The Coming Impact of Anti-aging on Plastic Surgery

Abstract

Much of the emphasis in cosmetic plastic surgery is on reversing the effects of aging. As the population lives longer, many patients will want to look better longer and may consider surgery at a more advanced age. Although surgery is the surgeon's main approach to make the patient look young, feel young, and stay young, it alone will not suffice. A comprehensive anti-aging plan that includes an emphasis on mental, emotional, and physical vitality should be incorporated into one's practice. Anti-aging medicine is a comprehensive approach to the treatment of the aging process by multiple disciplines working together. Internists and family physicians have practiced gerontology for many years. Traditionally, they have focused on such diseases and conditions of the elderly as senile dementia, chronic musculoskeletal and neurologic degeneration, and cardiovascular disease. In the last decade, scientists, internists, sports medicine specialists, endocrinologists, chiropractors, and other health care professionals have promoted a preventive view that aging should be addressed in early middle age. This emphasis is not on treating disease, but on excellent nutrition, supplements, genetic testing, maintenance of vigorous exercise routines, and psychosocial nurturing. The latest advances have been more controversial and have included the development of genetic aging “profiles,” chromosomal, hormonal, and enzymatic analysis, and intervention. 1–4 Aesthetic surgery has always been intimately involved with the surgical reversal or amelioration of the effects of aging. The increase in demand for aesthetic surgery and anti-aging treatments has drawn some plastic surgeons into …