Fortune, October 2, 1995
by Justin Martin

Allegations concerning faulty breast implants may have sent Dow Corning into bankruptcy, facing $2 billion in claims, but the cosmetic surgery business is still looking as good as ever - particularly as more men try to erase the evidence of their years.

Last year the baggy-eyed and proboscis-challenged among us anted up for more than two million procedures, generating $2.6 billion in revenues, up from $2.9 billion in 1992. And vanity, thy name is Tom, Dick, or Harry: men now account for about one in four nips, tucks, or nose jobs.

Men are getting made over in greater numbers; they accounted for 24% of procedures in 1993, vs. 17% in 1988. For them, hair transplants (average cost: $2,151) are still tops. The latest laser surgery allows men to get a matrix of tiny hair ports on their scalps (is somebody attaching a printer to their skulls?), rather than the much-maligned, easy-to-spot "plugs" of the past. Men are also getting their share of other procedures, including 30% of nose jobs and 17% of face-lifts.

So, we have determined that Michael Jackson is not the only male that has had /is having modifications done to his face. He simply did it before it was the craze among baby boomers - and he had the guts not to hide it! And for that he has gotten no end of ugly harassment from the almighty-dollar-seeking-tabloid-sleaze-press. He is no less a man for it. He didn't open it up to a general vote through a magazine or phone-in contest for us to decide what he should look like, so let the man be.

What's more, let's look at Madonna's ever changing look for the sake of "reinventing" herself commercially per E! Online:

• The Boy Toy 1983-84 The Look: Grown-out blonde dye job, Crayola makeup, mesh halters, exposed midriff, Flavor Flav-size jewelry.
• The Material Girl 1985 (and intermittently since) The Look: Neatly waved platinum 'do, couture dresses, furs, diamonds.
• Preach Fuzz 1986 The Look: Sting-short platinum blonde curls, tight black spandex.
• Flooze That Girl 1987 The Look: Platinum blonde bangs, bushy brown eyebrows, vacuous stare
• Blasfemme 1989 The Look: Long auburn curls, slips, spontaneous stigmata.
• Not Like a Virgin 1989-93 The Look: Anything resonating erotica, including cone-shaped bras or--in the case of book Sex--nothing at all.
• Vogue Rogue 1990 The Look: Material Girl with lingerie exposed.
• Lady Madonna 1990, 1993-94 The Look: Short, straight black hair (Madonna does the Beatles?) and the boy-toy wardrobe and makeup.
• Don't Cry for Her 1994-96 The Look: Long, straight blonde hair, nonexistent eyebrows, '40s dresses and coats, black hats and gloves.
• Maternal Girl 1998 The Look: Long, curly black or blonde hair, classy but colorless robes and long dresses.

Now Michael has never had any of his facial surgery done for commercial "reinventing" purposes, only to satisfy himself. Even David Bowie went through many faces for "artistry" sake. But for all that, Madonna and David Bowie are recognized for their music more than their "faces". Why can't the public focus on Michael's talent rather than his face?

One final closing item:

TIME August 10 1992
Jackson: Saving Face by Michael Quinn

"Wacko Jacko." "Cracko Jacko." The demure British tabloids [sleaze] delight in such derision of the one-man music industry called Michael Jackson. But when London's Daily Mirror scorned not Jackson's sanity but his looks, the singer struck back. Last week Jackson kicked off a concert tour of Britain with a lawsuit against the Mirror for writing that a lifetime of plastic surgery has whittled him down to "a phantom with a sadly scarred face that seems ready to fall apart." A meticulously labeled diagram of the supposed cosmetic catastrophe was thoughtfully included. Jackson seeks an apology and hefty damages. Black shades and dangling hair twarted the curious when the superstar surfaced at a London children's hospital with a classically Jacksonian retinue: executives, camera crews--and Mickey Mouse.

THE PUBLISHED APOLOGY:
THE MIRROR AND MICHAEL JACKSON - - - November 9, 1998

Back in 1992 prior to Michael Jackson's then world tour we published some photos of Michael Jackson, particularly close up photos of his nose and face.

We suggested that they showed him to be hideously disfigured and scarred. He immediately issued legal proceedings against us strongly denying the allegations.

During the course of the proceedings we recently went to Los Angeles together with an eminent expert in plastic surgery to view his face close up.

The inspection showed that, in fact, his face is not disfigured. As a result our lawyers met with Mr. Jackson's lawyers and a confidential deal was thrashed out bringing an overdue end to the legal which we are both happy with.

We also apologize for the suggestion that he was hideously disfigured or scarred. We saw for ourselves this was not the case. Both sides last night expressed their satisfaction that the litigation has been amicably resolved.

Kevin Bays of Davenport Lyons, the Mirror's solicitors, said: "We are glad this matter has been resolved so amicably, it has gone on long enough and hopefully we can now put it behind us."