This past week, the news cycle contained headlines screaming, “72 Is the New 30.” To be honest when I became aware of these stories, my first reaction was, “Yeah, right.” I thought this had to be yet another “news story” written by some angst-ridden forty-something bemoaning their age instead of reveling in the fact they are still alive! Then, after delving further into the topic, I realized the articles actually contained interesting information about the evolution of life expectancy. Apparently, the odds of a 72 year old dying today are about the same as what they were for a 30 year old 200,000 years ago.
Ok, so we all seem to have the possibility of living a very long time, and that possibility brings an entirely new set of challenges and opportunities. One of the first issues I thought about is that if you live longer, you’ll probably be in the workplace longer. What can you do to keep putting your best image forward…well, make that your best face forward? We all know the importance of nurturing your soul, following your passions, adhering to a healthy diet, exercising, minimizing sun exposure, getting enough sleep, surrounding yourself with upbeat and positive people…well you get the idea. No matter your routine, what can be done if you feel the aging process has not been kind to you? Perhaps availing yourself of minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures might be the answer.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS, 2/19/2013), more than 13 million minimally-invasive procedures were performed in 2012. In other words, lots of us are getting facial tune-ups done! What exactly are these “tune-ups”? Some procedures that are used include BOTOX injections, injections of soft tissue fillers, chemical peels, laser hair removal, and microdermabrasion. All of these procedures should only be performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon (read my earlier blog about this) who also is an expert injector. (Did you even know there is such a thing as an ‘expert injector’?)
“All ExpertInjectorsTM are board-certified plastic surgeons, facial plastic surgeons, dermatologists and oculoplastic surgeons who have demonstrated extreme due diligence in regards to patient safety, reliable results and consumer education. ExpertInjectorsTM are properly qualified to perform injectable procedures and only administer products that are FDA approved for aesthetic use.” (http://www.expertinjector.org/)
If you have interest in any procedures of this type, always do your homework, and only consult a board-certified plastic surgeon who is also an ExpertInjectorTM, such as Dr. Anthony Tran of Arlington, TX.
And, by the way… enjoy your new 30s!