Pros And Cons Of Cosmetic Surgery By Age Group

Cosmetic surgery has shifted from procedures done by the relatively few to procedures done by millions upon millions every year. Because of this, much of the stigma of plastic surgery has vanished. It has become a commonplace and acceptable feature of everyday life.

But everything about cosmetic surgery is not absolute. There are pros and cons to every cosmetic procedure. Additionally, there are pros and cons to consider based upon your life stage. Lets examine a few.

Teens

Roughly 200,000 thousand teens from the ages of 13-19 get a cosmetic procedure every year. The most common procedure teens elect to undergo is rhinoplasty, followed by breast reductions. For teens, having body issues can have a devastating impact on their self-esteem, leading to depression or even suicide. Plastic surgery is a godsend in these situations. However, many plastic surgeons reject this interpretation. They argue that teenagers are not equipped psychologically to make decisions regarding their bodies. They worry about the long-term damage it can do to their body images.

Young Adults

Some common procedures around this age include rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, liposuction, and Botox. Women make up the majority of plastic surgery patients in this age group. Many plastic surgeons have noticed that patients in their twenties come with unrealistic expectations. It is important to realize that while plastic surgery may change your appearance, it will not change it drastically. It will take many successive surgeries to completely alter your look and many patients are not equipped for this reality.

40 Somethings

Patients in their thirties and forties often undergo the following procedures: breast augmentation, liposuction, Botox, and facelifts. Women make up the majority of the patients getting procedures and often elect to undertake them after having children. Growing older is not as acceptable for women as it is for men and this is the primary reason for the discrepancy. One negative to consider at this age is complications. Each cosmetic procedure carries the risk of infection, scarring, blood clots, and nerve damage.

Elderly

Older men and women are increasingly getting plastic surgery procedures as well. People in this age group tend to get more facial procedures than their younger counterparts. It is worth noting that there is not a significance increase in risk with this age population. However, certain procedures such as abdominoplasty do carry a higher risk of infection and healing with elderly patients.