Cosmetic Plastic Surgery & Injectables in the 20 to 30 Age Group

Recently, at a large conference of the top Cosmetic and Plastic Surgeons and Dermatologists across Canada, the subject of cosmetic procedures among the 20 to 30 year old set was addressed. This group was identified as one of the fastest growing subsets of people seeking these procedures. Big news in the United States when this trend was detected there a couple of years back, this upswing among the younger generation is only just starting to make waves here in Canada. Those that study generational attitudes and characteristics, like Lisa Mattam who spoke recently at the FACE meeting, describe so called generation "X" and "Y" individuals as multi-taskers, willing to explore all options, wanting to obtain and digest information quickly, and not afraid to use multiple means to obtain goals. These young people act proactively, and if they can prevent looking progressively older , they will. In a survey conducted by Beauty For Life, an organization sponsored by the Canadian Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and by the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons, the top reasons among those in their 20s for having cosmetic medical procedures was " To boost self confidence", followed by " To attract potential partners". For those in their 30s, " To increase professional opportunities" was also important.

In an ABC show in the US a couple of years ago, women in there 20s, one young lady being 22, were asked about their attitude to Botox injections. Their enthusiasm was obvious. They wanted to act preventatively, and were not interested in developing the lines and wrinkles women in their 40s were complaining about. However, an American Plastic Surgeon interviewed on the same show had a very different attitude. He was very discouraging of cosmetic treatments among the 20 year old set, stating that " if it isn't broken, we shouldn't be fixing it".

We asked Dr. Michael Weinberg, Toronto Plastic Surgeon, to comment on this issue. Should women in their 20s and 30s consider cosmetic injections? " This issue is not black and white" says Dr. Weinberg. " I disagree with my American colleague who is adamant that these treatments are always wrong in this age group. You need to evaluate each individual carefully. Even in one's 20s, it is possible to see the early signs that suggest someone is at risk for premature aging". Dr. Weinberg went on to elaborate: " If someone is genetically predisposed, for example, with very fine , thin , fair and dry skin, they may go on to look older earlier in life. Certain structural features , for example a sunken mid-face, bony injury to a cheek, a small jaw or tooth loss can all result in the early development of volume loss and lines and wrinkles. Starting with small amounts of cosmetic injections, infrequently, can be preventative, and can mean that a given individual may require less extensive treatments later on, and enjoy an overall better result for many years to come."

" It's also important to remember", says Dr. Weinberg, " the modern approach to cosmetic injections isn't just about treating lines and wrinkles. It's about enhancing one's overall appearance, and of course ultimately it's about enhancing self esteem. So, for example, many of my young patients see me for treatment of a subtle but bothersome facial asymmetry that can be corrected by injections, as, for example, when one brow sits higher than another. Lip augmentation is another commonly performed procedure in the younger patient, and can look really lovely when it is subtle, and improves the overall proportion of the face. Filler injections to alter nose shape, and improve nose symmetry is yet another example of something that is easily done in the young, and I would say that I think it is much better for a young person, who is at that stage of life when appearance can be so important, to deal with this sort of thing early rather than spend years being self conscious."

However, Dr. Weinberg does go on to say that there are occasions when he resists a patient's desire for early cosmetic treatments. Young people with good complexions and solid facial architecture, no early sun damage, and no early visible signs of lines or wrinkles are probably wasting their time and money getting injections early, when it may be years before they will really benefit from them.

That's not to say there aren't things they should definitely be doing if they want to stave off signs of aging. "I think it is interesting that some surveys reveal only a small percentages of young women are interested in aesthetic skin treatments like microdermabrasions and peels, and even fewer are opting for good skin care and sunscreen", points out Dr. Weinberg. Most cosmetic physicians believe that good skin care, including high quality 'medical grade' at-home creams coupled with periodic exfoliation will help maintain a youthful looking skin as we age. " Unfortunately, many young women are still quite keen on looking tanned", Dr. Weinberg says, "and it's often an uphill battle to persuade them of the significant health risks, not to mention aging risks, that are associated with overexposure to UV radiation.". Dr. Weinberg and his staff frequently point out that a spray tan is a good substitute for the real thing, and other treatments like Peels or Photofacials, have many of the perceived benefits of a tan, in that skin looks more even toned, brighter, and smoother, but these options are healthy for the skin instead of damaging.

Leaving aside skin issues for a moment, and looking more broadly at what procedures are popular among those in their 20s and 30s, body contouring, tummy tuck and breast surgeries all rank highly. When Beauty For Life respondents were asked " Which part of your body are you most concerned about" 37% in the 30s age range chose abdomen & hips, and 18% chose breasts as their top concern. " Liposuction, breast reduction, tummy tuck and breast augmentation are all quite popular among many of the young women I see, and these are among my happiest patients after surgery" reports Dr. Weinberg. When asked how this group differs from patients in older age groups, he responded " People in their 20s and 30s don't attach any stigma to cosmetic procedures. They proceed from the premise that physical attributes are important to how we feel about ourselves, and they have no hesitation taking charge and instituting change when they can."

Does he have any concerns about cosmetic procedures in the young? " While this younger generation have more access to information than ever before, it is still always a concern that they receive the right information. Because these procedures are increasingly prevalent, it can give the impression that they have no potential downside. Any young person considering a cosmetic procedure needs to understand all the pros and cons, and they need to have realistic expectations. Proper education can only come from seeing a reputable person who is going to spend the time to explain things in detail and answer lots of questions. If a young patient understands their procedure, is a good candidate, and is doing it for sensible reasons, then I have no hesitation trying to help them reach their goals."