to go under the knife, skin procedures such as microderm abrasion and chemical peels are gaining popularity at local salons. Aestheticians go the extra mile with their services. All facials include a complete skin analysis, customized masque and a face, neck, and shoulder massage,. These professionals also offer “non-surgical” face lift facials. This luxurious facial experience allows guys to see immediate results allowing one to age gracefully.

Hair transplantations are also gaining momentum among gay men to keep them looking ever youthful. There are many different methods with different results depending on your particular needs. There's nothing like a full head of thick hair to run your fingers through. Super sexy.

“I know several gay men who have had face lifts or some other procedure, and they look great,” says Eric a twink that loves older men. “It’s something that generations before them didn’t have available, so why shouldn’t they take advantage of it?”

If a twink says it, it must be true : )