Men and women in their 20s and 30s are heading to the plastic surgeons office in abundance like never before. The celebrity culture has removed any embarrassment or negativity regarding people knowing that they’ve had plastic surgery and injectables, like Botox and Juvederm. These treatments and the results are indeed celebrated and shared among peers and social media. The desires and needs of this group are different than other generations, which I’ll discuss below.

POPULAR TRENDS & CELEBRITY TELL ALL

Access to media and open sharing about plastic surgery among celebrities has not only removed any taboo, but created a normalcy and excitement to experience the benefits my industry can provide. The more seasoned actress Patricia Heaton was one of the early adapters to celebrity sharing about surgery. In 2003, she talked openly about her surgeries and how women shouldn’t compare themselves to Hollywood because things aren’t always as they seem. These days, more and more celebrities are talking about surgery, such as actress Kaley Cuoco and singer Iggy Azalea, who are popular among Millennials. Many express that they don’t want to keep secrets from their fans and Iggy even posted a picture of her with her surgeon thanking him for her perky breasts.

For the Millennials, Kylie Jenner has almost single handedly been the greatest influence for lip injections for young people. Her full lipped pout is one of the most requested outcomes for this age group, who happily share before and after photos on Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook (although Facebook is getting the reputation as the main platform for mostly for the “older” Millennials and above). As of 2 years ago, no one was taking selfies in the plastic surgeons’ office, but this is now commonplace.

PREVENTION ORIENTED

Millennials are viewing cosmetic treatments as preventative with hopes of putting off signs of aging. Before wrinkles even occur, men and women in their 20s are asking for Botox. This can be a great opportunity to work with relaxing the muscles before they create rhytids, however expectations need to be managed because there won’t be any drastic immediate results.

Also, it is important to keep in mind that a little bit goes a long way. Overdoing injectables can actually have the opposite affect and make Millennials look older or create distorted facial features. If done incorrectly, Botox to the forehead can result in a heavy brow. Instead, better results could be accomplished by injecting small amounts to the glabella, which is where the frown lines form in between the brows. Immediately noticeable results for someone who doesn’t have very visible wrinkles to reverse, would be a little brow lift that can be accomplished with injections to the outer eye where crow’s feet would form.

PROCEEDING WITH WISDOM

As with anyone considering surgery or cosmetic enhancements, it’s important to realize this isn’t a quick fix mentality. To really have a preventative affect, a one time Juvederm or Botox injection won’t be enough. The goal of wrinkle prevention with Botox involves weakening the muscles so they are smooth. This may take regular injections of small amounts about every 3 months for a year or 2, and then we can slow down.

In addition, the best results also involve protecting the skin from sun damage, using good skin care, eating well and drinking water. We should develop a relationship where there’s open communication and a comprehensive treatment plan. To get started, schedule a consultation at www.davinciplastic.com.

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon