It’s just like the old saying goes: “Get a diploma, then get liposuction.”
A new car, a summer abroad or maybe even a Macbook might have served as perfectly acceptable fancy-kid graduation gifts in years past, but that’s no longer cutting it in the age of Jenners and lip fillers. The latest grad gift trend is a bit more… corporeal. Millennials are now celebrating important academic milestones by getting cosmetic procedures.
According to RealSelf, an online forum dedicated to reviews and research on cosmetic treatments, graduation is becoming a prime occasion for plastic surgery. “About one in three women who have undergone at least one cosmetic treatment were motivated to pursue work due to a major life milestone,” reports RealSelf. But while birthdays ranked as the number-one most popular milestone cited among older age groups, for a younger demographic, that milestone was graduation day.
“Graduation is a popular time for these kinds of gifts because it gives graduates an opportunity to enter the next phase of their life looking on the outside how they see themselves on the inside,” says Dr. Dara Liotta, a plastic surgeon in New York City who is affiliated with RealSelf. “It’s a perfect time to allow for healing and transformation before going on to college, graduate school or a new job so they can enter this new arena looking and feeling their best and most confident selves. They also have the downtime after graduation for recovery.”
Liotta does note that she tends to approach procedures for younger patients a bit differently than she might for middle-aged ones. “I think that the younger the patient is, the more easily they are influenced by those around them, and it is easier to have their insecurities rule their decision-making,” she explains. In other words, she’s not oblivious to the fact that the Kardashians, Jenners, Victoria’s Secret models and social media in general have had an impact on the way young people approach their appearance and the concept of cosmetic surgery. “I am always very conscientious, during my consultations, about determining why patients feel that they want to have cosmetic procedures or surgery…. Choosing a cosmetic surgery or procedure should be empowering, and a decision that is made by the patient for themselves, rather than a decision they feel forced into.”
So, what procedures are these young grads getting? Surprisingly, lip fillers don’t rank among the top treatments. More commonly, recent graduates are opting for liposuction and breast implants, says Dr. David Shafer, also a New York City plastic surgeon who works with RealSelf. But some grads are looking for less surgical options. “For noninvasive [treatments], parents like to gift skin-care packages, like laser, which is great for acne-prone skin in this age group,” he adds, noting that still other parents simply buy a gift certificate and allow the grad to pick out their own cosmetic treatments.
It’s just like the old saying goes: “Get a diploma, then get liposuction.” Youths, amirite?
Frequently Asked Questions
Cosmetic procedures are becoming popular graduation gifts because they allow graduates to enter the next phase of their lives feeling confident and looking how they see themselves on the inside. The timing also provides downtime for recovery before starting college, graduate school, or a new job.
Recent graduates most commonly opt for liposuction and breast implants. While lip fillers are popular in general, they do not rank among the top treatments for this age group. Noninvasive options like laser skin treatments for acne-prone skin are also popular.
Plastic surgeons tend to be more cautious with younger patients, recognizing that they can be more easily influenced by peers and social media. Surgeons focus on ensuring that the decision for cosmetic procedures is empowering and made by the patient themselves, not due to external pressures or insecurities.
Social media, along with celebrities like the Jenners and Victoria’s Secret models, significantly influences young people's perceptions of beauty and cosmetic surgery. This impact can sometimes lead to insecurities driving their decisions, which surgeons try to address during consultations.
Yes, non-surgical treatments such as laser skin care packages are popular, especially for addressing issues like acne-prone skin common in this age group. Some parents also give gift certificates so graduates can choose their preferred cosmetic treatments.
Graduation is ideal because it marks a major life milestone, providing motivation for transformation. It also offers a period of downtime for healing and recovery before starting new academic or professional endeavors, allowing graduates to feel their best.
Surgeons are concerned that younger patients may be influenced by external factors like social media and peer pressure, leading to decisions based on insecurities rather than personal empowerment. They carefully evaluate the reasons behind a young patient's desire for surgery.
Parents often gift cosmetic procedures by purchasing skin-care packages or gift certificates, allowing graduates to select treatments themselves. This approach supports the graduate's autonomy in choosing what best suits their needs and preferences.
