Imagine a world where every face looks the same. Perfectly pouty lips, sky-high cheekbones, skin as clear as glass and an uncanny feeling that this person’s face looks familiar. Though this scenario is an exaggeration, the terrifying truth is this reality is not too far-fetched.
Poking, prodding and primping, Gen Z is opting for cosmetic enhancements to perfect their looks; Botox and filler are at the top of many 20-somethings’ wishlists.
The appeal and popularity of Botox injections can be attributed to the fact they, “…give many the real-life look of a social media filter,” said the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
Dr. Alanna Fostyk, a Cleveland-based, board-certified plastic surgeon said Botox has been proven to be preventative, and she sees Gen Z patients in her office selecting this procedure to curb signs of aging.
The massive fear surrounding aging exacerbates the desire for preventative procedures, yet the outcome is not always as intended. Dr. Fostyk said individuals in their 20s have the best skin they will ever have; yet, the full and round faces that accompany youth are viewed as undesirable.
Since the face loses volume with age, creating a slimmer jawline and more defined cheekbones, the addition of Botox and filler mimics the chiseled appearance associated with mature skin and inadvertently ages the face. Ironically, the very thing we fear most–looking older–can be an unintended consequence of the supposed fix: Botox and filler.
Beauty standards are a funny thing—with each generation, people’s perception of what is conventionally attractive changes, but two facts have remained constant: natural beauty is likely never enough and aging is seen as a negative.
The death of natural beauty is not a new concept, as plastic surgery has been on individuals’ radars for decades, but the impact reverberates further in this generation. Since celebrities and influencers are transparent about their enhancements, the stigma has been reduced, with many seeing these procedures as a form of self-care. However, when these small procedures mutate into altering the face completely, problems can arise.
“I feel like plastic surgery’s like a slippery slope of becoming more confident in your own skin versus slowly morphing into a filter and every celebrity… I feel like Gen Z isn’t realizing that beauty isn’t as unique as it used to be.” Dr. Fostyk said.
And yet, the standard for beauty is only rising. Dr. Fostyk also said, “I had a patient bring in a goal photo for breast augmentation, and it looked like the woman was AI. She wasn’t even a real human.” The effects of AI stem beyond privacy concerns and loss of creativity but are actually skewing people’s perceptions of reality and beauty; the aspirational versions of ourselves are slowly becoming less attainable.
When opting for cosmetic enhancements, it is essential to find an injector you can develop a trusting relationship with—one who will say ‘no’ to going overboard—said Liz Cissell, a Washington, D.C.-based aesthetic nurse practitioner. Always setting realistic expectations with her clients, she makes sure procedures will benefit their features.
”Nobody’s perfectly symmetric and some of our asymmetries are what makes us unique,” Cissell said. Symmetry and beauty are not mutually exclusive, no matter how much society has led us to believe this fact as true.
Society has also led us to believe beauty is not natural, but created, and Gen Z has redefined beauty standards to fit this idea. If that means wanting lip filler or Botox to achieve a “your skin, but better” look, so be it.
Still, there is always the risk of entering the “this face looks familiar” territory.
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