Plastic Surgery Rise For Baby Boomers

August 19, 2011

Aging generation embraces younger standards of beauty.

Although face lifts, liposuction and breast implants were once thought to be the procedures of Hollywood stars, more and more average Americans are going under the knife, including a high number of older individuals.

According to this article from the New York Times, the number of people undergoing plastic surgery who are age 65 and older has increased dramatically in the last few years.

In 2010 there were 84,685 surgical procedures among patients in that age group.

Many boomers and senior citizens who opt for plastic surgery simply want their bodies to match how they feel on the inside. Older Americans are living longer, healthier lives and decide to have these procedures to combat the physical effects of aging.

The Times article profiles an 83-year-old woman who recently underwent breast augmentation surgery. She spent approximately $8,000 for the procedure and doesn't regret it. She tells the paper, "Physically, I'm in good health, and I just feel like, why not take advantage of it?"

Although there are always risks associated with surgery, a study published in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery suggests that older people are at no greater risks of complications than their younger counterparts. But there are still some critics who believe there is not enough data out there about elderly patients and plastic surgery to make informed decisions about the risks involved.

Jackie Bryan

New York Times