Selfies to scalpels: Gen Z leads the way in India's cosmetic surgery boom

Face and body sculpting procedures are on the rise among young adults According to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery liposuction was the most popular cosmetic surgical procedure in 2021 with more than 19 million procedures and a 248 per cent increase overtaking breast augmentation by a substantial marginA growing fascination for plastic surgery has taken over Gen Z and millennials Amongst all the women who opted for breast implants in 2022 70 per cent of them fell in the age group of 21 to 30 informs Dr Varun Dixit the plastic surgeon at P D Hinduja Hospital and Medical Research Center Khar Mumbai Additionally 50 per cent of the total female chunk opting for rhinoplasty and liposuction also fell in the same age bracketIt brings us to the question why are young adults choosing to undergo the knife Citybased cosmetic dermatologist Dr Rashmi Shetty from Ra Skin amp Aesthetics shares ldquoWith sculpted looks hijacking universal beauty standards young adults are giving in to the temptation of cosmetic surgeries to enhance their appearancerdquoWhy is cosmetic surgery booming among young adults We are constantly under the tight lens of selfscrutiny Medical research reveals that a majority of women are unhappy with the size of their breasts and almost 47 per cent of them wanted larger breasts for a more proportionate body Alternatively India ranked fourth in the world with 800000 rhinoplasty surgeries performed annually Rhinoplasty addresses issues such as a prominent hump on the nose a drooping or bulbous tip a crooked nose or asymmetryCitybased textile designer Sabrina name changed informs Midday about her experience with breast augmentation I was 22 when I signed up for a lsquoboobjobrsquo With an Acup and a strong pear shape ndash big butt heavy thighs tiny waist I was tired of feeling undeveloped like a woman in a childs body I was tired of not filling out dresses and bathing suits This gave me a major insecurity and I wanted to feel more proportionedldquoPost the surgery I have a renewed confidence I am now a large D cup and they fit right on my frame giving me a more balanced figure It was never to impress anyone else but just to enhance my appearancerdquo It qualifies for mention that breast augmentation remains the most common surgical procedure for women as per the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeryA striking phenomenon known as ldquoLockdown Facerdquo found its place in the glossary of cosmetic surgeries It refers to how people were forced to see themselves on laptop screens in online video conferences during the lockdown imposed by Covid19 The more they stared the more they became aware of fine lines asymmetrical features sagging skin etc This led to an unprecedented spike of 200 per cent cases seeking facial transformations worldwide Globally surgeons began to address this rise as a ldquoZoom boomrdquoThis need to attain aesthetic facial and bodily appearance is further fuelled by public figures People in showbiz resort to surgical knives capitulating to the evergrowing pressure on appearance as well as personal beauty choices With millions of followers the onslaught of social media moulds Gen Z and millennialsrsquo attitudes to reassess their looks and align them with globally accepted beauty standardsThe renowned cosmetic surgeon from the UK Julian De Silva used a digital facemapping technique ndash Golden Ratio theory to identify the facial symmetry of popular female figures Post his calculations Bella Hadid the iconic American supermodel emerged at the top with 943 per cent facial symmetry He crowned her for being the most beautiful woman in the world However it must be mentioned that the symmetry partially arose from rhinoplasty nasal bone correction which Bella underwent at the age of 14 along with Buccal Fat Removal noninvasive surgery to remove cheek fatThis rising focus on facial symmetry is also fuelled by aesthetic culture Gen Z has an affinity for aesthetics says Mumbaibased image consultant ndash Saumya Jain Because this generation struggles a lot with identity appearance plays a big role in how they perceive themselves Associating with a certain set of lsquoaestheticsrsquo may induce a sense of belonging which can further enhance their confidence Additionally opting for cosmetic surgeries helps them correct perceived flaws and boost selfesteemGen Z embraces cosmetic surgery for selfexpression and identity Younger adults also place great importance on selfexpression and individuality For some individuals plastic surgery can be seen as a form of selfexpression or a way to align their physical appearance with their inner identity It allows them to shape their bodies in a way that they feel represents their authentic selves adds JainCosmetic surgery procedures have become more accessible and acceptable throughout the world In South Korea it is common for parents to gift their children a blepharoplasty as a graduation gift Blepharoplasty is a cosmetic surgery meant to remove excess skin from the eyelids One study found that 80 per cent of job recruiters in South Korea cited that physical appearance was an important factor in screening candidatesOnce in a while Shetty receives mothers who approach her clinic with teens as young as 13 seeking dermal fillers in their lips chin and cheeks ldquoHowever what these mothers request me to do is advise their teens against it For a while I used to put my foot down and just say no But teens