Why Cosmetic Procedures Are This Generation’s Most Complex Beauty Debate

The statistics are wild when you really look at them. 

Botox injections in people 19 and younger increased by 9 per cent between 2022 and 2023! A growing number of people under 30 are now getting cosmetic procedures, including fillers and Botox, and 64% of plastic surgeons report seeing a dramatic increase in patients under 30 requesting treatments. 

No, we’re not talking about people fixing major issues. We’re talking about college students getting “preventative” Botox before they have a single line on their face.

This shift toward preventative procedures has probably sparked one of the most complicated beauty debates of our time. 

And honestly, both sides have valid points.

This isn’t about judging anyone’s choices. It’s about understanding why young people are making them, and whether those choices are truly free.

Let’s Look At The Numbers

Over 9 million Botox treatments were administered globally in 2022, representing a 26.1% increase in just one year. 

But, you know what’s really interesting? 2.2 million of those treatments went to millennials and Gen Z aged 18 to 34, who are proactively preventing fine lines instead of waiting for them to turn into deep wrinkles.

The shift is dramatic. 

15% of Gen Z adults say they’ve had cosmetic surgery, with similar numbers getting Botox (14%) and fillers (14%). These aren’t people fixing problems, they’re people preventing problems they don’t yet have.

Is that smart? Unnecessary? Who knows? 

The Empowerment Argument Makes Sense

The best way to navigate a debate is by approaching the topic with an open mind, listening to both sides and above all, respecting opinions that differ from yours. 

So, why does this trend exist in the first place? 

When people say cosmetic procedures are empowering, they have a point. Your body is yours to modify however you want, whether that’s through makeup, hair colour, tattoos, or injectables.

For many, these procedures genuinely improve quality of life. 

They feel more confident, more comfortable in photos, happier with their reflection. In a world that’s obsessed with Instagram and sharing their ‘happening’ life, that’s got to count for something, right? 

The technology is safer and more accessible than ever before. “Baby Botox”, smaller amounts for subtle results, lets people enhance their features without dramatic changes. When done well, these procedures can look completely natural.

Plus, there’s something to be said for taking control of ageing before it happens. If you know you’re going to get forehead lines, why not prevent them? 

It’s not that different from using sunscreen or retinol. Is it? 

But, that’s Not to Say the Pressure isn’t Real

Okay, here’s where things get complicated. 

Research from Boston University found that following influencers and celebrities on social media made people significantly more likely to want cosmetic procedures, as did following accounts that highlight before-and-after pictures.

The influence is measurable. 

Studies show that 70% of young adult women and 60% of young adult men report body dissatisfaction, leading to increased surgical considerations. This isn’t happening in a vacuum; it’s happening on platforms designed to make us compare ourselves to others.

Social media has fundamentally changed how we see faces. We’re constantly exposed to filtered, edited, and enhanced versions of reality. 79% of facial plastic surgeons now identify patients seeking procedures to look better on video calls. We’re literally trying to look more like our digital selves.

When you’re consuming THAT much social media every single day, do you really expect anything different? 

The Filter Effect is Changing Everything

We’ll be honest with you. Here’s what’s most unsettling: preventive procedures have become all too normal. 

Plastic surgeons report that social media filters are frequently referenced during consultations and are increasing the prevalence of revision surgeries.

Young people are growing up seeing filtered faces as the baseline normal. 

When everyone looks smoothed, contoured, and enhanced online, natural faces start to look wrong by comparison. This creates an impossible standard, trying to achieve through procedures what was never real to begin with.

The psychological impact is huge. 

Up to 15% of people seeking plastic surgery meet diagnostic criteria for body dysmorphic disorder, significantly higher than in the general population. That suggests many procedures aren’t happening for healthy reasons.

Are Our Celebrities to Blame? 

Perhaps the most frustrating aspect is celebrity dishonesty. 

Stars dramatically change their appearance while crediting good genes and expensive skincare. This gaslighting makes people feel inadequate about perfectly normal features.

When celebrities aren’t transparent about their work, it perpetuates the myth that certain beauty standards are naturally achievable. Young people spend years trying to replicate looks that are actually the result of professional interventions.

The irony? 

Honesty often makes celebrities more relatable, not less. 

When they’re upfront about procedures, it normalises both getting work done and choosing not to.

Finding Balance in an Unbalanced World

So where does this leave us? 

The truth is messy. 

Some people will choose procedures and genuinely benefit from them. Others will regret decisions made under social pressure.

The key is approaching these choices with real intention. 

Before any procedure, ask yourself: 

• Am I doing this for me, or because I feel I should? 
• Have I tried addressing my concerns through other means first? 
• Am I prepared for the maintenance, cost, and risks?

Sometimes what feels like a physical problem is better addressed elsewhere. 

The luxury skincare industry has made incredible advances in non-invasive treatments. When approaching beauty and wellness decisions with knowledge and intention, like choosing the right luxury skincare products for long-term skin health, you’re investing in sustainable confidence rather than quick fixes.

The Real Conversation We Should Be Having

While the Hermès Sellier versus Retourne debate seems important (which it is!), the stakes feel higher when we’re talking about permanently altering faces and bodies.

The goal isn’t to shame anyone’s choices. It’s to make sure that those choices are truly free, made from self-love rather than self-doubt, from personal desire rather than external pressure.

We need better media literacy. 

We need celebrity transparency. 

We need honest conversations about what’s driving these decisions.

What Actually Matters?

In 2025, the beauty landscape is more complex than previous generations ever faced. 

We have more options, more information, and unfortunately, more pressure. 

The challenge is navigating this while staying true to ourselves.

There’s no universal right answer. 

Some people will choose procedures and feel genuinely empowered. Others will embrace their natural features and find confidence there. Both paths are valid when chosen freely.

The most attractive thing anyone can wear is confidence in their own skin, whether that skin has had help or not. But that confidence should come from within, not from trying to match an Instagram filter.

What matters most is making choices that feel authentic to you, not influenced by what’s trending or what others expect. In a world full of options, the most revolutionary act might be choosing what genuinely makes you happy, pressure-free.

Because at the end of the day, the face you wake up with every morning should feel like yours, however you choose to define that.