Hang out with Gen Z long enough, you’ll be told your language, dress sense, and ideology is just not with the times. In short, you’ll feel old.
But ironically, Gen Z – those born between 1997 to 2012 – are ageing faster, in terms of appearance at least.
That’s according to a cosmetic doctor who has detailed how this younger generation are more interested in surgeries and injectables to alter their look.
But by starting at such a young age, some as early as 18, the doctor said youngsters end up looking much older.
Dr. Ross Perry, medical director at Cosmedics Skin Clinics, said injectables have a noticeable impact, especially if you do it before the age of 26.
He explained how Gen Z were favoring procedures such as fillers and Botox, which is usually popular among older cohorts.
Social media could be one reason why youngsters feel the pressure to look a certain way, said Dr Perry.
‘It is not uncommon to see 18-year-olds with lip filler,’ Dr Perry told the Daily Mail.
’20-year-olds are [getting] Botox and fillers, semi-permanent makeup in the form of eyebrows and lips.’
He added that these ‘combined can make you appear older [and] actually once you start down this route, it’s very hard to go back to being entirely natural, especially when the ‘affirmations’ start on social media.’
Shockingly, it’s not just older Gen Zs getting work done, as those younger than 18 are also opting for injectables.
In 2021, Botox-style injections were banned for under-18s, after government findings estimated that 41,000 treatments had been given to those below that age in 2020.
But that hasn’t dulled its popularity. In 2022, members of the British College of Aesthetic Medicine carried out 315,000 individual procedures of botulinum toxin injections. With around 8% of patients aged 18 to 24, that still equals over 25,000 procedures for that age bracket.
Young people who got these treatments previously explained their reasons for starting so early, including workplace discounts, social media pressures and the instant gratification it comes with.
Emily Ruse, now 25, first got anti-wrinkle injections at the tender age of just 20.
She told Metro.co.uk: ‘I loved the effects of Botox. It has that instant gratification as you only need one treatment to see that it’s having an effect, whereas skin treatments require more time and commitment.
