San Antonio Cosmetic SurgeryMore Seniors Seeking Nonsurgical Cosmetic Procedures

Traditionally, cosmetic procedures have been considered suitable pursuits of the young and middle-aged, not the elderly. However, with the aging of the baby boomer generation and a greater variety of minimally invasive procedures, there has been a rising number of seniors consulting with plastic surgeons and pursuing medical rejuvenation. Based on statistics released by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, it seems that seniors 65 and older now account for 7.3 percent of all cosmetic procedures, a jump from 5.4 percent in 2002.

What is causing this shift?

Part of it is that Americans are working longer than before. Arleen, a 66-year-old manager, says that she has received cosmetic injections and a partial facelift to make herself more competitive in the workplace.

“All of this has made a difference and I'm very satisfied with the results,” she told the Chicago Tribune in a recent interview. “It took five to seven years off, and when you're working it's important. I have younger people working under me, and I don't want to look too old.”

Another reason is simply cultural. Members of the baby boomer generation are not strangers to plastic surgery in the same way that members of the Greatest Generation were. America's aging population is burgeoning with the addition of people who were born after the hardships of the Great Depression and World War II. Boomers are more open to the option of plastic surgery than the preceding generation.

Finally, there is a greater variety of procedures available, and people who may not be the best candidates for surgery have many other options available to them. Botox, which was introduced in the 1990s to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, has been joined by dermal fillers and laser skin therapies that can provide comprehensive care without the need for facelifts. Plastic surgery patients have more options than ever before at San Antonio Cosmetic Surgery.