Ageism, or discrimination against people based on their age, harms older persons, especially women. Because of their aged look, older persons may face employment discrimination or social rejection. The stress of experiencing and expecting age-based discrimination and rejection raises the likelihood of psychological discomfort and physical health issues such as dysregulated cortisol levels and other chronic disease risk factors. We spoke with Dr. Mariam Awada about how cosmetic operations are getting more popular among the older generation.
As a Presidential Scholar, Dr. Awada earned a dual Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry in 1994. She subsequently graduated first in her medical school class in 1998 and was admitted into Alpha Omega Alpha, the National Medical Honor Organization. In 2003, she became the first woman to graduate from and finish the combined General Surgery and Plastic Surgery Residency at Dallas’s world-renowned University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
She became a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in 2004, an AAAASF Expert Certified in Outpatient Surgery in 2005, and has spent her whole career conducting outpatient cosmetic surgery. She has written chapters on cosmetic surgery and patient education books on inner beauty, breast health, and breast augmentation success.
She is a World Health Organization Global Healthcare Standards specialist for FDA-designated patient safety; she has many MIT Certifications in strategic innovation in healthcare, including the most current MIT Blockchain Certification. She was certified by the Blockchain Council and now works on global healthcare blockchain development for the Hyperledger Health Care Interest Group to enhance healthcare safety, efficacy, efficiency, and economics worldwide. Her background and experience make her one of the best in her field to consult with about the rise in cosmetic surgery.
It is not by chance that the number of injectable botulinum toxin treatments has surged by more than 800% since 2000. According to recent research, the rise in cosmetic surgery and treatments is being spurred by age discrimination. According to a study published in the July edition of the Aesthetic Surgery Journal, many cosmetic surgery patients reported getting anti-aging operations due to age discrimination or fear of age discrimination.
More than one-third of poll respondents stated they had faced age discrimination. They reported considerably worse self-rated health, worse self-esteem, and a higher likelihood of future age discrimination. The stress of experiencing and expecting age-based discrimination and rejection, according to the research, raises the possibility of psychological discomfort and may lead to physical health issues.
About 36% of those who reported age discrimination stated it happened in an interpersonal setting when friends, family, and colleagues alienated them, were taunted or criticized or had negative assumptions about them because of their age. Approximately 20% of participants reported workplace age discrimination; they were dismissed or refused a job or promotion because of their age. Participants who were not married or living with a partner feared age-based discrimination.
The researchers hypothesized that one of the primary reasons survey participants sought cosmetic procedures was to seem and feel younger, implying a disassociation with one’s “older identity” and a failure to accept the aging process. The report advises physicians and cosmetic treatment providers to educate patients “who may be concerned about potential age discrimination about realistic expectations from cosmetic procedures to make them seem younger.”
Though aging is unavoidable, some individuals struggle to cope with the changes of becoming older. If you are concerned about your health, have difficulty feeling good about aging, or are worried that you are not aging correctly, you can get treatment. Speak with someone you can rely on, such as a family member or close friend. A doctor or a counselor may also provide professional assistance.
Being well and happy is more important than keeping wrinkles at bay when aging gracefully. Maintain a healthy lifestyle, spend time with people you care about, and do activities that make you happy. It’s normal to be concerned about the obstacles that aging might bring, so don’t be afraid to express your worries to someone.
The capacity to find significance and pleasure in life is an essential component in the recipe for healthy aging. Your life will change as you age, and you will gradually lose things that formerly filled your time and gave your life meaning. For example, your employer may change, you may ultimately retire, your children may leave home, or other friends and family members may relocate far away. However, now is not the time to stop going ahead. If you let it, older life may be a period of thrilling new experiences.
Dr. Mariam Awada
https://www.michigancosmeticsurgery.com