The face of plastic surgery is changing. Right now, someone between the ages of 18 and 34 is statistically more likely to get plastic surgery than someone over the age of 55.

Millennial-aged people are starting to be the main target market for plastic surgeons. Right now, people at the oldest end of the generation are about to celebrate their 40th birthday. This means that they're starting to see the signs of age showing up, while they also have the financial resources to get the procedures.

However, most Millennial-aged patients are trying to stay ahead of the aging process and calling their procedures pre-emptive work.

Will Generation Z do the same?

How Many Generation Zers are Getting Plastic Surgery Right Now?

According to 2019's statistics from The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the 20-29 age group accounted for about 16% of all plastic surgeries performed that year.

Here's how the rest of the procedures were distributed:

  • 30-39: 24%
  • 40-54: 34%
  • 55 and over: 23%

Interestingly enough, the men in this age group are absolutely dominating the numbers in a few categories. For example, men under 30 got 50% of all pectoral implant procedures in 2019. They also accounted for 35% of all gynecomastia (breast reduction for men) procedures.

Meanwhile, women under 30 got 29% of all breast augmentation surgeries, and 13% of all implant removal procedures.

Looking into the Future

It's hard to forecast how these numbers are going to play out over the next few years.

First of all, the plastic surgery industry is experiencing a major boom right now during the COVID crisis, as clinics across the country are reporting a 60% increase in business. It's not clear which age groups are driving that, but it's likely a relatively even spread.

Second of all, one of the driving forces behind the Millennial generation being the fastest-growing demographic is the impact that technology can have. We're now able to see what our faces can look like touched up slightly through Instagram and Snapchat filters.

Someone from Generation X or older would have gone to a plastic surgeon with a picture of a celebrity in a magazine and said, "I want to look like this." Today's more tech-savvy consumer goes to a plastic surgeon with a filtered picture of themselves on their phone and says, "I want to look like this."

Gen Z will have the same ability to manage expectations and it will be interesting to see how they use it.

Changing Attitudes Towards Plastic Surgery

Society, as a whole, has shifted its attitude towards plastic surgery in a major way recently. During the COVID-19 crisis, The ASPS surveyed 1000 people that had never undergone plastic surgery. They found that 49% of respondents were open to getting their first plastic surgery.

But if we go back a few years to 2014, a similar survey found that only 17% of respondents would consider their first surgery, and 49% were completely opposed to the idea.

It's hard to say how Gen Z's numbers will play out over time. However, changing attitudes and evolving technology will certainly play a major role.