By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    benefits of using protein powder to build muscles
    Protein Powder for Muscle Mass: Everything You Need to Know
    December 12, 2021
    changes brought on by blockchain in healthcare
    Technology In The Healthcare Industry
    March 28, 2022
    What Does Core Body Temperature Say About Health?
    August 17, 2022
    Latest News
    Managing Your Health After a Worksite Accident
    December 8, 2023
    Biohazard Cleanup: The Importance of Proper Disposal and Containment
    December 2, 2023
    Medicare Helps Seniors, and People with Disabilities & ESRD
    November 27, 2023
    The Link Between Allergies and Sinusitis & Strategies for Relief
    November 27, 2023
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Thermalin Diabetes Follows the “Coulter Process” And Addresses Significant Needs in the Insulin Market
    December 27, 2011
    Will Power is Biological
    January 14, 2012
    Why Pilot Programs are a Waste of Time and Money
    August 26, 2017
    Latest News
    Automation in Pharmacovigilance: A Double-Edged Sword
    November 15, 2023
    What Does Science Say About Modern Health Practices?
    November 12, 2023
    Harnessing the Power of Email Marketing in Healthcare
    October 26, 2023
    10 Proven Strategies to Level Up Your Health Business
    October 25, 2023
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Health Benefits and Risks of Anti-Aging Hacks for Young Adults
Share
Sign In
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Specialties > Skin > Health Benefits and Risks of Anti-Aging Hacks for Young Adults
SkinSpecialties

Health Benefits and Risks of Anti-Aging Hacks for Young Adults

Preventive aging tips can help our mental health, but there are also risks that need to be addressed.

Amanda Glassman
Last updated: 2023/10/23 at 10:07 PM
Amanda Glassman
Share
9 Min Read
cosmetic health benefits
Shutterstock Licensed Photo - 1717814998 | MikhalchukStudio
SHARE

Many people don’t think of cosmetic surgeries or other beauty hacks as being important for our health. These things are often considered superficial aspects of our lives that have little bearing on our well-being. However, there are actually a number of reasons that cosmetic beauty tips, such as preventative aging can be good for our overall health.

Contents
Prevention or Problem?Keep Young and BeautifulWhat Changed?Age-Old Fears, New ProblemsWhat’s Behind the Fear?Mirror, MirrorAnti-Anti-Aging(Don’t) Smile for the CameraCaring for Young MindsAsking the Important Questions

We talked about how beauty jobs are helpful for mental health. The biggest benefit is that they help our mental health, since we will feel more confident and can be more successful. Let’s face it, many people judge us by our looks, which can affect many areas of our lives such as dating and career prospects. This will inevitably impact our mental health.

However, there are precautions that we need to take. Cosmetic procedures don’t have to harm our health, but some will. You need to be smart about using them.

The last decade or so has seen many changes, not just globally, but also in terms of technology. In particular, advancements in social media such as beauty filters have had both negative and positive effects on the way people perceive their personal appearance, and approaches to undergoing procedures like cosmetic surgery.

In contrast to the various body positivity and body neutrality movements seen on social media there has also been increased exposure to hyper-realistic images of idealized beauty. While many users are able to view these (often heavily edited) images with a degree of discretion,  much in the same way photoshopped images used to be; they can still lead to unhealthy comparison and potential body issues.

Prevention or Problem?

One key aspect to this has been the way in which the beauty industry has cornered the market for “preventative” anti aging treatments in young people. However, cosmetic surgeons like Dr. Byun at Chicago Cosmetic Surgery argues treatments at this age are not necessarily a good idea,

Speaking to PR Newswire in 2019, the doctor warned that early and frequent use of procedures like filler and botox could lead to problems later on such as deflation of the skin due to dissolved fillers and fatty packets forming under the eyes as the result of fat grafts.

Keep Young and Beautiful

While this was said in reference to millenials, Gen Z have now become the latest targets in preventative anti-aging marketing. As the primary users of social media, gen z now are being exposed to this type of advertising in a way that previous generations were not.

The reasons for this are complex and multifaceted. Besides increased exposure to idealized  and unrealistic images, there has also been a noticeable shift in attitudes towards aging and death, despite age-positive creators on social media attempting to counter this.

What Changed?

While this was true for young people in 2016 (research from Mintel found that 57% of US Millennials were afraid to grow old.), since 2020 the nature of this issue has altered drastically due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which for many exacerbated pre-existing fears about death, illness and aging – particularly in younger generations who felt they lost the opportunity to feel carefree.

While millenials are frequently labeled with “Peter Pan syndrome” (or an unwillingness to grow up), the fears expressed by gen z about growing older revealed the truth behind what some might dismiss as a case of arrested development: namely a fear of sickness and the ways in which time appeared to be passing ever-more rapidly.

Age-Old Fears, New Problems

Many of these insecurities are the type that teenagers and young people have had across the generations: feeling out of control with life, sadness about leaving childhood behind and fears of becoming older (in addition to intergenerational conflicts) have always been a part of growing up, but as times and technology have changed, these fears have become more apparent.

