Dr. Anne Taylor administers lip injections to a patient at her Columbus, Ohio practice. She says she’s seen a rise in baby boomers in her office who are back in the dating world and looking to explore options to put their best face forward. (Photo credit: American Society of Plastic Surgeons)
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, III —Â What's the old saying? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder? Well, it seems more and more Americans aged 55 and older aren't quite happy with what they see looking back at them in the mirror.
New statistics released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reveal an astounding increase in the rate of cosmetic procedures among baby boomers, with nearly 50,000 more procedures being performed on this age group in 2018 compared to 2017.
“They're not necessarily looking to turn back the clock to their twenties, but just to make some subtle changes to put their best face forward. For example, a lot of my patients have expressed concerns about their neck or double chin, especially when it comes to looking downward to take a photo or video chat on their phones,” comments Anne Taylor, a plastic surgeon based out of Columbus. Taylor believes the trend is especially strong among recent divorcees who are turning to cosmetic work as they re-enter the dating scene.
Among baby boomers, liposuction procedures are up by 4%, hair transplants are up 18%, and breast augmentations have increased by 4%.
Two out of three (66%) of all facelifts in 2018 were performed on individuals aged 55 or older, as well as 48% of all eyelid surgeries.
Statistically, there is no indication that this trend will do anything but continue to rise. In fact, the rate of cosmetic procedures among this age group has increased by two to six percent each year for almost a decade.
“It's a trend that's showing a shift in our culture,” says Alan Matarasso, president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, in a statement. “Older Americans are vibrant and living their lives to the fullest, and they want the way they look to reflect that.
