“Baby boomers” are individuals born during the post-war years between 1946 and 1964, when conception and delivery rates were at an all-time high. Over the next 20 years, some 76 million baby boomers will reach the age of 65. It comes as no surprise that baby boomer plastic surgery is on the rise.
By the Numbers
According to recent studies from the Pew Research Center, a group dedicated to public opinion polling and demographic research, the average baby boomer feels nine years younger than his or her age. They also note that elective baby boomer plastic surgery climbed 65% in the years following 2005, and that non-invasive procedures like Botox and facial fillers jumped by an astonishing 87% in that same time frame. Why are so many baby boomers seeking plastic surgery? There are several reasons.
The Most Popular Treatments for Baby Boomers
Baby boomer plastic surgery consists of a variety of surgical and non-surgical procedures. The most popular surgical option is the traditional facelift to remove wrinkles and restore the face’s “lifted” appearance. Next comes eyelid lifts to combat droopy eyes. Although many people do not usually associate the nose with aging, the nose does continue to grow all throughout life, so many baby boomers seek rhinoplasty to reduce the size and shape of their noses. The most popular non-surgical options include Botox and dermal fillers like Juvederm or Radiesse.
Baby Boomers are Aging Gracefully
Baby boomer plastic surgery helps individuals reflect on the outside the way they feel on the inside. A vast percentage of baby boomers pay close attention to their overall sense of well-being, and they do this by paying attention to the things they eat, the exercise they get, and even their overall health. Gone are the days when the middle-aged population accepted growing old as a part of life; baby boomers expect a high quality of life well beyond age 65, and they are doing everything they can to get it.
Later Retirement
Another factor that influences the number of baby boomer plastic surgery seekers is the fact that these individuals are working longer than anticipated. Whereas a solid percentage of people retire before age 60 in today’s society, researchers (and the baby boomers themselves) expect that this generation will continue to work well into their 70s and even their 80s. Because of this, they want to “fit in” with their younger coworkers, and they do not want clients or coworkers to doubt their capabilities due to age.
They Are Financially Stable
Baby boomer plastic surgery is elective surgery, which means that insurance companies will not cover it. As such, individuals must shell out hundreds of dollars for non-invasive procedures, or even thousands of dollars (and sometimes tens of thousands of dollars) for surgical procedures. Baby boomers have worked all of their lives and they are financially stable enough to afford plastic surgery. This makes them prime candidates, and it explains why baby boomers seek more plastic surgery than any other demographic out there.
Baby boomer plastic surgery is on the rise, and it all comes down to the way these individuals feel about growing older. They want to embrace their age, make the most of it, and live their lives to the fullest. Plastic surgery reflects this and allows baby boomers to feel more confident as they age.
