The desire to put your best face forward doesn’t end as you get older. And, experts agree that if you are considering facial cosmetic surgery over ‘a certain age,’ your overall health is a more important consideration than your age.
More septuagenarians, octogenarians and even nonagenarians undergo facial procedures in order to subtract a decade or two from their face. In fact, according to The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, over the past ten years, plastic surgery among retirees has increases by 80%.
The most popular procedures among this age group are facelifts, eyelid surgery and liposuction. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, in 2010 there were a total of 84,685 surgical procedures among patients age 65 and older. Among these were 26,635 face-lifts; 24,783 cosmetic eyelid operations; 6,469 liposuctions; 5,874 breast reductions; 3,875 forehead lifts; 3,339 breast lifts and 2,414 breast augmentations.
“Mature men and women tend to be most interested in eliminating wrinkles and sagging skin,” explains Dr. Jay Dutton, Midwest Facial Plastic Center. “My older patients usually have facelifts, forehead lifts or eyelid surgery.” Facelifts are popular because they remove deep lines around the nose, mouth and eyes and helps to contour the lower jaw. Eyelid surgery (also called blepharoplasty) removes the excess tissue and skin of the upper eyelids, which gives the eyes a rejuvenated appearance.
And, for healthy patients, cosmetic surgery is still safe when you are older. According to a recent study presented at a meeting of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, older men and women who undergo cosmetic procedures have complications at a rate no different than their younger counterparts. And data reviewed over five years from the CosmetAssure database showed that postoperative complications among the elderly occurred at a rate of 1.94 percent as compared to a 1.84 percent rate among younger patients.
Older patients, like any patient, should undergo certain medical examinations before operation, including a routine check-up. For a patient over 50, it may be helpful to rule out any clotting disorders and to have a medical clearance, which can include a chest x-ray and an EKG.
Jane Fonda, 77, who has been very open about her numerous facial procedures, says she knows why she has continued to succeed as she grows older: “because I look good for my age…there are a lot of older actors who are perfectly relevant; it’s just harder if you are an older woman,” according to an interview she conducted with Stuff.co.nz.
“As long as the patient is healthy, I absolutely support and admire older patients who want to have a facial procedure,” explains Dr. Dutton. “Age does not change the fact that people want to look and feel beautiful as long as they can.”
If you are interested in exploring facial plastic surgery options, please contact Dr. Jay Dutton, Midwest Facial Plastic Center, at 630-574-08222 or visit www.rhinochicago.com.
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