Becca Pospisil
The passage of time is both inevitable and inescapable, and both are qualities that can make the process of aging feel daunting. Throughout years of laughing, crying, and experiencing a vast and plentiful range of emotions, it is no secret that the evidence of a well lived-life will be left on one’s face; the experiences that are gained and the life that is lived will be solidified by the time-stamp of wrinkles and smile lines. The relationship people have with the physicality of aging has never been deemed very positive and the use of plastic surgery to mend insecurity is no innovation. Whether it be through media influences that embellish the never-ending youth of Hollywood and fame or through marketing plots and strategies that can disguise any thousand-dollar procedure as a “must have” and “easy fix,” cosmetic surgery has been utilized to counteract signs of aging for many years.
While the presence of plastic surgery has stayed constant since its popularization in the 80s and 90s, its reputation and standing have taken on many shapes and forms. From its beginning as an aesthetic luxury that could only have been afforded by the rich and famous, to the transformation into a trashy and tasteless alternative only utilized by those vain and self-absorbed, the culture surrounding it has stayed fluid and changing. Whether it be positive or negative, people’s views on cosmetic procedures are often polarizing. Regardless of these strong opinions, it has been difficult to determine if its effects and impacts are overtly harmful or beneficial and consequently has become a gray area. In recent years, cosmetic surgeries have surged in popularity with Generation Z. This spike that surgeons have reported seeing has been cause for concern amongst many parents, doctors, and mental health professionals, who fear children are not capable of understanding the gravity of such permanent decisions. The question of whether or not this influx in plastic surgery amongst younger generations should be an incentive for worry has been broached by the public for some time now, and with so many factors to consider, it will not be easily answered.
The U.S. steadily holds the title of country with the most plastic surgeries performed, with no signs of its trajectory changing soon. Over the last four years, an increase of 41.3% in plastic surgeries has been reported (ISAPS 2023). In 2022 alone, 14.9 million surgeries were performed. The statistics alone are surprising but are even more so when compared with the rate of surgeries performed a decade or two ago. Since the year 2000, cosmetic procedures have increased by a rate of 115% (ASPS 2016). With numbers so noticeably and abnormally high, the question of “why” is simple, but left unanswered. What is the root cause of such alarming statistics? While it is nearly impossible to deduce such a broad and complicated question into one concise answer, there is a shared variable that is present in many of Gen Z’s lives that may allow us to find the connection: Social media influence.
Gen Z can navigate the internet better than any other generation. They grew up immersed and highly literate in it. As they’ve grown up and evolved, not only has the internet followed, but more specifically, social media. With its never-ending exposure, social media is an inescapable influence in current-day teens’ lives. They see how many likes their friends get on their posts, they follow the trends their algorithm assigns them, and they wait to get the latest updates on celebrity feuds. Whether the content they see is sought after or not, teens are surrounded and influenced by social media. Since social media’s presence in Gen Z’s life is so prevalent and unwavering, many are desensitized to the content they view due to the overwhelming amount they consume daily. Plastic surgery is a topic that social media capitalizes on showcasing. From influencers vlogging their recovery from tummy tucks to surgeons turning to social media to promote their services, cosmetic surgery remains present online. There is no issue with it being displayed and discussed publicly. For some, it can be validating to see others who have had the same experiences and procedures, while others can utilize the online forum to become safely informed about a surgery they have been thinking about getting done. The danger occurs when the topics can become harmful when the discussion is not approached correctly.
