I think GenX (my generation), will be the last generation of Americans to age naturally. I base this on the social acceptance and proliferation of cosmetic surgery, treatments and enhancements I see among Millennials and GenZs.
When I was their age, cosmetic surgery was something we only observed among the ultra-wealthy – specifically celebrity actors and TV personalities. Even then, it was often never discussed. We thought these people were just naturally beautiful, with great genetics and benefitted from professional hair/makeup and lighting (which they did). Later on, it became evident that airbrushing, photo editing, drugs and surgery were commonly used to create unrealistic perfect faces and bodies for magazine shoots, publicity photos, posters, etc.
Now, anyone can do their own photo enhancing with the click of a mouse. Then they can take that image to a cosmetic surgeon and say “I want to look like this.”
Teenagers and young adults in their 20s get botox, laser treatments and surgery to create wrinkle-free faces with plastic looking smooth skin. It seems like everyone online has perfectly veneered, extra-white teeth. I’ve heard many stories of teens and young adults who’ve had nose jobs, lip injections, breast implants, tummy tucks and butt enhancement surgeries.
When I read headlines that show a photo of Jennifer Lopez with the headline “This is the new 50”, I think – No, this is what 50 looks like if you can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars for cosmetic procedures, stylists, trainers, personal chefs, surgeries and treatments.
I used to be amazed by how youthful the professionally good looking people I saw on TV were. Now I know it’s not amazing – it’s what medicine, science and money can do.
When I was a child, 55 looked old. Today people that age dye their hair, get implants, use testosterone, get botox, take hormones, have teeth veneers, have facelifts, etc. If I had to guess, I’d suspect less than 25% of GenXs do all of this, but many do something.
I assume the percentage of Millenials and GenZs) is much higher.
I’m not making a judgment call here. I have my preferences about what I think looks good, what looks odd and what looks freakish. And I will admit, I think most women and men in their 30s-40s, even without enhancements, look more attractive than people my age.
While I doubt I’ll ever do these things, I do sometimes think it would be nice to inject testosterone and get that lean, sculpted, muscular six-pack body I’ve wanted my entire life.
If I was younger, I could easily see myself succumbing to the lure of cosmetic enhancements. After all, if everyone else is doing it, why wouldn’t I? Especially if it is the “new normal”.
Once again, I’m glad to have grown up without the pressure of social media and always being on camera. It makes the reality of aging easier to accept and at times, even embrace.