Anti-Aging Cosmetic Surgery

By Chelsea Lu Dec. 10, 2025

At 28 years old, Canadian beauty influencer Emily Cipryk underwent a face lift, lip lift and rhinoplasty, all in the hopes of enhancing her features and maintaining her youth. Yet, Emily’s case is not rare; in fact, she is part of the quickly growing group of patients under the age of 30 undergoing anti-aging cosmetic surgery.  

Prejuvenation, or the act of preventing aging before symptoms appear, rose to fame in the early 2000s following technological advancements in aesthetic treatments and growing pressure from social media to have a picture-perfect face and figure. In particular, filters and unrealistic beauty standards have led to negative impacts on body image, as reported by the National Library of Medicine. Popular treatments include Botox, dermal fillers, microneedling, lasers and medical grade skincare. However, in recent years, anti-aging plastic surgery has gained traction, as many want more permanent effects, a trend supported by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, which found that 75% of facial plastic surgeons saw a spike in demand from clients under 30. Now, popular procedures include facelifts, eyelid surgeries and neck lifts, with the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reporting the average cost of a facelift being roughly $12,000. 

Surgeons have also spoken out over the disadvantages of operating at a young age. California surgeon Dr. Carl Truesdale explains that there may be a higher probability of repeated operations to maintain the desired look, as well as a higher risk of skin trauma and nerve and muscle damage. Patients may also be more physiologically vulnerable to beauty standards and online pressures—per Psychology Today, over 70% of young adult women are unhappy with their bodies, correlating with the rise of social media.

“Getting cosmetic surgery at a young age is unnecessary, as it will only create more complications when someone gets older. If it is not done well,  it might backfire and end up looking worse. Personally, I would not consider cosmetic surgery until I see signs of aging,” Sophomore Julia Kline said. 

Helen Ruan art

The boom in the cosmetic surgery market has also led to a practice known as ghost surgery, in which a surgeon that the patient believes will perform the surgery is replaced with a usually inexperienced assistant. Driven by the financial incentive, surgeons schedule overlapping surgeries, though still for the same price, making it physically impossible to personally operate all patients for the full duration. Thus, a ghost surgeon is brought in to complete the procedures. Often, the patient is not aware that they are being operated on by a ghost surgeon, leading to a breach in trust and a loss of credibility for clinics. According to CNN, this illegal practice is especially rampant in cosmetic surgery hotspots like South Korea, where weak law regulations allow it to fly under the radar in many clinics and hospitals. Having a ghost surgeon also leads to an increased risk of infections, surgical and anesthesia errors, and in some cases death, as the surgeon may not be fully trained or experienced.  

“Although I have never heard of it happening, ghost surgery seems really unethical since the surgeons are giving their patients false promises. It shows a dishonesty in their work ethic, and if the surgeon cannot do the surgery they should at least let their patients know,” Junior Saachi Basavaraju said.  

In an effort to lower the cases of ghost surgery, South Korean lawmakers have now mandated cameras in operating rooms for patients under general anesthesia to promote accountability. Ghost surgeons that are caught will receive fines, have their license revoked and may serve prison time of up to five years, as per The New York Times.  

As cosmetic surgery grows increasingly popular among the younger generation, patients are strongly advised to conduct thorough research beforehand on risks, side effects and the possibility of ghost surgery. For now, the trend illustrates how far some are willing to go to look young. 

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 About the Contributors

Chelsea Lu

entertainment & feature school page editor

Chelsea Lu is a sophomore at Leland High School and the Entertainment and Feature School page editor. She likes to bake, read, and watch movies in her bed.

Helen Ruan

artist

Helen Ruan is a junior at Leland High School. She contributes to journalism as an artist. In her free time, she focuses on painting and developing new artistic skills. Beyond art, she enjoys reading manga and playing video games.