People magazine crowned "The Hangover" star Bradley Cooper as this year's Sexiest Man Alive on Wednesday, and while Cooper will probably be celebrating his win tonight with a bottle of bubbly and a long gaze in the mirror, he might want to set aside some time tomorrow for some somber reflection. 
Because, while attaining the honor of Sexiest Man Alive can lead a guy to dizzying heights, the drop is just as drastic. Just ask these past winners of the title, who we've included in our slideshow as cautionary examples of the ravages of time.
Mel Gibson was People's inaugural Sexiest Man Alive back in 1985.
And yet somewhere along the line, he morphed into the bastard child of Charles Manson and Colonel Sanders.
Then riding high on the success of "The Prince of Tides," Nick Nolte scored Sexiest Man honors in 1992.
Actually, never mind; he doesn't appear to have aged a day.
"Raiders of the Lost Ark" star Harrison Ford snagged the Sexiest Man prize in 1998.
Looks like time has taken some extraordinary measures with the former Hollywood hunk's looks.
Already pushing the age threshold for hunks, Sean Connery was bestowed the honor in 1989, while pushing 60.
Looking a little shaken AND stirred, Mr. Bond.
Brad Pitt has received Sexiest Man honors twice, in 1995 and 2000. Today...
No, sorry sir, we DON'T want our windshield washed.