Attitudes towards aging have been encapsulated by the use of AI filters on social media designed to make faces appear older. Some users react positively, describing their resemblance to a lost grandparent or their hopes for the future, while others express fear and even disgust.

What’s Behind the Fear?

Some argue that the current obsession with aging on social media amongst millenials and gen z has to do with underrepresentation – but the truth is more nuanced: in the case of content curation platforms like Tiktok, users are less likely to see them if they are only interacting with other people in their age bracket.

The majority of fears stem from uncertainty and a lack of available information (in this case gerascophobia, or the fear of aging) was precipitated by assumptions and stereotypes in place of potentially reassuring advice from older generations about the realities of getting older. 

Mirror, Mirror

Ideally, the decision on whether to get cosmetic surgery should be down to the individual, not driven by pressure to conform or marketing ploys that prey on people’s insecurities, many of which relate to long standing societal issues.

While social media is frequently referred to as a mirror, its more recent effects also reflect societal issues contributing to ageism, including the message that a woman’s personal value and attractiveness equates to youth.

Anti-Anti-Aging

The term “anti-aging” is something of a contradiction. Nothing can permanently reverse the aging process, despite the many claims made by cosmetics companies over the years. Some brands have since removed the “anti-aging” label from their products, including The Body Shop, in stark contrast to the advice once given by founder Anita Roddick, who suggested not smiling as a way to prevent wrinkles.

(Don’t) Smile for the Camera

The trend for remaining expressionless in the name of beauty has resurfaced on social media amongst users attempting to maintain smooth and youthful skin. Other strange (and potentially health-hazardous) suggestions appear, from taping one’s mouth shut to drinking from “anti-wrinkle” straws. 

However, the backlash has already begun: in the form of “core-core” compilation TikToks of viral “skinfluencers” (often soundtracked with music from horror movies to highlight the more disturbing aspects of body fixation), but also in ways intended to raise a wrinkle-inducing smile, like the “pro-aging” videos where content creators purposefully grimace and purse their lips to drink from ordinary straws.

Caring for Young Minds

For many, cosmetic surgery in young people is a contentious issue. While some argue it can help to improve self esteem, others have concerns over the potential effects on young developing bodies and unqualified surgeons offering surgical procedures at a cheap price to teens on low incomes, in addition to possible regrets about getting the surgery

The latter can be attributed to a lack of awareness about the mental and emotional aftereffects on young people. Where some see a way to directly address the issue, it doesn’t take into account any of the potential underlying issues that may be hiding under the surface.

Asking the Important Questions

As more people were confronted with images of themselves, age-old questions surrounding beauty and self-perception were also being scrutinized, such as: if we do get cosmetic surgery, is it truly for ourselves, or to conform to current beauty standards?

Arguably, this is what the decision to get cosmetic surgery hinges on: whether it’s born of a desire to alter one’s physical appearance because it feels beneficial, or whether it could be an attempt to address underlying issues that would be better addressed by a therapist, rather than a surgeon.

TAGGED: beauty, mental health

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Amanda Glassman October 23, 2023 October 23, 2023
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Copy Link Print
Share
By Amanda Glassman
As a healthcare blogger and author, I have been writing about the latest developments in the medical field for over 10 years. My work has been featured on various online publications, including Healthline and WebMD. I am passionate about educating people on how to stay healthy through proper nutrition and exercise practices. In addition to my blog posts, I have also authored several books that focus on health topics such as dieting tips, disease prevention strategies, and mental health awareness initiatives. My goal is to provide readers with reliable information so they can make informed decisions regarding their well-being.
Previous Article dental implant Achieve a Perfect Smile With All-on-4 Dentistry
Next Article healthy diet after car accident Nutrient and Diet Choices for Car Accident Recovery

Stay Connected

1.5k Followers Like
4.5k Followers Follow
2.8k Followers Pin
136k Subscribers Subscribe

Latest News

Managing Your Health After a Worksite Accident
Managing Your Health After a Worksite Accident
Health December 8, 2023
How to Plan for a Dental Implant Procedure
How to Plan for a Dental Implant Procedure
Dental health December 8, 2023
weight loss
The Key Steps For Affective Weight Loss And Improving Health
Weight Loss Wellness December 6, 2023
Empowering Wellness: HBOT for Home Use Demystified
Empowering Wellness: HBOT for Home Use Demystified
Wellness December 5, 2023

You Might also Like

How to Plan for a Dental Implant Procedure
Dental health

How to Plan for a Dental Implant Procedure

December 8, 2023
Invasive Dentistry
Dental healthSpecialties

Precision And Comfort: The Role Of Lasers In Minimally Invasive Dentistry

December 4, 2023
sublingual immunotherapy
AllergySpecialties

Sublingual Immunotherapy: A Safe and Effective Alternative to Allergy Shots

December 2, 2023
allergies and sinusitis
Health

The Link Between Allergies and Sinusitis & Strategies for Relief

November 27, 2023
Subscribe

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

Follow US
© 2008-2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?