Dr. Joseph Michaels sees patients of all ages at his Bethesda plastic surgery office. Recent demographic changes in the United States are causing an increase in the number of older adults who are interested in cosmetic surgery. This subset of the population continues to grow, and cultural views on aging are also changing. Many older adults have active and healthy lifestyles, and they are increasingly seeking out cosmetic surgery to help them look as young as they feel. In this post, Dr. Joseph Michaels examines whether or not there is an age limit for plastic surgery.
The Risk of Surgical Complications in Older Adults
A recent study sought to determine whether older adults had a higher incidence of postoperative complications from elective plastic surgery than younger patients. The study reviewed 183,914 cosmetic procedures, including 6,786 that were performed on patients age 65 and older. The study found that the overall postoperative complication rate was not significantly different between older and younger patients. What’s even more interesting is that the complication rate for patients age 80 and older was also not significantly different from the younger population.
Health Matters More Than Age
Patients must still be screened carefully before undergoing any cosmetic procedure. A patient’s age does not disqualify them from being a good candidate for plastic surgery, but age does increase the risk of many health issues. You should talk to an experienced plastic surgeon about your health history and desired procedure to determine if you are healthy enough to undergo surgery.
Look as Young as You Feel
You don’t have to look, or act, your age. Advancements in science are allowing older adults to maintain good health and live longer than ever before. They also want to look younger. In fact, older adults are the largest growing group of cosmetic surgery by age category. If you’re curious about cosmetic enhancement, but thought you were too old, you may want to think again.
Learn More about Cosmetic Surgery
To find out if you are a good candidate for cosmetic surgery, schedule a consultation at Michaels Aesthetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery. Dr. Michaels will carefully examine your health history and answer all of your questions about cosmetic enhancement. Schedule your consultation by calling our Bethesda office at (301) 468-5991 or our Fairfax office at (703) 957-8610.
