We knew it was coming: Men now want to have perfectly shaped bodies like women. No fat in the wrong places, no love handles, and no big noses or weird looking ears. To summarize - men want to go under the knife so that they can look younger and better, like their spouses and girlfriends, according to a survey by Lindisima Latinas.

Almost three-quarters of men have a positive attitude toward cosmetic plastic surgery, according to a recent American Society of Plastic Surgeon’s (ASPS) online survey. Of the 1,065 men polled, 74 percent said they approved of cosmetic plastic surgery for themselves or others, while only 11 percent disapproved and 15 percent were undecided. This is in line with the feedback that MYNIPPON and LuvCube have received. We also found that those men whose partner had plastic surgery were five times more likely to get a procedure done themselves. In our survey, one procedure that men had almost as a hobby was Botox injections.

The trend is driven by two factors: an look younger (as both men and women in the peer group get plastic surgery procedures), affordable prices particularly with easy financing options, higher level of safety than a few years ago, and finally, increasingly higher level of acceptance in the society. (Related article: Right age for plastic surgery)

The cosmetic plastic surgery population has soared since ASPS began tracking procedural statistics in 1992. More than 7.4 million procedures were performed in 2003, of which men made up 14 percent. The total number of men having minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures in 2003 (including Botox injection, chemical peel, laser hair removal and microdermabrasion) was more than 922,000, up 51 percent from 2002.

“As the numbers suggest, most men consider plastic surgery as a reasonable option today,” said ASPS President Scott Spear, MD. “Taking care of yourself and paying attention to physical appearance is increasingly important to men. Helped along by popular television shows and stories in the media, cosmetic plastic surgery is definitely becoming more mainstream for men.”

In the ASPS survey, a quarter of respondents said that if they were to have a cosmetic surgery procedure, they would choose liposuction. Twenty-two percent named laser hair removal as the procedure that would interest them most, and nearly 12 percent opted for nose reshaping. (Related article: Popular plastic surgery procedures among men)

When asked what would be their biggest obstacle to having cosmetic plastic surgery, 57 percent of respondents cited cost. Other responses included concern about what others would think (13 percent), fear of surgery (12 percent), and lack of knowledge about cosmetic plastic surgery (10 percent).

Tips for men on plastic surgery procedures

• Do research on the Internet on the procedure of interest.
• Talk to someone who has had plastic surgery before to get to know better what it is like.
• Discuss your situation with a qualified plastic surgeon. Get a firm estimate of costs, recovery time, and financing options. (Related article: Plastic surgery safety)
• Bring along a close family member to the surgery, if possible.
• Take some time off for recovery.

Recommended articles: How to stop aging?

Hair transplant

Metrosexual men

Interracial relationships are not easy and they are even more difficult when they are also inter-cultural and/or inter-religious. So couples who get attracted to someone who has a different religion, culture, race, etc. they need to be extra careful because the strain on the relationship can drain them. Having said that, it does not mean that the interracial relationships are a bad idea. On the other hand, they are a great way to explore a new culture. And we at MYNIPPON hear beautiful stories of couples who have found love with someone who is so different from them. (Related article: Can interracial marriages work?)

But why is Mary unhappy in her interracial relationship? She has been together with her boyfriend for three years but lately she is realizing that they are drifting away from each other. "I find myself trying not to upset him because he doesn't understand some of the stuff that I am going through: school, family, health insurance payments, etc. He also has been swearing a lot lately. I have been trying to let him know that he needs to stop swearing. I know it's not easy when you've got a habit but, you can try your best. My family, on top of everything that is going on, has been telling me that if he loves me, he would at least do a wedding ceremony as soon as possible. I am Hmong and he is Caucasian. He likes everything about his culture; yet he hasn't tried to understand any thing about my culture and language. I'm lost. I feel like I love him but I want to move on. He doesn't seem to want to tell me what he really feels, whether it be love or no love. What should I do?" Mary asks.

Since you guys have been together for three years, it is not a good idea to just end the relationship without putting some thought into it and without making an effort to make it work. Our research has shown that ending a relationship might seem as the easiest thing to do, the effect of ending a relationship in which you invested a lot of emotion can be disastrous. Having said that, it does not mean that you should stay in a relationship that is not going anywhere or you are unhappy in it, but you need to ask yourself first if you have done your best yet. Then you can walk away without any guilt and be able to move on. (Related article: How to move on after breakup and start a new life?)

Here are a few questions to ask:

1. Do you truly love him now?
2. Can you imagine being in love with him ten years from now even if he stays the same?
3. How big a problem is his swearing and not appreciating Hmong culture?
4. Isn't the bigger problem that he just does not understand you and can not communicate with you?

The answers to these questions will allow you to make up on your mind. It is very common after a few years to realize that the person that you fell in love with initially is not what you imagined. And if you are not married and do not have any children from the relationship, it is much better to simply move on.

So think well, do your research on what you want out of life and your relationship, ask if you have done your best, and then simply end the relationship.

Recommended article: How to breakup without hurting your partner?

One of the most important issues we are dealing with these days is how to slow down aging (it is impossible to stop aging) and how to eliminate/reduce the damage that has already been done to the skin. There are many reasons why we age faster: poor eating habits, lack of exercise, stress, excessive exposure to sun, lack of sleep, excessive alcohol consumption, and above all, smoking. In this article we will discuss how smoking, apart from many other deadly effects it has on the body, also speeds up aging and wrinkles.

Any type of smoking is bad for the body and the way it damages the skin is simple: it deprives the skin of nutrients making the skin looking dull, lifeless, and without a glow. Most heavy smokers over time develop wrinkles on their faces and since their lips and teeth also become ugly, they essentially look old and unattractive. Many women also experience a change in their voices that gives them a pitch that makes them talk like men.

While most of the damage happens from smoking, even secondary smoke can do a lot of damage. It is also believed that since smokers have heart problems along with clogged arteries and blood vessels, they do not get enough nutrients and oxygen in their skin. This results in premature aging of the skin in other parts of the body.

How to avoid smoking and/or cigarette smoke?

1. If you smoke, you must immediately seek help to reduce/stop smoking. While it is not easy to give up smoking, there are drugs available that can allow you to do that relatively easily. Plus, there are psychological programs to help you quit smoking. Research the options that are available and pick the one that you like. If it does not work, drop it and try another program.
2. If someone close to you smokes, avoid inhaling secondary smoke. While you must encourage this person to quit smoking, you can also stay away from this person while s/he smokes. Leave the room where someone is smoking and open the doors/windows if you have to be there. If your office still has smokers, ask your boss to make your building smoke-free or at least designate a non-smoking area so that you can move your desk to that area.
3. Always travel in smoke-free parts of a plane/train/bus.
4. Seek the help of a close friend or mentor while you are trying to quit smoking. You will have withdrawal symptoms and your will power at that point will be critical. Ask this person to support you and keep you motivated.
5. Finally, take care of your skin. You will be able to do a lot of things by yourself right in your home. Just buy high-quality products and use them at home if you cannot afford to have professional treatments in spas or by a dermatologists. Also make sure that you drink enough water and get at least 8 hours of good sleep. What will help you even more is if you develop good eating habits and exercise regularly. (Related article: Spa treatments at home)

Related article: Effective anti-aging products

In a recent article based on research published in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA), MYNIPPON published that diets have limitations and not all of them work for weight loss. Since the publication of this story, we have received dozens of people who have been panicking now wondering what they should do.

While we never really said that you should abandon diets. In fact, we think that online diets are a great way to monitor what you eat and how much. But a diet is not a lifestyle change. A diet also appears like something forced upon us and that is the reason that most people actually gain wait after two years of dieting.

Charles Stuart Platkin, who has been writing a syndicated column entitled "The Diet Detective" offering common-sense approach to weight loss and dieting has a program now called The Automatic Diet. Mind you, this is not a diet or an exercise program. On the other hand, this is a program to fundamentally change the way you live and eat. It is based on the principle that we human beings like to eat certain foods even if they are unhealthy. When we do not eat them, not only do we miss them, we end up cheating. That is why even those people who are able to lose weight successfully gain it back pretty quickly. So Platkin focuses on developing a better understanding of what you like and then make changes in your lifestyle in a way that you can still enjoy your meals but eat healthier.

For instance, my favorite dessert in the world is Stonyfield full cream yoghurt. I don't eat a lot but I know it is not healthy for me at the age of 40. But following Platkin's advice, I still eat yoghurt as dessert a couple of times a month but eat the fat-free version. It did take some getting used to (I started with 75/25, 50/50, and then eventually 0/100) but now I do not even recall how the full-cream version tastes. It is amazing how you can train your taste buds over time. But if I had not followed Platkin's advice, it would have been hard to give up full-cream yoghurt.

So if you are ready to change the way you eat and live, then The Automatic Diet may be for you. It is a better way to live and eat.

Recommended article: Top ten tips for fast and healthy weight loss

By Pierre Coda, author of Plastic Surgery Blog

Diets that work for weight loss

So the results are in: It is not the diets that work; it is how you control what you eat and how often you exercise that make the difference. So even if you did not follow any of the diets out there but cut back on calories and burnt some more calories through change in lifestyle and exercise, you will do much better.

In fact, in the study published in the Journal of American Medical Association by Michael L. Dansinger, MD; Joi Augustin Gleason, MS, RD; John L. Griffith, PhD; Harry P. Selker, MD, MSPH; Ernst J. Schaefer, MD, people who follow a so-called "diet" actually may not do so well because they get too absorbed in the diet program and forget the basics of weight loss. People who follow a "diet" are also likely to do worse when they do not adhere to the diet.

In another study, doctors found that people who were on a diet actually made a net gain in weight after two years. Ouch!

Does it mean that you should give up on diets?

• Absolutely not, but you need to ask yourself the reason why you are on a diet. If you go on a diet because you have a wish to lose weight (and only a wish) but cheat here and there, then you might as well be wasting money on diets. But if you are truly committed to losing weight but do not have the time and skills needed to fully plan your menu, then a diet can actually do wonders for you, particularly if you stick to it rigidly. And rigidly means, no exceptions for holidays, dates, vacations, weekends, etc. (Recommended article: Online diets are best for busy people)
• Regarding other benefits of weight loss, for example health of the heart, doctors found that cardiac risk factor reductions were associated with weight loss regardless of diet type, underscoring the concept that adherence level rather than diet type was the key determinant of clinical benefits.
• The doctors recommend that new techniques be used to match individuals with the diets best suited to their food preferences, lifestyle, and medical conditions. The reason people give up on diets soon enough is that diets are simply not fun.

Finally, remember the MYNIPPON Weight Loss Principle: Eat so that you are barely full, exercise till you can no more, and keep smiling.

Recommended article: Top ten tips for fast and healthy weight loss