are known to want what they want and if not me they would seek it elsewhere which has led me to spend more time correcting themrdquo Gen Z and millennials are seeking higher cheekbones hollow midcheeks and a longer chin adds ShettyThe taboo around cosmetic surgery Cosmetic surgery can be a topic that is surrounded by various societal taboos and stigmas Indian society has often associated surgical beauty enhancements with vanity and unrealistic beauty standards More stigmas include issues of selfacceptance and concerns about safety and ethics But the question arises how legitimate is the taboo around plastic surgeryDr Yash Mehta a facial plastic surgeon who practices at Bandra opines that selfinvestment and better awareness among Gen Z and millennials is turning cosmetic surgery more acceptable in Indian society Social taboos are evolving as beauty transparency carves its niche in the wellness industry Also rising financial independence among young adults is enabling them to challenge traditional beauty norms and redefine their own standards of attractivenessNow rising is a generation that is renewed fabulous and unapologetic about going under the knife Dr Nilesh G Satbhai the plastic surgeon from Global Hospital Mumbai echoes that this generation is hyperaware of their deepseated traumas selfimage issues and is willing to work on their shortcomings ldquoWith surgical expertise and medical safety increasing the millennials and Gen Z wants to make the most of this opportunity and get their demands metrdquoTackling the taboo around cosmetic surgery is now easier than before It is no longer a shameful secret or a lsquohushhushrsquo affair that was once associated with celebrities only A better understanding of the procedures and more predictable outcomes have enabled common people to seek beauty implants And if it gives one the agency to develop body confidence and enables selfexpression who is society to veto this personal choiceCosmetic surgery is here to stay herersquos why Cosmetologist and surgeon Dr Debraj Shome says that cosmetic surgeries will become affordable in the future and more people will be able to attain it in a costeffective manner Advancements in technology and surgical techniques is enhancing the demand of cosmetic surgeries A wider range of noninvasive procedures like fillers botox and even plastic surgeries are already affordable less invasive and more socially acceptedIncreasing popularity of newer procedures like body contouring after massive weight loss female genital cosmetic surgery and face sculpting have sparked a surge in the number of people seeking those transformations informs Dixit This democratization of cosmetic surgeries will contribute to Gen Zs increased interest in and willingness to undergo plastic surgeryIn India the cost of a nose job can range between Rs 70000 to Rs 150000 The price of breast augmentation ranges between INR 75000 to INR 250000 The average cost of liposuction in India ranges between INR 50000 to INR 200000What needs to be noted is that the average cost of any cosmetic surgical treatment or procedure in India is 1012 times lesser than in the West This gives rise to medical tourism in IndiaIndia A hotspot for cosmetic surgery According to the National Institute of Health the medical tourism industry was expected to grow at an astronomical 200 per cent touching a corpus of Rs 900 crore by 2020 Hair transplant is estimated to be a 700 crore rupees business in India already India is becoming the desired destination for cosmetic surgery informs DixitThe standard of medical treatment in India is increasing rapidly Indian doctors are delivering competent results at a much more affordable cost and more predictable outcomes Organisations like the Association of Plastic Surgeons of India are fostering and coordinating training in plastic surgery advising both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programs for plastic surgery in IndiaThe cosmetic surgery market is booming in India says Shome ldquoIn India we have skilled expertise quality ethical clinical practices reliable morphing technology and better infrastructure to help one achieve the desired lookrdquo With support from strong and stable national policies cosmetic treatments in India will further become more affordableWhat are the medical advancements needed for smoother cosmetic surgeries Advances in instrumentation safer medications and the influence of AI will have a great impact on the way we practice shares Satbhai It is important for the treating surgeons to upgrade and educate themselves and also affiliate with the authorised medical bodies in order to practice ethical medicineDixit mentions that the availability of medicines that would facilitate and accelerate healing would be a gamechanger However he admits that it is too futuristic Another important advancement in this field would be better scar management especially measures to control increased pigmentation in scars He also opines that professional training for cosmetic surgery should start right in the medical college at graduation levelWhile Mehta believes that more research in stem cells advances in AI are required to pave the way for smoother cosmetic surgeries additionally constant refinement in terms of instruments used and holistic approaches in the recovery process like following antiinflammatory and antioxidant diets hyperbaric oxygen chambers etc will also help in improvising the practiceAlso Read Celebrity makeup artists share effective eye makeup tips to amp up your look