Millennial Cosmetic Surgery - Their Desired Changes

As a person ages, the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, thinner lips and dark circles under the eyes is something that everyone can expect on their face.  In the past, the trend for treating these issues was generally viewed as being limited to patients in their 40s or 50s or older. However, millennial patients between the ages of 18 and 34 are now declaring war on what they perceive to be imperfections that are visible on their bodies.

Millennial Plastic Surgery Trends

As recently as 2018, more people under the age of 34 had cosmetic surgery procedures than patients in the age range of 51-64 years of age. These numbers are according to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery which compiles data that is provided by surgeons mainly located in the United States and Canada.

The data shows that millennial patients are looking for a face that is angular and has a good amount of definition along with youthful, elastic skin. They are also looking to avoid any sign of being tired such as the way they can alter or enhance their appearance via a filter on a social media app.

In addition to the above numbers, 2018 also saw 55\\% of patients showing their surgeon a selfie that had been retouched as their inspiration for their desired final results. This number is according to a study conducted by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Millennial Plastic Surgery for Preventative Reasons

One of the main reasons that millennial patients visit cosmetic doctors is preventative reasons related to their appearance. Patients have seen their parents develop fine lines and wrinkles so they want to try and prevent those facial issues from happening to them at an early age. Patients that are over 40 or 50 years of age generally have wrinkles that are already established on the face and they can be deep in appearance. Botox can help lessen these wrinkles but it can’t make them completely disappear on older patients. The wrinkles can be eliminated from the appearance of younger patients.

Millennial Plastic Surgery and the Issue of Doctors Practicing Illegally

An issue that often comes up when doctors are treating younger patients is whether or not the person actually needs any sort of cosmetic treatment. While there is nothing wrong with wanting a preventative treatment, some doctors will simply tell potential patients that there is not any need (yet) for treatments such as Botox or fillers to rejuvenate the appearance of the face.

The fact that a doctor might refuse treatment can lead the patient to visit different doctors until they find a person that will administer the treatment they desire. Unfortunately, the doctor they find to perform the treatment might not be board-certified or comply with the standards set forth by the College of Physicians.

In addition, there are some people that advertise their services online to administer injections at beauty salons, apartments or businesses offices. There is no guarantee that these people are properly trained to perform injections of Botox and fillers so patients might get results that are less than ideal or less than they expected. If the injections are not performed properly, the side effects can include swelling, bruising, tissue necrosis and even blindness if the injection provider touches an artery while performing the treatment.

If patients discover that their doctor of choice is practicing illegally, they advise the patient to speak out against the doctor in order to prevent future patients from having serious and potentially life-threatening side effects. Patients should be evaluated by a surgeon, dermatologist or general practitioner that is trained in aesthetics. In addition, the patient should receive the desired treatment in a clinic or medical office where a doctor performs the treatment on a regular basis and is available to answer any questions or concerns.

In addition to the number of cosmetic surgeries that are performed being on the rise, the number of corrective surgeries that have been performed has doubled since 2017 (according to a survey conducted by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery). Out of the people surveyed, one-third of them believe they were treated by an untrained person when they decided to have a cosmetic treatment.

Millennial Cosmetic Surgery and Board-Certified Doctors

Millennial patients, as well as patients of any age, should visit a board-certified doctor when they decide to undergo a cosmetic procedure. The doctor will examine the patient to determine if the person is an ideal patient for cosmetic surgery. In addition, the doctor will ask the person about their desired results in order to set realistic expectations about what can be accomplished using treatments such as Botox and fillers. It is important that the board-certified doctor set realistic expectations so the patient is not disappointed in the final results or surprised by the fact that their facial appearance is not exactly how the person imagined the final appearance would be after the treatment.

MA