The CPSA say more Australians are choosing to have cosmetic procedures at a younger age.
While many may say they’re happy to age gracefully, more than 75 per cent of Australians surveyed by the CPSA (Cosmetic Physicians Society of Australasia) think it is okay to have non-surgical aesthetic treatments for premature ageing, and 64 per cent say they worry about looking old.*
The survey also found 11 per cent, or 2.5 million Australians, say they’ve had some form of anti-ageing aesthetic procedure, including anti-wrinkle injections. The most common treatments are microdermabrasion, laser or IPL hair removal, chemical peels and anti-wrinkle treatments, with 55 per cent of respondents spending $1,000 on these procedures in the last year.
With the increasing acceptance of aesthetic medicine in Australia, there is also a growing trend of patients in their twenties seeking non-surgical aesthetic treatments. The CPSA says judicious use with an experienced medical practitioner can reduce the first signs of ageing. The 2013 CPSA survey found 28 per cent of those who had anti-ageing aesthetic treatments were aged between 18-29 years old and included procedures such as anti-wrinkle injections, dermal fillers and laser or IPL skin rejuvenation.
Dr Susan Austin, spokesperson for the CPSA said: “There is evidence to suggest starting judicious aesthetic treatments such as anti-wrinkle injections or dermal fillers early can delay wrinkles and other signs of ageing.”
According to Dr Austin, Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, with Australians being four times more likely to develop a skin cancer than any other form of cancer**: “Because of our outdoor lifestyle, we’re also prone to looking much older than our international counterparts, I estimate about 15 years older than Northern Europeans or Americans who experience less sun exposure in childhood. It’s important for patients to realise to prevent signs of premature ageing they need to avoid sun damage; using an appropriate sunscreen daily and covering up outdoors.”
Interestingly, the CPSA survey found approximately 1.3 million Australians (6 per cent of respondents) had undergone a nonsurgical treatment – a non-invasive aesthetic procedure or one which may slightly break the skin (for example anti-wrinkle injections). Unsurprisingly, women made up the majority (79 per cent).
The CPSA says advances in technology and the efficacy of non-surgical treatments has helped fuel their popularity. Now patients can expect greater outcomes with relatively little downtime, meaning they can return to their everyday life soon after the procedure.
Visit www.cosmeticphysicians.org.au for further information.
*NineRewards survey of 1,020 Australians, commissioned by the Cosmetic Physicians Society of Australasia, May 2013
** Australian Government Department of Health & Ageing, http://www.skincancer.gov.au/internet/skincancer/publishing.nsf/content/fact-2