Here's a great piece that Pam Saraceni-Noonan has written for the "Beauty and the Breast" blog.

-----

I recently read a quote in the November issue of More magazine. " Almost 3/4 of cosmetic surgery is done on patients UNDER 50 years old." This was a finding taken from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and comprehensive surveys conducted by Trend Sight Group.

This statement took me by surprise, as when I think cosmetic surgery, I automatically think "appearance age reduction"

To me, that is for mature women!

Of course, it is statistics such as this that drive the manufactures’ advertizing campaign dollars. It is no wonder that all the beauty anti-aging products, skin care, and diet programs are all being advertized using lovely young women and men under 30 years old.

What has driven our society of beautiful young men and women to this point of such low self esteem ? There are so many out there that are not happy unless they have the PERFECT, nose, eyes, teeth, breasts, and waist size.

The media, manufactures, and reality shows are constantly telling young people that they have an image problem...even when they DON’T !

I am not saying that there isn’t an often justified need for plastic surgery, orthodontics, and concealing cosmetics....BUT.... let’s get back to what is real. NOT EVERY person needs braces, porcelain veneers, rhinoplasty, and the perfect 23 inch waist!

Why is it that fewer women OVER 50 years old are not choosing to have plastic surgery? Is this the age when we realize that aging is inevitable, and just maybe we should do it gracefully as life has intended? As our friend Sybil stated a few weeks ago... she likes her patina.."VIVA PATINA".

The fact remains, cosmetic surgery, IS STILL SURGERY and does not come with out risks.

The advertizing campaigns and reality shows have seemed to create a "shopping list of procedures" that many in society want to buy. That is all well and good...BUT they need to take the responsibility to inform their purchasers that surgery is more involved than say buying a new pair of shoes or getting a haircut.

Perhaps this is the reason that women over 50 years old are not choosing cosmetic surgery. We have learned that life and health are far to precious to risk unnecessary surgery.