TikTok face: It’s a thing. What started with a virtual obsession with filters has evolved into a real-life fixation with minimally invasive “tweakments”—and the zoomers (those succeeding Millennials and preceding Generation Alpha) are all over it.
According to the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) 75% of facial plastic surgeons reported a spike in demand from clients under 30, and 79% agree that looking better in selfies continues to trend upward. Botox, fillers, microneedling, and chemical peels top the list of requested in-office procedures. As for low-downtime surgeries, or tweakments, lip lips and blepharoplasties reign supreme.
To that end, lip lifts, a new category for the 2021 survey, were up 3% in 2022; at least 73% of AAFPRS members performed lip lifts in 2022 versus 70% in 2021. As facemasks continue to become less and less prevalent, this intel doesn’t really come as a surprise. The trendy procedure aims to remove some skin under the nose to shorten the skin of the upper lip, overall increasing the amount of visible pink lip. By removing this excess upper lip skin, it shortens the upper lip skin and everts the upper lip which results in a more youthful appearance.
“We have seen more and more patients requesting lip lifts, to be performed as an isolated procedure, or in conjunction with other cosmetic surgery,” says Theda C. Kontis, MD, facial plastic surgeon and president of the AAFPRS.
Another selfie-boosting procedure, the blepharoplasty, a.k.a. eye lid surgery has seen an upward climb in popularity. “Upper blepharoplasty removes the excess skin above the eyelid, reducing that hooded appearance that can occur naturally with age, while lower blepharoplasty targets the fat pads below the eye, restoring a smoother, more youthful look,” adds Kontis. “Both are relatively minor procedures that lend themselves to tremendous patient satisfaction.”
Men and women often request this procedure to look less tired. Recovery is about one week, but it can be as little as one to two days for those working from home.
And while pre-juvenation and low-to-no downtime reign supreme for Gen Z-ers, 78% of AAFPRS members believe there will be a greater emphasis on earlier maintenance and age prevention starting in the 20s-30s to forestall bigger procedures and surgeries for later down the road. In fact, this year’s survey indicates that surgical procedure activity sees significant increase.
With any tweakments, Kontis reminds all patients to select a physician based on their qualifications. Credentials, knowledge, and experience have always been important when it comes to choosing a board-certified facial plastic surgeon, she says.
