The SoCal Cosmetic Network

Anti-Aging Seniors opt for Cosmetic Surgery Procedures to keep young

09.08.2010 – Many senior citizens today are using all the anti-aging remedies they can conjure up to stay young and healthy, even if that means undergoing various cosmetic plastic surgery procedures.

Take for instance, Barbara Paonessa, in her late 60s, a Gulfport resident who works out three times a week, takes piano lessons and volunteers at St. Anthony’s Hospital gift shop.

She claims to feel great. But some while back, friends of hers were telling her that she looked tired. And she didn’t like the way her chin was starting to droop.

So, she underwent an eye lift, and about five years ago, she underwent cosmetic surgery, known as a chin augmentation, in order to tighten up her chin.

“It gives you a nice feeling when you’re looking as good as you can look,” said Paonessa, 75.

Some plastic surgeons say their practices are continually growing with patients like Paonessa, men and women 65 and over who want to look as young as they can for as long as they can.

“People are living longer. In many cases, they’re living healthier, and they don’t perceive themselves as being old or older,” said Paonessa’s doctor, St. Petersburg plastic and reconstructive surgeon Lawrence B. Savitsky.

However, as people get older, they tend to have more health problems than those younger than them, and often take more medications. Those factors can make any cosmetic plastic surgery more risky for the patient.

“In this and all age groups it’s imperative that a patient understands that cosmetic surgery is not a quick fix,” said Sheldon J. Sevinor, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon who has offices in Boston and Miami. “This is serious surgery. They must understand the potential risks and complications.”

Some Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Stats…

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. In 2009, about 7 percent of cosmetic procedures were performed on people 65 and older, as the biggest group is 35 to 50-year-olds.

However, cosmetic surgery after the age of 65 has increased nearly six-fold since 1997, to more than 675,000 procedures just last year. Facelifts and cosmetic eye lifts are the most popular cosmetic procedures in this age group, yet these figures are tiny, when compared to less invasive (and less expensive) injectable cosmetic treatments, such as Botox.

Many plastic surgeons will weigh the risks with the reward for elderly patients, especially those who would inquire about a breast augmentation, breast reduction, or breast lift. Since there are a lot of high quality cosmetic plastic surgeons that will refuse to perform a cosmetic surgery procedure on a patient who is in their 70s or 80s, especially if there is not a serious health related reason for it.

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, in 2009, less than 2 percent of breast lifts, augmentations and reductions were performed on women 65 and older.

For facial cosmetic procedures such as an eye lift, face lift, or neck lift, elderly patients may be encouraged to try natural, antioxidant, and active ingredient skin care products, such as Chamonix Skin Care, who is noted to produce the best skin care products, while offering great anti-aging creams for women.

If you are a senior citizen or know of a family member or friend of those ages, do you feel they should undergo a plastic surgery procedure or first try more of the notable best anti-aging creams for a month or so before undergoing surgery?

Some of the great information in this article was used from a recent story published by Lorri Helfand of the St. Petersburg Times.

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