Posted by Laurence Weider on December 27, 2014
Older adults interested in enhancing their appearance can take comfort in recent findings that cosmetic surgery poses no greater risk for seniors than it does for younger patients. A study published in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery journal highlights the safety of cosmetic procedures for patients over the age of 65, demonstrating that age alone does not significantly increase the likelihood of postoperative complications.
Study Overview and Findings
The study, titled Safety of Cosmetic Procedures in Elderly and Octogenarian Patients, analyzed data from 2008 to 2013 to compare complication rates across different age groups. Key findings include:
- Younger Patients: Postoperative complication rate of 1.84% (mean age 39.2 years).
- Seniors (65+ years): Postoperative complication rate of 1.94% (mean age 69.1 years).
- Octogenarians (80+ years): Postoperative complication rate of 2.2%.
These minor differences in complication rates were deemed statistically insignificant, indicating that older adults can safely undergo cosmetic surgery when performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon.
Risk Factors in Older Patients
While seniors carried greater risk factors compared to younger patients, these did not translate to higher complication rates:
- Higher Body Mass Index (BMI): Seniors had a higher average BMI than younger patients.
- Increased Diabetes Incidence: Diabetes was more prevalent among seniors (5.7%) compared to younger patients (1.6%).
- Reduced Smoking Rates: Seniors were less likely to smoke, a factor that positively influences surgical outcomes.
Types of Procedures and Complication Rates
Older patients were more likely to undergo facial cosmetic procedures, with 62.9% of seniors opting for such surgeries compared to 12% of younger patients. The study found that most cosmetic procedures had similar safety outcomes across age groups. However, abdominoplasty showed a slightly higher complication rate for seniors (5.4%) compared to younger patients (3.9%).
The most common postoperative complications among seniors included:
- Hematoma
- Infection
- Wound healing issues
Conclusion
This study provides strong evidence that seniors can safely pursue cosmetic procedures with complication rates comparable to those of younger patients. Ensuring the surgery is performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon is critical to achieving the best outcomes. Older adults considering cosmetic surgery should feel reassured by these findings and are encouraged to consult with qualified professionals to discuss their individual health and aesthetic goals.
For cosmetic surgery in Dallas, Texas, visit board-certified breast augmentation and plastic surgery expert Dr. Laurence Weider at Weider Plastic Surgery.
Dr. Weider, a native of Southern California, is a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon who has maintained a private practice in Dallas, TX since 1999. After attending Stanford University, he obtained his medical degree (M.D.) from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. He then completed a one year surgical internship in Los Angeles at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, followed by a four year general surgery residency in Dallas at Methodist Medical Center, and a two year plastic surgery fellowship in Cleveland at Case Western Reserve University.
