In previous years, older adults would use plastic surgery to reduce signs of aging that were already apparent in their appearance. These days, younger generations are taking plastic surgery as a proactive solution, using plastic surgery as a way to prevent and slow down the onset of aging. As one of the biggest trends alongside cosmetic procedures, dermal fillers, and body contouring, younger generations are starting to look at plastic surgery as a new way to innovate and improve themselves. We’re here to look briefly at this trend, see where their interests lie, and how patients interested in plastic surgery should move forward.

Why Are Younger Generations Getting Plastic Surgery?

Plastic surgery has often been advertised for people in their years, working with the concept of corrective surgeries to improve their appearance and appeal to their desires to look and feel younger. But lately, younger generations have started seeking out plastic surgery not to correct their appearance but to prevent the onset of aesthetic problems later on in life. The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery coined the term “pre-juvenation” to describe this phenomenon. Prejuvenation refers to a collection of noninvasive treatments that slow down signs of aging rather than eliminate them completely and include treatments such as dermal fillers, Botox, and chemical peels.

Because of the higher rate of these noninvasive treatments, more and more younger patients are seeking out these treatments in medical spas, plastic surgery clinics, and other medical offices. Most of these patients are under 30, with the majority of them being women. However, there are some more surgical options that younger generations have been working with as well, including breast augmentations, rhinoplasties, and eyelid surgeries to correct genetic issues and disease-related problems, so not all patients within this demographic are seeking out these treatments for cosmetic purposes.

So, what factors helped influence this influx of younger patients in the office? Through some mild observations, many plastic surgeons are seeing more young patients at their practices due to:

• Social Media: Through the rise of social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, many younger generations are seeking out plastic surgery for aesthetic choices. As more influencers share resources and conversations about plastic surgery options and cosmetic treatments, more younger patients will attempt to seek out those treatments as beauty regiments for their wellbeing.

• Identity Politics: Younger generations have taken the mantle of talking about identities, especially among LBGTQ movements. Those who have identities beyond the outdated binary system, such as transgender, agender, or genderfluid, will have a deeper desire to change their outer appearance to match their inner identities.

• Medical Conditions: Some younger patients face medical conditions that impact them on a chronic level, such as overtly larger breasts that cause chronic back pain or lymphatic conditions that affect their weight. In these cases, plastic surgery can be used as a medical procedure to help treat their medical conditions and ease the pain.

When It’s Appropriate To Seek Out Plastic Surgery

For younger patients seeking out plastic surgery or cosmetic treatments, the best resource they can go to is your local surgeon for more information. By learning more about your available treatments, you can prevent years of aging, treat chronic conditions, and fully be your beautiful self.