Cecily O’Connor
RedwoodAge.com
Faye always appeared young for her age. But when she hit 50, as her jowls began to “hang down.”
“My husband says I’m my own worst critic,” Faye said. “But I looked in the mirror and saw my mother sometimes.”
Unforgiving mirrors are sending millions of baby boomers to plastic surgeons for help in eliminating fine lines and shedding excess body fat.
There are many ways to address the blues that come with physical aging. Aside from Botox and surgery, some people choose natural alternatives such as yoga and acupuncture. Others benefit from counseling to address self-esteem issues.
To be sure, plastic surgery can be risky and expensive. Not to mention that some people may find the physical change didn’t quench the inner thirst that motivated them.
Overall, boomers aged 43 to 61 are making up a big portion of plastic surgeon’s business. Close to 5 million total cosmetic procedures were performed on women and men ages 40 to 54 in 2006, who made up 45 percent of total patients, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Patients aged 55 and older in 2006 made up 26 percent, with 2.8 million total cosmetic procedures.
Physically speaking, loss of skin elasticity is a significant factor driving boomers to seek out surgery, especially when it comes to facial rejuvenation. The society reports that between 2005 and 2006, thigh lifts increased 27 percent among adults aged 40 to 54; lower body lifts, 24 percent; upper arm lifts, 23 percent, face lifts, 22 percent; breast lifts, 11 percent, and tummy tucks, 7 percent. Similar increases in the same procedures were reported for the age group 55 and older during the same time period.
‘Want to Feel Sexy Again’
As a generation, boomers have been at the forefront of many trends aimed at
maintaining their bodies. That emphasis on maintenance is heightened now that
many men women into their 40s, 50s and early 60s plan to work longer, are
actively involved with kids and grandkids, and oftentimes find themselves
swimming in the dating pool after divorce. They want to feel as youthful on the
outside as they do on the inside.
“I started doing a lot of the Botox and fillers at 56, and was in the throws of getting out of my marriage after 22 years, and wanted to feel like a sexy woman again,” said Peggy Kragie, a Chicago boomer.
Women like Ms. Kragie who reached their peak with exercise years ago are opting for surgery to reverse changes to their breasts, stomach, hips and thighs that often stem from past pregnancies. Men, too, are looking to revitalize aging faces with soft tissue fillers, and tone their bodies with thigh lifts or calf augmentations.
However, there almost seems to be a double standard in how men and women are viewed as they age. Wrinkles and gray hair on a man are said to make him appear distinguished and give him character. But a woman's appearance, in general, isn't viewed as favorably as she ages, and society makes her feel as though she has to conform to a "socially approved form of beauty," said Joanie Gillispie, a psychologist who is an Internet author and researcher.
Yet no matter which sex, there’s a perception among boomers that they are “no longer invincible,” as they age, said Dr. Bruce Cunningham, past president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and a professor of plastic surgery at the University of Minnesota.
They see out cosmetic procedures "not so much to look 25 again, but to delay that aging look,” added Debbie Tren, a California psychologist, noting the desire is to appear better, but not “pulled or artificial.”
That’s why use of minimally invasive cosmetic procedures is skyrocketing as means to tackle facial aging. Use of wrinkle smoother Botox and wrinkle spackle Restalyne jumped 8 percent to more than 9.1 million procedures in 2006, the society reported.
Short-Term Lift
Part of the appeal is that more procedures such as Botox can be done over a
lunch break with no downtime. James Bradley, a plastic surgeon and associate
professor of plastic surgery at the University of California, Los Angeles, said
a lot of his boomer patients “get on a regimen” of doing office-based,
minimally invasive procedures such as Botox for several years. They often
progress to surgery much later when they feel the time is right, and they no
longer achieve results they want from wrinkle relaxers or smoothers.
“These less-invasive procedures are less dramatic, but can be done to buy more time,” said Dr. Bradley, who estimated that 85 percent of his patients are in the boomer generation.
Other procedures like the “mini-facelift” can be done in an hour, and require only several days recovery. Allan Parunguao, an Oak Park, Illinois plastic surgeon is administering mini-facelifts to a growing number of boomers in his area. The outpatient procedure, which costs roughly $4,000, is performed under local anesthesia and aims to rejuvenate the bottom third of the face, as well as jowls and neck, Dr. Parungao said.
Recovery time for a mini-facelift is two to five days, versus two to three weeks for a traditional facelift. That’s because Dr. Parungao makes a shorter incision than would be needed for a full facelift, and, thus, disturbs less tissue, which means reduced swelling and bruising.
The effects of the mini-facelift don’t last forever, a factor that can lead to more surgery and upkeep. On average, a procedure’s longevity is dependent upon factors such as a patient’s age, race and skin type.
“In general, we hope people get at least five years out of (the mini-facelift),” Dr. Parungao said. “Some get more, some get less.”
However, some adults may not want to get caught up in repeating procedures or injections to maintain lifts and tucks over time. Certainly doing nothing except aging is natural and allows an individual to let their wrinkles reflect their life story and experience.
In subsequent parts, RedwoodAge.com will reveal alternatives to surgery.
Read All Four Parts:
Part 1: Why We Do It
Part 2: Surgical Strikes
Part 3: The Costs & Risks
Part 4: Natural Alternatives
