everyday living Who Needs A Fountain Of Youth? Cosmetic Surgery Does The Trick March 12, 2012 Written By: BreastImplants.org Published On March 12, 2012 Surprise, Surprise! Do we need a scientific study to tell us that cosmetic surgery can make us appear a little younger? Yes, we do! Many women choose cosmetic surgery in their pursuit of the fountain of youth, but many surgeons also hesitate to tell their patients just how much younger they may appear. Instead they speak more tentatively about creating a “more youthful and more refreshed” appearance—in part because it is so important for surgeons and patients to establish realistic expectations for the results of the surgery. In this field, surgeons rely heavily on patient satisfaction to judge the success of a procedure. Please Read This: What Will I Look Like? Women Want Answers Before Undergoing Cancer Treatment A new study published in February 2012 in the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery set out to quantify just how many years cosmetic surgery can erase. For the study, researchers collected 60 before and after photos of men and women between the ages of 45 and 72 who had undergone some type of cosmetic surgery. One group of patients had facelifts and neck lifts, the second group also had upper and lower eyelid surgery, and the third group had facelifts, neck lifts, eyelid surgery, and forehead lifts. A group of 40 volunteer first-year medical students then viewed the pictures and estimated the ages of each patient. Overall, the viewers guessed that the patients were 1.7 years younger than they actually were prior to the surgery. They estimated that the patients were 8.9 years younger than their true age after the surgery. The more surgeries a patient had, the younger they tended to look. Patients who had only had facelifts appeared about 5.7 years younger, whereas patients who had undergone all three types of procedures appeared 8.4 years younger. A drawback of the study is that all of the patients had been operated on by only one surgeon. We can only assume that further studies involving more surgeons and a greater variety of procedures will be forthcoming. Looking Good, Feeling Good One plastic surgeon explained that having multiple, subtle cosmetic procedures makes a more dramatic impact because it creates tiny differences all over the face, instead of in just one area. The authors of the study concluded that even though cosmetic surgeries are not considered medically essential, they help to satisfy an inborn longing to remain young and attractive. Thus, they can have a powerfully positive effect on one’s psychological and social well-being. You Might Like This: Why Home Breast Exams Matter Although this study did not address breast implants or breast lifts, women frequently choose these procedures in an effort to maintain a youthful appearance. After all, firm perky breasts are associated with youth, while soft, droopy breasts are the fate of older women. What this study does show is that observers tend to accurately guess the ages of patients who have not had cosmetic surgery, and they are statistically inclined to misjudge the age of patients who have had cosmetic surgery (just as we suspected!). Moreover, unlike facial plastic surgery, breast lifts and implants also give women the confidence they need to wear younger clothing and swimwear styles—an added bonus! Recommended Articles procedures Pig Skin Grafts For Reconstruction everyday living What Breast Cancer Patients Should Know About Yoga everyday living Natural Breast Enhancement Supplements: Risks And Rewards everyday living Anatomy Of The Breasts everyday living Should Teens Be Augmenting Their Breasts? Most Searched Questions What size is right for me? How much does breast augmentation cost? What should I ask my plastic surgeon? How do I find a plastic surgeon? Tags: everyday living post-surgery appearance results youthful Comments Learn More: Nipple Piercings Before And After Breast Augmentation Surgery Exercises And Massage After Breast Augmentation Tattoos Do's And Don'ts Post Surgery: Pros And Cons Of Taking Antibiotics For Dental Work The Sounds Your Implants Will Make Anesthesia Explained