The United States boasts the most plastic surgeons in the world, but a recent poll found that cosmetic surgery and its results don’t seem to appeal to Gen Z.
The poll, conducted by Redfield & Wilton Strategies for Newsweek, surveyed 2,500 American adults about how each generation believes cosmetic surgery affects appearance, and 9 percent of the adults surveyed have undergone plastic surgery themselves.
When it comes to the impact that cosmetic surgery has on appearance, Gen Z (18-26 year olds) take a different stance than older generations, with almost two-fifths (38%) saying they feel cosmetic surgery makes them “less attractive”.
The younger generation’s preference for “natural is best” likely stems from the acceptance of previous generations: 35% of millennials (ages 27-42) agreed that cosmetic surgery makes people “less attractive.” This percentage drops significantly for those ages 43-58, known as Gen Xers (26%), and those aged 59 and over, the Baby Boomers and Silent Generations (23%).
“Gen Z believes in proactive aging, not anti-aging,” Dr. Sabika Karim, an award-winning beauty expert and mother of two Gen Zers, told Newsweek .
“The reasons for this appear to be multifactorial. They’ve grown up in a world where social media is omnipresent, and with that comes pressure to look good all the time. When they post, they’re being more real than millennials and Gen Xers, and they don’t want a very curated interaction on social media, so rather than using fake filters, they’re putting on treatments, so they don’t need filters.”
The survey also found that half of Gen X respondents believe that cosmetic surgery has no effect on a person’s attractiveness, despite the fact that it affects physical characteristics. Gen Z and Millennials share similar views on this point (36% and 38%, respectively), with Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation falling in between (46%).
Karim highlighted how Gen Z has unique experiences and perspectives, having grown up with social media and constant access to information: “Social media has normalised anti-ageing treatments and brought them into the mainstream. Gen Z doesn’t feel taboo when talking about injectables, which are a type of non-surgical cosmetic procedure.”
“They also truly understand this phenomenon of ‘active aging,’ which means they’re willing to devote time, effort and money to regenerative and preventative treatments, from aggressive skin care to injectables like botulinum toxin and polynucleotides, in order to continue drinking from the fountain of youth. And with all the information at their fingertips, Gen Z is more informed than ever before.”
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons’ 2023 surgery statistics further highlighted that when it comes to plastic surgery, Gen Z’s priorities are in line with older age groups, with facelifts, facial fat transfers, and brow lifts being sought after by this age group.
This age group also benefits from living in a more technologically advanced era, reducing the need for surgery: The number of 20-29 year-olds undergoing non-invasive procedures is set to increase by 5.5% from 2022 onwards, according to the report, a trend that Karim’s own experience reflects.
“Although younger generations are actively embracing aging, my experience (and statistics) suggest that they tend to view surgery as too extreme and therefore less appealing,” she says. “This could be because they prefer safer, less extreme, minimally invasive procedures, or it could simply be that they don’t need dramatic results yet.”
“In my nearly 20 years of experience, I’ve met so many people who say they’ll never consider fillers or a facelift, until they find themselves needing them,” Karim adds.
Do you agree with Gen Z’s attitude toward cosmetic surgery? Let us know in the comments or at life@newsweek.com.
Illustration: In a recent survey, 38% of Gen Z respondents believe cosmetic surgery makes them “less attractive.” Illustration: In a recent survey, 38% of Gen Z respondents believe cosmetic surgery makes them “less attractive.” Photo Illustration: Newsweek/Getty
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom, seeking common ground and finding connections.