Many physicians and mental health experts believe plastic surgery can restore one’s quality of life (Peterson 2023). According to the Cleveland Clinic, plastic surgery can enhance self-esteem and one’s body image which often inherently improves quality of life (Cleveland Clinic 2022). How a person feels about themself can affect the way they navigate through the world – confidence can determine how they interact with their environment in terms of social interaction or comfortability with their peers (Centerstone 2023). For many of those who’ve had cosmetic surgery performed, it often can be regarded as life-changing, sometimes even life-saving. Many surgeons have turned to social media teams to try and expand their clientele in a method that appeals to the younger generation. In this modern marketing tactic, overly positive or biased language is often used to try and increase revenue, which has negative effects. Surgeons who perform cosmetic procedures or influencers who have undergone them have a tendency on social media to speak of individual experiences as if they are objective, using phrases such as a “must have” and “easy” surgery, or portraying them in similar ways that minimize the gravity of surgery or connote that they are necessary to achieve some sort of standard. Not only can this language harm teenagers with preexisting insecurities by solidifying a societal expectation or standard, but it also can inspire the creation of new ones by bringing attention to “problems” that some were not aware of, such as “unattractive” face shapes or nose sizes.
Gen Z social media users do not shy away from sharing their commentary on the influx of plastic surgeries being performed amongst their peers. Some hold the view that it can be used as a tool to empower — to mend lifelong insecurities and increase confidence, while others argue it is not fixing a problem, but rather perpetuating it. For those severely susceptible to insecurity, even after having cosmetic surgery performed, it’s been reported many patients are either left still unsatisfied, or that it created symptoms of depression, self-destruction, and social isolation (Castle et al. 2004). While these procedures can improve the quality of life for some, they can leave damaging long-term effects when the feeling of discontentment with oneself never leaves. The issue with attempting to eliminate insecurity with surgery lies within the fact that self-esteem is a complicated thing to heal; unlike a broken bone, it is not something that can be mended with one corrective surgery. While physical attributes affect and influence low self-esteem, its real foundation is the mental aspect, something that takes time and effort to tackle – time that a teenager has yet to experience. Using such a permanent bandaid on something one hasn’t had time to heal can be an incentive for new issues and insecurities to form later on.
There will never be one definitive way to make living with insecurities as a teenager easier because there will always be a list of reasons why they can find a million things to dislike in the mirror. Because of this, the teenage years can be difficult to move through gracefully. The spike of plastic surgery being performed or wanted by Gen Z is not a reflection of poor decision-making or a marker of increased self-obsession, but an indicator that there exist many negative influences that surround teenagers daily. This is all the more reason to use compassion when trying to understand issues that seem frivolous or self-indulgent to someone who has had time to figure themself out. The issue is not plastic surgery, but the root of wanting it.
Becca Pospisil is a sophomore and the Chief Analyst for Valley Unveiled. She plays girls flag football and is involved in student interact club and French club. Becca is passionate about writing and plans to pursue it as a career. When not at school, she enjoys reading, playing guitar, and listening to music.
References
ASPS. 2016. “New Statistics Reflect the Changing Face of Plastic Surgery.” February 25. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/press-releases/new-statistics-reflect-the-changing-face-of-plastic-surgery.
Castle, David J; Honigman, Roberta J; Phillips, Katharine A. 2004. “A Review of Psychosocial Outcomes for Patients Seeking Cosmetic Surgery.” Plastic Reconstructive Surgery, April 1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1762095/.
Centerstone. 2023. “Body Image: Effects and Representation.” Accessed November 30. https://centerstone.org/our-resources/health-wellness/body-image-effects-and-representation/#:~:text=Poor%20body%20image%20can%20cause,for%20inti.
Cleveland Clinic. 2022. “Plastic Surgery.” August 17. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/23999-plastic-and-reconstructive-surgery. ISAPS. 2023. “ISAPS INTERNATIONAL SURVEY ON AESTHETIC/COSMETIC PROCEDURES performed in 2022.” September 1. https://www.isaps.org/discover/about-isaps/global-statistics/reports-and-press-releases/global-survey-2022-full-report-and-press-releases/#:~:text=The%20report%20shows%20a%20continuing,in%20the%20last%20four%20years.
Peterson, Kayla. 2023. “Inner beauty meets outer confidence: The connection between mental health and cosmetic procedures for young women.” ASPS, July 5. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/articles/inner-beauty-meets-outer-confidence-the-connection-between-mental-health-and-cosmetic-procedures-for-young-women#:~:text=Researchers%20have%20also%20found%20that,in%20their%20quality%20of%20life.
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