I know it’s all relative, but I find it so fascinating to hear what other people consider to be old. The perspective of someone turning 23 is so different to someone turning 35, or someone turning 91 – the entertainment factor never gets old (so to speak).
That’s why I found it so interesting to discover the latest statistics from the Cosmetic Physicians Society of Australasia’s annual cosmetic medicine survey, which identified a growing trend of Australians in their 20s opting for cosmetic and non-surgical treatments to prevent ageing.
The survey found that 11 per cent of Australians (2.5 million) have had some form of anti-ageing aesthetic procedure. Of those, 28 per cent were aged between 18 and 29, undergoing procedures including anti-wrinkle injections, dermal fillers and laser or IPL skin rejuvenation. Unsurprisingly, the survey also found that 64 per cent of Australians say they worry about looking old.
These stats seem to me like a startlingly high number of people think they’re old and are undergoing quite serious procedures in an attempt to counteract the effects of ageing.
Dr Susan Austin, spokesperson for the CPSA, offers up some explanation for the figures, saying: Because of our outdoor lifestyle, we’re prone to looking much older than our Northern European or American counterparts who experience less sun exposure in childhood. It’s important for patients to realise that to prevent signs of premature ageing they need to avoid sun damage, which means using an appropriate sunscreen daily and covering up when outdoors,” Austin says.
So there you have it people – save on potential treatment costs by staying sun smart. Or, you could try my trick to staying young – hang out with people older than you so no matter what, you always feel youthful by comparison.
