Gen Z - Do They Believe in Plastic Surgery?

Since they were born between 1997 and 2012, Gen Z grew up online with easy access to Google, YouTube, and TikTok (to name a few platforms and websites). Their time growing up happened at the same time as an increase in information regarding cosmetic surgery and the idea of having plastic surgery becoming part of the daily conversation of the public. While they might know a lot about plastic surgery, does this generation believe in having procedures that can alter or enhance their appearance? Let’s find out the answer by starting with an examination of the topic from Cosmetic Town News:

Gen Z and Plastic Surgery – How Do They Feel About It?

In a recent interview published on Yahoo, Dr. Richard Reish, a New York City plastic surgeon, said, “They’ve been brought up in an era where it’s very much the norm to get plastic surgery.” Dr. Reish specializes in rhinoplasty which has been identified as the most frequently performed surgical procedure among teenagers and people in their twenties (as of 2020).

Dr. Lara Devgan, who is a plastic surgeon based in New York City, said “They’re really going forth unafraid into the world of medical aesthetics. Whereas Millennials were curious and research-oriented and Gen X and older were more reticent and cautious, the Gen Z patients in my practice are forward-thinking and open – to experimentation, invasiveness, risk, and downtime.”

Dr. Devgan also noted that the preferred aesthetic of Gen Z is not easy to identify as they have tastes that are always changing. “They’re more fluid in their thinking – less rigid about what is feminine and what is masculine, what is beautiful and what is not.” She also thinks their changing preferences are a reaction to the looks that were popularized in the past by previous generations. “Gen Z has truly leaned away from ‘Instagram face’ and anything cookie-cutter.” By rejecting trends of the past, Gen Z is “able to try on uniqueness as expression, and that lends itself to more bespoke types of outcomes.”

Gen Z – They Believe in “Tweakments”

Since a Gen Z patient can often be classified as unconventional, this also means they do not believe in past beauty standards. For example, when they make the decision to have Botox or fillers, they usually make small adjustments in their look instead of the over-filled or “frozen” looks of the past.

According to Dr. Karan Lal, a Scottsdale, Arizona-based double board-certified pediatric and cosmetic dermatologist, the Gen Z patients in his clinic mostly want “to look like themselves” as opposed to looking like celebrities or their friends. They know the goals they want to achieve, and it usually involves nuanced changes. They want to highlight the contours of their lips instead of gaining too much volume from lip fillers.

Gen Z considers “tweakments” to be a form of self-care. This includes having Botox as a regular part of maintaining their skin as opposed to having it injected into the face to combat wrinkles. They have become fans of the idea of “prejuvenation” instead of “anti-aging.” Gen Z has neuromodulators injected into their face to prevent the formation of lines and wrinkles.

This generation also believes in taking care of their complexion and this includes treatments such as microneedling and chemical peels to minimize issues with the pores or any type of acne scars. In order to maintain or expand the results, these patients use topical retinoids and sunscreen to maintain a clear complexion and a healthy texture to the skin.

Gen Z – Needs to Be Careful When Getting Information

One of the main concern's doctors have when it comes to Gen Z patients is making sure they are not receiving misinformation from social media platforms. There is a good amount of misinformation on TikTok which is where many members of Gen Z get their information. There are TikTok accounts that share information from those who are not experts about plastic surgery bur they come across as reliable sources in their videos.

There is also a concern that the steady amount of content about plastic surgery can make Gen Z sometimes doubt the traditional relationship between doctors and patients. They appear to want to get their information from someone who is viewed as more approachable and a collaborator rather than a traditional authority figure. Gen Z needs to be aware of the fact that some “before and after” photos on TikTok and other social media platforms can easily be faked before they are posted. The results can be photoshopped or filtered to the point that the results that are being shown are not the actual results gained by a person. The viewing of altered photos can lead to unrealistic expectations when it comes to the results Gen Z patients want to gain from a procedure.

Just like any other generation, Gen Z is a product of their time. They are able to get more information from a variety of sources than any previous generation. It is important for them to properly educate themselves and not use social media to find their doctor. Anyone on social media can say they are an expert on beauty and cosmetic procedures but that does not mean the person is actually a medical professional or properly educated about the procedure they are discussing.

Finally, they need to think about the pros and cons of the procedure they have in mind before they have a treatment. Instead of chasing the latest trends, it is better to consider the long-term changes that will be made to the body so Gen Z patients can be sure the alterations are what they want for their body for a few years or for a lifetime.

- MA