The stigma surrounding men who seek esthetic treatments is fading. For many, the objective is not simply to appear younger, but to bring their outward appearance closer to how youthful, confident and socially engaged they feel.

At the same time, growing interest in longevity has prompted some older adults to look beyond healthspan, meaning the number of years lived free of disease. They are also placing greater priority on looking, feeling and remaining physically attractive while aging.

Experts say this pursuit of “hotness” can be psychological. It may emerge when the way someone feels internally no longer matches the changes that person sees in the mirror.

“It really isn't about age,” Dr. Krishna Vyas, M.D., Ph.D., a plastic surgeon at Fleckman Plastic Surgery on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, told Fox News Digital. The concern, he indicated, can center on a growing disconnect between identity and appearance.

Here's What They're Not Telling You About Your Retirement

“I think it's when you look in the mirror and you're like, 'I don't recognize myself. I don't recognize the way I feel. I don't identify with how my appearance isn't concordant with how I feel at that point.'”

That friction between mental self image and physical appearance is often behind the push for aesthetic interventions, according to experts. Men now account for roughly 15% of all cosmetic procedures, according to data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Social obstacles that might once have kept men from pursuing aesthetic care have also weakened over the past two decades, Vyas said. As those barriers have declined, more men have become willing to consider procedures intended to improve their appearance.

“In the past, there was a stigma ... men were once shamed or ashamed of seeking out things that improve their appearance, especially in aesthetics, but that barrier has fallen significantly,” he said.

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

The motivations behind looksmaxxing, a social media term for intensified efforts to improve physical appearance, vary. According to Vyas, they can include trying to maintain a competitive edge in workplaces centered on youth or addressing subtle signs of aging such as dark under eye circles and reduced jawline definition.

Available treatments range from minimally invasive options, including Botox and laser therapy, to surgical procedures. Those surgical interventions can include chest masculinization and liposuction.

However, Vyas cautioned that procedures described as minimally invasive should not be viewed as free of potential consequences. “The misconception often is that minimally invasive treatments will fix things and have no side effects,” he said.

Improper or excessive treatments that do not involve surgery can alter the normal layers and contours of facial tissue, according to Vyas. Therefore, he advises people to address basic elements of physical health before treating aesthetic procedures as substitutes for biological wellness.

Complete abstinence from every form of nicotine is essential for maintaining microvascular circulation and preventing premature skin breakdown, according to Vyas. Maintaining a healthy weight can also prevent chronic, systemic inflammation linked to metabolic syndrome, which directly accelerates structural aging of the skin and tissue.

Aesthetic procedures cannot replace internal wellness. Daily sun protection and early intervention for hair loss are among the crucial first steps identified in the article.

For thinning hair, Vyas advises intervening at the first sign. Medical treatments supported by evidence, including finasteride and minoxidil approved by the FDA, remain the primary standard for preserving hair density before follicle loss becomes permanent.

Vyas also described exercise as the real longevity drug, pointing to aerobic exercise and strength training. His broader message was that physical appearance and healthspan are closely connected rather than separate goals.

“Someone who's looking for a hotspan or a healthspan, because they're so intimately related … I think they should focus on the basics to start ... the foundation is what's most important,” the surgeon added.