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The Intimate Procedure Changing Men's Lives
By Melanie Faldo
The award-winning aesthetic clinic - Harley Street Skin is reporting a noticeable rise in demand for male intimate aesthetic procedures, including scrotoplasty, as men become increasingly open to treatments that enhance both appearance and comfort in sensitive areas. Once considered niche, these new intimate procedures are now discussed more openly in consultation rooms, reflecting a change in attitudes towards male aesthetics and body confidence.
At Harley Street Skin, Dr Lucy Glancey (MRCS), former President of BABS, explains that this change is being driven by a combination of cultural and lifestyle factors. She says that social media, pornography, gym culture, dating apps, evolving relationship dynamics and greater acceptance of cosmetic treatments for men have all contributed to the growing interest in what is now being described as “male intimate aesthetics”.
One of the treatments men of all ages are increasingly opting for is Scrotoplasty - a procedure designed to refine and tighten the scrotal area, sought for aesthetic reasons, functional comfort, and to address changes caused by ageing, weight loss or skin laxity.
There appears to be growing openness among men towards intimate aesthetic procedures. Are you seeing more enquiries for scrotoplasty than you did five or ten years ago, and what do you believe has driven this shift in attitudes?
Men are more aware of their appearance now compared to 10 years ago. This is because of the availability and accessibility of more procedures compared to the past. We are seeing enquiries not just for scrotoplasty but also for other male sexual enhancement procedures such as penis fillers, intimate bleaching, laser hair removal, and even circumcisions.
What are the most common reasons men seek scrotoplasty: physical discomfort, aesthetic concerns, confidence, age-related changes, or a combination of factors?
All of the above factors considered, most men initially seek aesthetic reasons, but during consultation, it becomes apparent that functional reasons, such as discomfort, et cetera, are often present as well.
To what extent are factors such as social media, pornography, gym culture, dating apps, body confidence and changing relationship dynamics contributing to the rise of what some describe as 'male intimate aesthetics'?
All these factors have influenced the surge in male intimate aesthetics. The “locker room” syndrome isn’t new, but while in the past those men would hide in the corner and try to cover up, they now strive to be like the good-looking and well-endowed guys and are willing to spend money to get there.
Do relationship changes, divorce, re-entering the dating world, weight loss, or concerns about ageing play a significant role in motivating men to seek treatment?
With life expectancy increasing and women becoming more independent, relationships do not last as long as those of our parents' generation. Meeting people is just a click away, as dating apps opened up the possibility of meeting people that they would never meet under normal circumstances. We see men who have been in long relationships or marriages who find themselves back on the dating scene when those end. Many of them have not taken good care of themselves while in a long, comfortable relationship. Some are not even familiar with basic male grooming; in fact, I am aware of men who have never used an aftershave or a cologne!
On the other hand, women are well ahead, and if you compare men and women of the same age - especially those over 50, women look a lot better and younger because they are more likely to have had cosmetic procedures, kept fit and lived a healthier lifestyle. This has created the Cougar trend, where women date much younger men because they’re a better match for them in terms of appearance and fitness. Also, men after a certain age can face performance issues, especially if they have led an unhealthy life with excess alcohol, excess weight, and a lack of physical fitness. Women do not have those issues as much, so they prefer younger men who are more likely to perform well in the bedroom! This is starting to become more noticeable, and as a result, older men now strive to look the best version of themselves. In the past, cosmetic procedures were considered the domain of women and gay men. These days, straight men do not think having aesthetic procedures done will undermine their masculinity.
Some men feel excess scrotal skin can make the penis appear less prominent. Is this something patients raise, and can scrotoplasty improve the appearance of length?
Scrotoplasty cannot improve the length of the penis per se, but it can indirectly create the perception of a bigger penis. It’s all about ratios and size relativity. If you put an object next to a bigger object, then it will look smaller and vice versa. By that logic, anything surrounding the penis should ideally be smaller to make the penis appear the biggest object in the area. This is one reason men resort to scrotoplasty and other procedures such as mons pubis liposuction or lift, and it contributes to the trend of male intimate grooming.
Can you explain exactly what scrotoplasty involves, including how much tissue is removed, the type of anaesthetic used, and how long the procedure typically takes?
Each scrotoplasty procedure is different and very much depends on the reasons. In younger men, it could be performed for perhaps testicular cancer , when they will have a testicular implant for symmetry purposes, or they may have a varicocele , which is varicose veins in the scrotum, or they may have lost a lot of weight in which case the scrotum will sag .
In older men, the scrotum sags naturally with age, so scrotoplasty in that age group will differ. People who have lost a lot of weight or are older will need more skin removed. Depending on the reasons, the procedure can take between one and two hours. It’s performed under intravenous sedation or general anaesthesia, but it can be done under local anaesthesia if a smaller procedure is required.
What does recovery involve, including swelling, bruising, downtime, return to exercise and sexual activity, and the long-term appearance of scarring?
Recovery can take two weeks; it will include the restriction of physical activities and the wearing of support garments. There will be some swelling and bruising. Return to sexual activity can be after two weeks, long-term appearance is maintained well unless the patient loses a lot of weight, but the skin stretches again eventually with age.
What sort of results are patients typically hoping to achieve, and are those goals usually centred on comfort, aesthetics, rejuvenation, confidence, or all of the above?
With the right indications and the right surgery and counselling , patients are happy with the long-term results, which address all of the above goals.
What kind of feedback do patients most commonly give after surgery? Do they report improvements in confidence, intimacy, comfort, hygiene, or quality of life?
If the procedure is performed well and for the right reasons, it will usually deal with all of these issues.
Which age groups are most likely to seek scrotoplasty today, and are you seeing growing demand from younger men as well as older patients experiencing age-related changes?
Genuine sagging is typically only seen in older men, whereas in younger men it is more commonly associated with significant weight loss, particularly following the use of GLP-1 peptide medications.
Each scrotoplasty procedure is therefore highly individual and depends on the underlying cause. In younger patients, it may be performed following conditions such as testicular cancer, where a testicular implant is used for symmetry, or in cases of a varicocele (enlarged veins within the scrotum). It may also be appropriate where substantial weight loss has led to laxity and sagging of the scrotal tissue.