Aging Gracefully

A few years back, you may have heard that 50 is the new 30. Remember that? And it seems with cosmetic surgery this may be true. As many people perceive turning 60 as the beginning of midlife, they find themselves not looking how they feel. As it turns out, this is the biggest reason older women have cosmetic surgery. That makes sense, if you have not corrected a flaw, say a bump on your nose with rhinoplasty, by the time your 50, it probably did not really bother you that much. But is the true goal of cosmetic surgery to look younger? And has this seemingly optimistic perception of age turned into a nightmare for some people?

Men and women may have different reasons for having cosmetic surgery. Surveys show the top 5 reasons men have cosmetic surgery are to look younger (39%), work related (31%), dislike or improve specific feature (29%), look less tired (18%), and self improvement (16%). Men seem to have very clear and pragmatic reasons for committing to cosmetic procedures. It is interesting that these statistics were easy to find, whereas, they were not as easy to find for women.

Among women, the top reason given is that they are unhappy with their body. Almost ¾ of women surveyed said they think about their size and shape every day. Also as women age, they find themselves not recognizing themselves and want to look more like they did when younger. And how can they when women like Madonna, in her 50s, magically seem to retain their youth, and yet not admit to cosmetic procedures? For some reason only the horror stories of cosmetic surgery are publicized. It is as if women are supposed to stay young and beautiful naturally, while men are allowed to either admit to cosmetic surgery or grow older becoming distinguished. Witness the tabloids online and at the grocery store checkout lines. They are full of stories about cosmetic surgery gone wrong, overboard, or just plain making fun of the celebrities that have had cosmetic procedures, mostly women.

However, cosmetic surgery is coming out of the closet as procedures become more affordable and less invasive. Over and over cosmetic surgeons stress that patients have realistic expectations. But what does that mean in this climate? Could it mean that the goal is to look the best you can for your age, genetics, and lifestyle? Face it, some people will work out, diet, and lift weights for years and still not be thin. This is because of genetics. Others cannot work out as intensely for medical reasons, or time constraints. Depending upon one’s profession, one may or may not need to appear more youthful or energetic. Looking one’s personal best at any age is the true goal of cosmetic surgery. At Little Rock Cosmetic Surgery Center, we want patients to feel confident with their individual look. All procedures are specifically and individually designed to fit your look and lifestyle. While cosmetic procedures may indeed help you look younger, they will definitely help you age more gracefully!

Dr. Branman

Feel free to call Melinda at the front desk for your consultation. 501-277-0707