Just because potential clients are getting older doesn’t mean their faces have to show it. Plastic surgery and noninvasive cosmetic solutions are appealing to an older demographic. Baby boomers are the fastest growing group embracing the powers of a little nip and tuck to delay aging, suggests the annual member survey by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS). No longer taboo to have a little “work done”, seniors are fighting sagging jowls and wrinkled skin with facelifts, the second most popular surgical procedure behind rhinoplasties, according to the AAFPRS. What’s more, 39 percent of facelifts performed last year were on patients 61 and older.
And the procedures are overwhelmingly safe. Recent research on 129,000 people shows that patients over age 65 are at no greater risk for complications compared to those who are younger, according to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The researchers also looked at elderly patients greater than 80 years old and they were no more at risk either. Plus, more men are seeking plastic surgery as they age. Males made up 11.3 percent of the older population, versus just 6.2 percent of younger patients according to the Vanderbilt study. “For the older generation, if they are dissatisfied with their appearance, they have options,” says Stephen Park, M.D., president of the AAFPRS. “There are a variety of surgical and nonsurgical choices that are safe and effective to delay the aging clock. Facelifts may reign supreme with this group, but both men and women boomers are also seeking out noninvasive treatments like fillers and chemical peels. AAFPRS surgeons can help patients find the right procedure based on the results the patient is seeking.”