The average age of the typical plastic surgery patient in St. George is dropping, according to the latest statistics. Millennials are increasingly influential when it comes to many areas of everyday life, and plastic surgery is no exception.

The Desire to Look – and Feel – Good

Plastic surgery has long been the domain of individuals seeking to enhance their appearance by changing certain aspects of their body, be it smoothing out wrinkles, eliminating sagging skin or correcting a misshapen nose. This has traditionally appealed to older people, but Millennials are increasingly the ones scheduling plastic surgery procedures.

There’s even been a new term coined to describe the procedures most popular with younger patients: “prejuvenation.” The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery describes this as noninvasive treatments such as Botox or chemical peels that are intended to slow down the results of aging, rather than eliminating them.

Statistics bear out the appeal of plastic surgery with the younger demographic. 72 percent of the Academy’s members reported an increase in cosmetic surgery and injectables in patients under the age of 30, according to a study released in January. Five years earlier, that number was 58 percent. The trend is expected to continue, as there is an increasing emphasis on early preventive maintenance among people in their 20s and 30s. A survey last year revealed that those most likely to seek cosmetic treatment are either parents with children or women aged 18 to 34. Females have always represented the majority of plastic surgery patients and today is no different: 86 percent of procedures are peformed on women. The most popular types of plastic surgery are:

  • Rhinoplasty (nose job)
  • Breast augmentation
  • Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery)
  • Revision surgery to fix a previous surgery

Non-surgical procedures are quite popular, as well; Botox, injectable fillers, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, skin treatments and lasers all rank high.

Social Media’s Role

Social media plays a large role in younger peoples’ obsessions with plastic surgery. Celebrities who take to Instagram to show off results of their own surgeries – Kylie Jenner is a perfect example – have erased much of the stigma associated with plastic surgery, and even non-celebs who post selfies and before-and-after photos can help influence others wanting to put their best face forward.

Just because a younger person wants a particular plastic surgery doesn’t necessarily mean they should have it. Dr. Phillip Langsdon, president of the academy, cautions members to practice selectivity when it comes to dealing with patients in that age category. Some cases are justifiable, to be sure, but it’s important to provide patients with realistic expectations prior to any procedure, be it cosmetic or reconstructive.

Patients, too, should take responsibility to ensure they choose reputable, experienced plastic surgeons. Not everybody who advertises is board-certified; do your research ahead of time to reduce the possibility of a procedure not turning out as expected.

If you have questions about a particular procedure, your plastic surgeon in La Verne is happy to help!