A fascinating study published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal in May 2012 revealed womens changing perceptions of facial features as they age.

Facial aesthetic treatments, and facial plastic surgery procedures are among the most popular around the world, but why do so many women want to change what they see in the mirror? And what features do they most like or dislike about their faces?

The fascinating study led by a group of Turkish researchers sought to understand womens motivations for changing their facial appearance with facial plastic surgery. “We wanted to better understand why patients desire to alter their facial features. What is it that leads them to seek so-called perfection?” said lead author Billur Sezgin, MD, of Gazi University in Ankara, Turkey.

Two hundred women presenting to a cosmetic surgery outpatient clinic for consultation) were asked which part of their face they focused on most when they look in the mirror, which part they noticed most in the faces of other women, what they liked/disliked most about their own face, and whether they wished to change any facial feature. The study revealed that women focused on the areas of their face that they disliked the most, leading to a desire to change those features. In addition, as women aged, the feature they focused on most changed. The women also indicated that, regardless of their own age, they generally focused on the facial features of women in their 20s and 30s where they perceived their own flaws, but did not focus on those features when looking at older women.

The study revealed the following information:

Terrific 20’s

Among women in their 20s, the nose and skin are the primary features that women focus on most and most desire to change, making rhinoplasty and facial aesthetic treatments popular in this age band.

Flirty 30’s and Naughty 40’s

The study revealed that facial skin and the skin area around the eyes (periorbital region) were the main areas of concern for women in their 30s and 40s, making skin tightening and lifting treatments popular, as well as facial plastic surgery such as blepharoplasty and facelifts popular.

Nifty 50’s

For women in their 50s, the periorbital region and jawline were the primary facial focal points, making skin tightening treatments,and facial plastic surgery such as facelift surgery, necklift surgery, and eyelid surgery popular in this age band.

Will women ever be happy with what they see in the mirror?

It seems that no matter what age a woman is, the relationship with the mirror that women have seems to one of constant striving for happiness and satsifaction, but we will ever find it? According to Billur Sezgin, MD, it seems unlikely: he concludes “We found that many women are not at peace with what they see in the mirror. When women look in the mirror, they primarily focus on the parts of their face they most dislike or desire to change. Not surprisingly, this dissatisfaction is the strongest motivator for seeking facial aesthetic treatments”.

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), women in the U.S. had nearly 8.4 million cosmetic procedures performed in 2011, a large percentage of which involved the face. Facial plastic surgery does not seem set to decline in popularity, for it seems as long as there will be mirrors in the world, there will always be a need for facial plastic surgeons.

Sources & Credits: American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Aesthetic Surgery Journal in May 2012