Even 'babies' are getting Botox now thanks to 'selfie' driving society and new avenues for beauty trends that go viral online
Med spas report a huge jump in younger clientele as social media "selfie" photos and aesthetic trends surge online
(CHANDLER, Ariz.) October 1, 2021 - The fountain of youth is getting even younger these days thanks to social media. While social media continues to be popular with men and women of all age groups, the selfie-obsessed demographic of Gen Z is fueling a powerful boost to the med spa and aesthetics industry by promoting Botox and fillers to an under-30 audience with explosive popularity on TikTok and Instagram.
"Prior to the social media 'selfie' craze, the clientele for Botox and fillers was a bit older and looking to turn back the hands of time by smoothing wrinkles and plumping and filling the face as a result of aging," said Marichu Evans, Founder and CEO of SkinLab Laser, Aesthetics and Wellness in Chandler, Arizona. "Now the clientele is much younger, with patients in their late teens and early 20s looking to sculpt and define their face with a certain look," she said.
Big full lips with crisp borders and eyebrows with defined arches and lifted tails are just some of the specific aesthetic adjustments Gen Z is seeking with Botox and fillers.
"The phone will ring with tons of appointments when a new trend goes viral," Evans said. "We get tons of calls and appointments for the "Russian lip filler technique" which accentuates the cupid's bow to resemble a heart-shape by injecting additional volume and lift into the center of the lips," she said. "The end result is very distinctive and looks like the lips of a doll."
A recent Google study found that about 93 million selfies were taken each day in 2014 on Android phones alone, as cited by Science Daily. Another study indicates that every third photo for 18-24 year-olds representing Generation Z.
While beauty trends change over time, it's clear the 'selfie' isn't going away. In 2013, the Oxford English Dictionary added the word “selfie” to its tome, giving it the distinction of “word of the year.”
With social media and, in particular, selfies continuing to reach their heights of popularity, we continue to live in a world where appearance matters. Using filters and digital photo correction (all from your smartphone), you can brush over those dark circles or laugh lines while making yourself look brighter, smoother, and younger in seconds.
Because of this, Millennials and Gen Z are seeking plastic surgery options earlier than any other generation, making it more the norm rather than a secret of the rich. Younger generations approach such treatments like botox to be preventive, often dubbing the procedure as “baby Botox.”
According to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, in 2018, people under 34 underwent more cosmetic surgery procedures than those in the 51 to 64-year-old age group. And, according to the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, in 2018, 55 percent of patients showed their plastic surgeon or injector a selfie when discussing their medical goals.
"For Gen Z, Botox and filler has become another way to personalize and accessorize your look," Evans said. "Like a hair cut or hair color, injections can quickly and easily change your look without a permanent commitment," Evans said. "As the trends change, young people are the ones leading those trends and influencing the new standard of beauty," she said.
For more information about SkinLab Laser, Aesthetics and Wellness or to request photos or an interview, contact Melissa Rein Lively | Melissa@thebrandconsortium.com or call 602.384.4747.
SkinLab is located at 3160 S. Gilbert Rd. in Chandler. For more information about SkinLab visit www.skinlab.net or call 480.418.6000.
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