As the baby-boom generation reaches its 40s and beyond, plastic surgeons stand ready, offering a variety of procedures to rejuvenate aging faces. In 1998 alone, more than 434,000 Americans, primarily women, underwent facial cosmetic surgery. But while cosmetic surgery may make you look 10 or 20 years younger, the procedures are not cheap, are not generally covered by medical insurance, and are not appropriate for everyone. Most importantly, cosmetic plastic surgery is major surgery that carries a variety of health risks and offers no guarantee of success. Natural Skin Aging Over time, the epidermis, or outer layer of skin, gradually thins out and loses a portion of its melanin-producing cells.
Melanin is a pigment that provides a measure of natural protection from UV radiation.
An abundance of melanin is why people of color tend to develop wrinkles much later in life compared with light-skinned people. In some older people, melanin clumps to form brown age spots. Meanwhile, the dermis, or the skin's fibrous inner layer, thins out over time, losing its ability to resist gravity and snap back after being stretched. The fat layer beneath the cheeks also thins out during the natural aging process, while other pockets of fat may form in the jowls and beneath the chin. Types of Facial Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Cosmetic surgery can only turn back the clock, not stop it.