Women Over 50 NOT Choosing Plastic Surgery!
I recently read a quote in the November issue of More magazine. “Almost 3/4 of cosmetic surgery is done on patients UNDER 50 years old.” This was a finding taken from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and comprehensive surveys conducted by Trend Sight Group.
This statement took me by surprise, as when I think cosmetic surgery, I automatically think “appearance age reduction.” To me, that is for mature women!
Of course, it is statistics such as this that drives the manufactures’ advertising campaign dollars. It is no wonder that all the anti-aging products, skin care and diet programs are all being advertised using lovely young women and men under 30-years old.
What has driven our society of beautiful young men and women to this point of such low self esteem? There are so many out there who are not happy unless they have the PERFECT, nose, eyes, teeth, breasts and waist size.
The media, manufactures and reality shows are constantly telling young people that they have an image problem…even when they DON’T!
I am not saying that there isn’t an often justified need for plastic surgery, orthodontics and concealing cosmetics….BUT…. let’s get back to what is real. NOT EVERY person needs braces, porcelain veneers, rhinoplasty and the perfect 23-inch waist!
Why is it that fewer women OVER 50 years old are not choosing to have plastic surgery? Is this the age when we realize that aging is inevitable and just maybe we should do it gracefully as life has intended? As our friend Sybil stated a few weeks ago, she likes her patina. VIVA PATINA!
The fact remains, cosmetic surgery IS STILL SURGERY and does not come without risks. The advertising campaigns and reality shows seem to have created a “shopping list of procedures” that many in society want to buy. That is all well and good, but they need to take the responsibility to inform their purchasers that surgery is more involved than, say, buying a new pair of shoes or getting a haircut.
Perhaps this is the reason that women over 50-years old are not choosing cosmetic surgery. We have learned that life and health are far too precious to risk unnecessary surgery.
Cate Blanchett has said she will never have plastic surgery. And Meryl Streep, looking beautifully her age, is still one of the most respected and sought-after actresses in the world. Meanwhile, where is Demi Moore? Where is Meg Ryan? Both in their hey days were among the most highly paid actresses in Hollywood. What has struck me is that the starlet actresses, who resort to cosmetic surgery to retain their youth, don’t have staying power. They complain that there are no juicy roles for older women, but in their minds, juicy roles mean the romantic lead roles appropriate for much younger actresses. However artificially young they look, they don’t look natural and the public ultimately finds it creepy to know an over-40-year old is in the role of a thirty-year old. Would either of them ever get offered anyting like the Miranda Priestly role in the Devil Wears Prada? Meanwhile, we, the public, take our cues from them. Their surgery gives us permission for our own surgery. But the irony is, it doesn’t work out too well for them. They still don’t get the roles they want, and they become irrelevant because they were never particularly respected for their talent. But at least if they have complications, they can afford to pay for it. Not so for most of us.
Comment by Gloria — November 15, 2007 @ 11:17 pm
[…] Pam Noonan-Saraceni created an interesting post today on Women over 50 NOT choosing plastic surgery!.Here’s a short outline:“ Almost 3/4 of cosmetic surgery is done on patients UNDER 50 years old.” This was a finding taken from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and comprehensive surveys conducted by Trend Sight Group. … […]
Pingback by www.allcosmeticsadvice.info » Women over 50 NOT choosing plastic surgery! — November 16, 2007 @ 6:22 am
Absolutely right, Pam! I recently saw an advertisement for a Botox-like injectable and the tag line was: “Express Yourself”. The model was lovely looking but we all know that with Botox injections, expressing yourself with facial movement is impossible. Didn’t the manufacturers or the ad agency get the irony? Clearly they don’t “get it.”
It’s time for us all to wake up and “get it” and I don’t mean Botox!
Comment by Sybil — November 16, 2007 @ 11:36 am
By the time women reach 50 - 55, the majority “get” that their power comes from Self and changing their outward appearance in an admittedly dangerous way, doesn’t make sense.
http://www.womenetcetera.com
Comment by Rebecca F — December 10, 2007 @ 11:22 am