IT'S that time of the year again… summer and that means Love Island.
Ripped, tanned hunks of blokes are strutting their stuff across our screens wearing barely a scrap of clothing.
If the experts and figures are to be believed, it seems your Average Joe is starting to feel the pressure to get in shape.
But, before you go beating yourself up for wishing you'd hit the gym harder or started that diet a bit sooner, chances are the "perfect" Love Island bod doesn't come without a hefty price tag.
Cosmetic surgeons told The Sun more and more blokes are opting to have "tweakments" so they can appear Villa ready.
They warned that reality shows and social media has put unnecessary pressure on the beauty standards of young people.
Villa influence
One aesthetic clinic reported a 200 per cent increase in demand for a plumper pout following Megan Barton-Hanson’s entrance into the villa last summer.
Dr Tijion Esho, founder of Harley Street’s The Esho Clinic, says that the show has had a massive impact on young women’s desire to get the Love Island look.
“I’ve seen a huge rise in the number of 18-25 year olds seeking lip fillers since the show began,” he said.
“Many young women are coming to my clinic with pictures of the show’s contestants and asking how they can achieve that appearance.”
But it's not just women who are seeking cosmetic treatments.
Men feel the pressure too
Experts say men are feeling "just as much pressure as women" to have cosmetic procedures due to programmes like Love Island and Geordie Shore.
A BBC survey suggested that almost half of men aged between 18 and 30 "might consider" having a procedure.
It also found that abdominal implants and Botox were the most common cosmetic procedures among those who'd had treatments.
Aesthetic practitioner Dr Rekha Tailor said: “Reality television, social media and the selfie-culture is putting a huge amount of pressure on beauty standards.
"As more and more young people reach for what is often an unattainable beauty ideal, some are seeking cosmetic procedures to simply follow a trend.
Reality television, social media and the selfie-culture is putting a huge amount of pressure on beauty standards
“In those people who already struggle with their self-esteem, it can be particularly concerning.
"They are constantly bombarded with images and constantly referencing their own image in a bid to achieve popularity.
“All cosmetic treatments must be carefully considered and your practitioner chosen wisely.”
Here, Dr Tailor reveals some of the most common procedures guys have when visiting her clinic, Health and Aesthetics in Surrey, and how much they'll set you back…
1. HAIR LOSS
Dubbed as “Dracula Therapy” or “Vampire Therapy”, PRP therapy for hair loss involves taking a small, test-tube size sample of blood from your arm, just like a routine blood test.
Your blood is then separated (centrifuged) into red blood cells, white blood cells and platelet-rich plasma (PRP).
The doctor injects this PRP back into your scalp with a fine needle.
Dr Tailor said: "Men are no longer having to opt for surgery to treat hair loss which is a very exciting move forward.
"The platelets contained in the blood promote healing.
"In fact, platelets packed with patients’ own growth factors have been used in orthopaedic surgery for many years.
"It had been used to aid the healing of bones and soft tissues. So, clearly, the science behind isn’t new.
"However, used in the scalp, PRP Therapy stimulates hair follicles into the active growth phase which prompts regrowth and thickening of thinning hair."
£1200
2. CLAMMY HANDS
Over the past 20 years, doctors have used Botox, or botulinum toxin, to treat a variety of medical conditions such as migraines, facial paralysis and eye spasms as well as wrinkles and frown lines in facial aesthetics.
But it can also be used to treat excessive sweating whereby the chemical works to block nerve signals that instruct the sweat glands to produce liquid.
And, for those that hate needles, Dr Tailor has what's known as a Med-Jet ‘gun’.
The treatment uses a jetstream of carbon dioxide gas that sends the toxin deep into the skin without puncturing it, offering a pain-free way to ‘turn off’ the sweat glands.
She said: "This is a very clever way of making an extremely painful treatment far more comfortable.
"There’s no punctures to the skin, which means patients barely feel a thing."
£500
3. DARK CIRCLES
Disguise signs of late nights and partying with tear trough filler injections which involves injecting filler into the area between your cheek and lower eyelid to improve volume and reduce dark circles.
Be cautious when choosing your practitioner though warns Dr Tailor as this area of the face is particularly difficult to treat.
£350
4. JAWLINE
More and more men are relying on fillers to a better structured and defined jawline which enhances the facial profile.
Topical anaesthetic cream will be applied to the area 15 minutes before the treatment to make the area numb.
The filler is then injected in precise locations in the face.
After the treatment the area is massaged and the results are visible straight away.
£350
5. SIX PACK
We'd all love abs of steel without stepping foot in a gym.
Celebrities like Callum Best are turning to non-surgical treatments like Emsculpt to enhance their abs in readiness for summer.
Emsculpt effectively contracts your muscles as if you’re doing a sit-up, and helps to build them up without exerting yourself.
£2,000
6. LOVE HANDLES
They may be something you'd think would bother women, but lots of men are turning to a pioneering non-invasive fat-reduction treatment to banish their love handles.
Cool Sculpting targets the fat cells underneath the skin through a procedure that freezes and then destroys them.
Over time the body naturally processes the fat and eliminates these dead cells.
It involves no surgery and minimal downtime and works having a gel pad and applicator applied to the specified area that delivers controlled cooling to the targeted fat.
£1,200
7. SUMMER GLOW
Dubbed the facial of all facials, the Hydrafacial works in six-stages and is loved by celebrities across the world including Karren Brady and Michelle Keegan.
It works quickly to target acne, pigmentation, fine-lines and sun-damage with no downtime and long-lasting results.
£125
That takes the total cost for the full body makeover to a whopping £5,725.
Experts advise anyone considering having a cosmetic procedure should make sure the practitioner is qualified and that you've fully thought out having it done.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Anyone considering a cosmetic procedure should take the time to find a reputable, safe, and qualified practitioner, and make sure they understand the impact of any treatment on their physical and mental health.
“We’re working to improve the safety of cosmetic procedures, through better training and clear information so that people can make informed decisions about their care."
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