Looking your best at any age
Julia was tired of looking tired. At age 72, she came to me to seek out
procedures to make her feel better about herself. She told me she wasn’t
getting the “looks” anymore, and that men would not pay her any
attention, or in her eyes, would think, “hey look at that cute grandma”.
More and more, the ‘mature’ generation are seeking ways to look their
best. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery recently came
out with their updated statistics. They found that the number of people
65 and older getting facelifts and cosmetic eyelid surgeries has more
than doubled over the last two decades. Many of these patients are ‘first
timers’ to the plastic surgery realm.
Joan Rivers, the late comedian and staunch supporter of plastic surgery,
once said, “Looking 50 is great- if your 60!”. She perhaps could be
credited for some older individuals considering plastic surgery
treatments. She often made jokes of her obsession, once quoted with, “I
wish I had a twin sister, then I would know what I would look like
without Plastic Surgery”.
After surgery, Julia commented, “ I was so excited about the
improvement in my neck, that I came back for the rest of the face.
People commented about how good I looked, and many didn’t know I
had surgery. The natural look took years off my appearance and allowed
me to feel good about being in public.”
Many individuals like Julia are staying healthy well into their later years
with increased wellness which includes better eating and lifestyle
choices like exercise. They feel young on the inside, but don’t like the
reflection in the mirror.
The fact that the baby boomers started turning 65 years of age five years
ago most likely contributes to the increase in facial plastic surgery.
Another big factor is that rejuvenating procedures do not have to be
surgical. Many patients come to me for non-surgical procedures to get a
refreshed look. Not only are these procedures less costly, they typically
have minimal to no downtime, which I see as important for the active
mature patients that come to my practice. Procedures such as Botox,
Dermal Fillers and skin care management using lasers and non-ablative
collagen stimulating treatments can provide an option to turn the clock
back and help to maintain a youthful appearance. I often recommend to
my patients that we begin the process by skin rejuvenation to stimulate
the collagen to create a more youthful surface on which to work. Often
this is done to reverse the effects of sun damage and smoking, both of
which are the main contributors to aging skin. Whether patients go on
to have surgical procedures is up to them, and since many are just
looking for that refreshed look, they will be content.
My job as a Plastic Surgeon is to listen to their concerns and come up
with a plan to provide the patients with choices to help them achieve
their goals. Because there are many ‘tools’ available now for
rejuvenation, we can offer large steps or baby steps to give one the look
they desire.
“If you look in the mirror and don’t like what you see, and there are
things that you can do to improve your looks, why not?” Julia said. “I
only wish I had done things sooner to keep up with the aging process.”
A doctor who performs both non-surgical and surgical solutions to anti-
aging can help to choose the best options for you. Consider seeking out
the services of a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and a consultation for
looking your best at any age.
Until Next Time, Be Well Buffalo!
