Plastic surgery techniques have changed significantly in recent years, lending to men and women achieving superior results with shorter recovery times. As such, the field is attracting patients of all ages who want to make changes to their appearance, from correcting significant facial abnormalities to making minor adjustments to their bodies. Each year, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) releases a report about the most popular plastic surgery procedures. One notable trend in these reports is that certain plastic surgery procedures appeal to specific age groups.
Teenagers and Plastic Surgery
The most popular plastic surgery procedure amongst patients age 13 to 19 is nose reshaping, or rhinoplasty. The trend can be attributed to two distinct factors:
- Teenagers generally participate in contact sports that may result in nose injuries.
- Adolescence is a time when boys and girls begin to pay attention to their appearance.
Unlike other parts of the body and face, the bones of the nose change very little as we get older. Any changes occur in the skin and cartilage. Injuries or abnormalities can leave a young person with a crooked, misshapen nose or one that is disproportionate to the rest of the face.
Young Women and Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation is the most popular plastic surgery procedure amongst women between 20 and 29 years old. This correlates to the years when most women are seeking a life partner or beginning their careers after college. This breast surgery gives a woman a renewed sense of confidence as she enters early adulthood and an exciting phase in her life.
Body Contouring at 30
Age 30 is the time when men and women experience a decrease in their metabolism. Body fat is more difficult to eliminate, and we begin to develop those unsightly, stubborn pockets of fat. Even if we maintain a healthy, active lifestyle and eat properly, we are less able to maintain attractive contours. Women in their 30s may also battle the effects of pregnancy. In years past, liposuction was the procedure-of-choice amongst patients in their 30s, but there are many other options, such as CoolSculpting® a non-invasive permanent fat removal procedure.
Anti-Aging at 40
At 40 years old, men and women begin to develop signs of aging due to sun exposure and decreased levels of collagen and hyaluronic acid in the skin. The earliest signs appear around the eyes and lips as well as on the forehead. The upper area of the face tends to lose fat as well, causing the eyelids and forehead to droop. You may also lose fat in your cheeks, giving your lower face an aged appearance. Plastic surgery to address these problem areas is popular amongst patients between 40 and 59 years old, with brow lifts and eyelid surgery being the most popular procedures. Cosmetic injectables and dermal fillers are most often requested by patients in this age range as well.
Facelifts for Those 55 and Older
As the aging process continues, lines and wrinkles deepen to form creases that cannot be corrected with localized surgery or injectables. Several areas of the face require correction, such as the jowls, mid-face, mouth and nose area, cheeks and neck. Facelifts and neck lifts provide the comprehensive correction that is needed for older patients.
Each patient is unique in anatomy and how aging affects the appearance. Dr. Kole helps you decide what plastic surgery procedures are right for you at any age to achieve the most natural look.
