Plastic surgery is one of the most common procedures performed in the United States and the transformative power compels thousands of men and women to go under the knife every year. Unlike most surgeries, cosmetic procedures are not medically necessary which can make it hard to analyze the demographics. While each individual's needs and wants differ when it comes to choosing a procedure, the most popular cosmetic surgeries can be broken down by age group. While trends in plastic surgery vary from year to year, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons' 2012 statistics report shows that some procedures are consistently popular with certain age groups. Here's why.
Nose reshaping is widespread among 13-19 year-old patients, simply because the nose you were born with is the nose you will have for life. While other parts of the body can change given time or lifestyle habits, the shape and structure of your nose changes the least. The skin does thicken and the cartilage can lose its support, but for the most part, the defining features remain constant throughout life. Adolescents who are approaching adulthood oftentimes turn to rhinoplasty to get a new start or a fresh look as they embark on milestones such as high school graduation or the start of college.
On the other hand, breast augmentation is a popular procedure for those who have gone through puberty: 20-29 year-olds. The breasts are typically fully formed by that age, and the size and shape are at a fixed point. Shifts in weight, pregnancy and lifestyle (bra usage) may alter breast size and shape but in an unpredictable way. This is a time when image is very important to women, so they seek larger breasts in order to boost their self-confidence and balance the proportions of their new adult figures.
Once men and women reach their 30's, their metabolism begins to slow down. They notice a change in the way their bodies deposit fat even if their exercise pattern and diet have remained the same. Certain body parts store stubborn fat that is hard to lose even with healthy eating and exercise. Liposuction has traditionally been the remedy to this problem. We have seen an increase in the popularity of newer technologies that provide less invasive options for fat reduction. However, liposuction remains time honored and consistent in providing the most predictable results. A variety of techniques are available to safely remove fat and sculpt curves.
The 40's are a time when the aging process really begins to set in. We typically start to see the earlier signs of aging around the eyes and forehead. The skin around the eye is prone to wrinkle and show redundancy. The upper eyelids and forehead can begin to droop and give a tired or sad appearance. Thus it's no surprise that patients between the ages of 40-54 are likely to undergo an eyelid and/or brow lifting surgery in order to minimize these changes. The lower eyelids are treated by removing or tightening skin as well as treating fat pockets.
Finally, the facelift is an extremely popular procedure for those 55 and older. At this point, there are multiple parts of the face that need rejuvenating. The cheeks typically fall or deflate, the corners of the mouth turn down, jowls appear, the jawline loses its contour and the neck becomes loose and droopy at times, showing bands under the chin. A facelift helps restore a youthful appearance by addressing these parts that have aged including the eyelids, sagging of the neck and volume loss in the cheeks. Combinations of procedures can lift the brow, the mid face or cheek area and tighten the jaw line while treating jowls and reshaping the neck.
Of course everyone ages differently and each person's goals are different, but these tend to be the most popular procedures by age group. Do any of these surprise you? What procedure have you been thinking about?