Men paying big bucks for six-pack abs

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, more men, especially from Jamaica and the Caribbean, have been seeking the services of cosmetic surgery company, Designer Bodys.

According to Michelle Dior, director of the Dominican Republic-based entity, many of the clients are between ages 30 and 55.

"[They] are active in the gym but still find it hard to lose weight. We do have a BMI (body mass index -- an approximate measure of whether someone is overweight or underweight) of 36 at the moment. So, we are encouraging clients who are overweight to diet healthily," she said.

The cost of the procedure starts from US$8,500(approximately J$1.3 million).

"They feel young again and like they have been given a second chance. They can wear what they choose and are more likely to maintain it well with diet and gym. Our male clients never need to come back for a second round," she added.

John Black*, 33, a Jamaica-born, US-based businessman, said that he was never comfortable with his physical appearance as he believed that his belly and breasts were too big. Black is currently recovering after going under the knife for a man boob reduction, liposuction and abdominal etching procedure. Abdominal etching is a procedure that sculpts and enhances the appearance of the waistline and creates 'six-pack' abs. Though still in his recovery process, Black said his confidence level has been increased by a 100 per cent.

"Ever since, I can remember having issues as a teenager where I would never go outside without a shirt or to the beach without a top on. I felt really uncomfortable with my body and that affected my self-esteem greatly, but now all of that has changed finally and as it pertains to the result, I love it and I am just really grateful," he said. Black said while he is experiencing minor discomfort, the side effects are way less painful than he expected based on what others said having done similar procedures.

Dior said several factors are taken into consideration when determining the price for such an operation, including the health and weight of the client and the doctor of choice. She added that while some persons will see results in weeks, everyone's body is different.