Baby Boomers Driving Surge in Plastic Surgery

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that more and more baby boomers are seeking cosmetic surgery, with almost 50,000 more cosmetic procedures performed on Americans 55 and older in 2018 than in 2017, according to U.S. News & World Report . Statistics indicate that 66 percent of all face-lifts are performed on people 55 and older, as are about 50 percent of eyelid surgeries, forehead lifts, and lip augmentations. Plastic surgeon Lyle Leipziger credits healthier lifestyles, including diet and exercise, as drivers of this trend. "These same people are looking in the mirror and they really want to look as good on the outside as they feel on the inside," he says. "They want to look as young as they feel." Leipziger adds that social media and dating apps have helped renew boomers' interest in improving their looks. American Society of Plastic Surgeons President Alan Matarasso suggests a greater number of procedures, and attendant improvements in safety and outcomes, contribute as well.