Coming & Going

Coming: The Millennials

The latest statistics from the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) suggest that the average age of plastic surgery patients is skewing younger and younger. In 2015, 64 percent of surveyed facial plastic surgeons reported an uptick in cosmetic surgery or injectable treatments among patients younger than 30.

The meteoric rise of selfies, selfie sticks, and social media may be at play. Today's images can't just be ripped up, thrown away, or left undeveloped. Growing numbers of people—especially millennials—are seeing themselves from all angles across multiple social platforms, which can encourage self-awareness, introspection, and possibly self-improvement in the form of plastic surgery.

By and large, cosmetic surgery is less about anti-aging and more about enhancement or maintenance for the millennial patient. Other trends spotted in the new AAFPRS report include the desire for natural-looking rhinoplasty results and eyelid procedures to look less tired.

Going: Facial Implants

This same AAFPRS survey suggests that facial implants were among the least commonly performed procedures in 2015. While certain types of implants—such as the ‘chinplant' as well as those used in facial reconstruction—will always have an important place in a surgeon's toolbox, the advent of site-specific, longer-lasting soft tissue fillers may be pushing some types of facial implants out of the limelight. For example, Juvederm Voluma is approved for mid-face rejuvenation, and can ostensibly recreate cheekbones that last up to 18 months. Radiesse and Restylane Lyft, while not specifically FDA approved for mid-face volumization, are also popular for augmentation of the cheeks. The less invasive nature of injectables, as compared to facial implant surgery, may also be appealing to many. Still, it's possible that an uptick in cases of “filler fatigue” could push facial implants back into the “Coming” section in the future. Stay tuned.