Gen Z Attitudes to Plastic Surgery is a 180o Switch From Previous Generations, but That Doesn’t Mean They Aren’t Going in for Procedures.
It’s official: Gen Z (1995-2008) is officially booking their appointments to go under the knife (or needle) for aesthetic procedures. As the first generation to grow up immersed in technology and social media, Gen Z patients arrive at plastic surgeons' offices with a uniquely modern outlook on cosmetic procedures—distinct from that of previous generations. Their exposure to curated online images and influencers has shaped a different attitude towards aesthetic enhancement, making it a normalized and proactive part of self-care.
Gen Z is not only more open and transparent about their cosmetic procedures, but they also tend to aim for results that are subtle and natural. Rather than dramatically altering their appearance, these younger patients focus on enhancing their existing features. For many, the goal is to boost self-confidence rather than vanity. What might have been viewed as minor imperfections in the past are now considered key focus areas for Gen Z, with small, targeted "tweakments" that can make a significant difference in how they feel about themselves.
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Here are some of Gen Z’s trending To-Do’s:
Rhinoplasty & Liquid Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty has always been a reasonably popular procedure and it is no different amongst Gen Z. When #symmetricalface has almost 120K posts on TikTok, the nose, sitting in the centre of the face, is a noticeable target area for many young people.
Historically, rhinoplasties have always been surgical procedures. However, thanks to new developments in facial aesthetics, this no longer has to be the case. Liquid Rhinoplasties, a specialty of Facial Cosmetic Plastic Surgeon Dr. Michael Brandt at FORM Face + Body, use slow dissolving filler to build proportionally, giving the illusion of smaller noses without the hassle of a full surgical procedure.
Non-surgical (liquid) rhinoplasties can add filler to the tip and bridge of the nose to create the ideal nose shape, as well as smaller amounts in other parts of the face to give balanced, proportional results. It’s a great alternative to younger generations dipping their toes in the plastic surgery world or who want to avoid the recovery time of the surgical alternative. The best news: the results are nearly permanent after 2 sessions, and if you ever wanted the results reversed, the process is just as simple! Liquid rhinoplasties also don’t prevent you from going in for a surgical rhinoplasty in the future.
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“Baby Botox”
Gen Z plastic surgery has taken anti-aging to a new level, using aesthetic procedures as preventative measures against the appearance of aging. This is a marked change from previous generations who saw plastic surgery as a way to reverse existing signs of aging. Dubbed “Baby Botox” due to the “baby” dose of the botulinum toxin, the early reduction of fine lines and wrinkles means they are less likely to form into deeper, more troublesome lines in the future. Many influencers have gone public on TikTok to share their experience with #babybotox, citing instantly reduced fine lines and wrinkles, even with these small doses, and that they aren’t left “frozen” as many fear with heavier Botox sessions.
Lip Flip
#lipflip, with tens of thousands of posts, non-surgically gives the appearance of a larger upper lip. It uses Botox to relax the muscles in the upper lip, causing it to flip up. Rather than going for overall bigger lips, trends are showing that proportionality is key and making only the top lip larger can give the overall appearance of fuller lips and facial symmetry.