The verdict is in: Generation Z is all about cosmetic treatments. In fact, hundreds of thousands of cosmetic procedures are performed on people ages 29 and younger each year in the U.S. This hardly comes as a surprise — this generation has grown up in a digital age when information about all the different kinds of cosmetic treatments is readily available at their fingertips.
As it turns out, some treatments are more popular with Gen Z than others. Curious about the heavy-hitting treatments among this newest group of cosmetic medicine adopters? Here are the top 6:
1. Laser Hair Removal
Unwanted hair continues to be a burden for those who resort to traditional methods of hair removal. Shaving, waxing, plucking and threading are all temporary ways to get rid of unwanted hair throughout the face and body. With these methods, ingrown hairs, razor burn and bothersome bumps on the skin often result. These hair removal techniques can also be painful and tedious, and they only last a few days to a week or so at a time. Then, the process starts all over again.
Laser hair removal breaks the redundant, frustrating pattern of traditional hair removal methods. After only a few quick and easy sessions, this treatment can reduce the amount of noticeable hair on most body parts long-term. Less time shaving means more time to socialize, be productive in other ways or simply relax.
Laser Hair Removal Details
Anesthesia: Topical numbing
Downtime: None
Number of Treatments: 5 to 7
Time Between Treatments: 6 to 8 weeks
Areas to Treat: Legs, arms, underarms, back, chest, stomach, bikini line, neck, shoulders, chin, upper lip
2. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Treatments
Lasers and light treatments are a big hit with Gen Z. Intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment was in the top five cosmetic minimally invasive procedures performed in 2020, with over 827,000 IPL treatments undergone that year. And there’s a good reason this treatment is so popular with patients in their teens and 20s.
At Dermacare, we offer IPL Fotofacial from Cutera. This device effectively provides the improved skin tone our clients are looking for without requiring any downtime to recover after.
IPL treatment is less intense than ablative resurfacing treatments that remove the outer layer of damaged skin. While resurfacing treatments are great for dealing with signs of aging like wrinkles and skin laxity, they require downtime as the surface layer of skin heals. Many Gen Zers are more concerned with dark spots starting to appear and facial redness from rosacea, making IPL the ideal treatment for them.
IPL Treatment Details
Anesthesia: None
Downtime: None
Number of Treatments: 3
Time Between Treatments: 1 month
Areas to Treat: Face
3. Lip Fillers
If we had to choose a cosmetic treatment to represent modern pop culture, it would have to be the injectable soft tissue filler. Specifically, the lip filler, as popularized by celebrities like…
…Kylie Jenner, Kendall Jenner, Lady Gaga, Angelina Jolie, Kim Kardashian, Anna Faris, Mindy Kaling, Lucy Hale, Leah Remini, Khloe Kardashian, Bella Thorne, Cheryl Cole, Gwen Stafani, Anna Friel, Leslie Ash, Snooki, Meg Ryan, Lisa Rinna, Amanda Holden, Megan Fox, Britney Spears, Michelle Keegan, Kiera Knightley, Chrissy Teigen, Courteney Cox, Christie Brinkley, Lindsay Lohan, Kim Zolciak-Biermann, Brielle Biermann, Jessica Simpson, Brandi Glanville, Nicole Polizzi, Sharon Osbourne…
… just to name a few.
That might’ve been a little excessive, but you get the point. Lip filler treatment is one of the most popular trends in beauty right now, and everyone is looking to achieve that highly sought-after pout with injectables.
Injectable lip fillers such as Juvéderm Volbella XC, Restylane Silk, Defyne and Refyne are highly effective and safe options when performed by medical professionals like those at Dermacare Laser & Skin Care Clinics. Social media and the rest of the internet are riddled with horror stories of botched lip filler treatments performed by people who were not trained or experienced enough to complete the procedure safely. When you come to our office, you can rest assured that you are being treated by professionals at the forefront of the industry who invest time into learning the best techniques for their patients.
How Do Fillers Work?
The process is pretty simple. A needle is used to inject the product into the target area. The formula ingredients vary depending on the product, but the result is a fuller set of lips. You may need to have the treatment done regularly to maintain ideal results, but our office can help develop a treatment plan that fits your needs perfectly.
Lip Filler Details
Anesthesia: Local anesthetic
Downtime: None
Number of Treatments: 1 initially, with maintenance treatments after that if desired
Time Between Treatments: 12 to 18 months
Areas to Treat: Lips and facial wrinkles and hollows
4. Preventative Botox
Botox is the king of wrinkle-erasing injectables. It is one of the most popular treatments among people between 13 and 29, with 76,855 sessions performed on this age group in 2020. What’s even more impressive is that Botox is typically only performed on people who are 18 years or older. Seriously, no cap.
(In case you, like us, were not familiar with the term, here’s the Urban Dictionary definition of no cap — The use of the phrase “no cap” is meant to convey authenticity and truth.)
Let’s rewind a bit, though. What is Botox, and why is it so interesting that younger generations have already begun to adopt it?
Botox is made from a chemical known as a neurotoxin. It derives from botulinum toxin type A, a protein produced by bacterium Clostridium botulinum, that has been refined for cosmetic use. When injected into specific muscles, it prevents movement in that muscle by blocking the neurological signal to and from the brain. As a result, any wrinkles that form when the targeted muscle moves will no longer appear. This is why Botox was traditionally performed to reduce wrinkles that had already developed.
How Does Preventative Botox Work?
Younger generations have realized that if you never allow the skin to fold in the first place, you can fend off the development of those wrinkles for some time. Those with early indications of wrinkles or whose blood relatives are affected by certain wrinkles may consider treating those areas on their faces to help maintain their smooth, wrinkle-free skin.
Preventative Botox Details
Anesthesia: Local anesthetic, if necessary
Downtime: None
Number of Treatments: 1 initially, with maintenance treatments after that if desired
Time Between Treatments: 3 to 4 months
Areas to Treat: Forehead lines, frown lines and crow’s feet
5. Microdermabrasion
There are a lot of cosmetic concerns microdermabrasion can help treat, such as rough skin texture, uneven skin tone, brown spots, fine lines, wrinkles, enlarged pores and shallow scarring (from trauma or acne). But how does microdermabrasion tackle all of these conditions at once, and why is Gen Z so obsessed with it?
There is a reason 46,339 microdermabrasion sessions were performed on patients ages 29 and under in 2020. The procedure is about as straightforward as they come. A diamond-tipped tool is pulled across the face’s surface, removing the top layer of dead or dull skin and debris to reveal the healthy underlying skin layer that has more glow and vibrance. Microdermabrasion also stimulates our natural healing process and floods the treatment area with a host of rejuvenating growth factors and essential proteins.
Microdermabrasion Details
Anesthesia: Topical anesthetic
Downtime: None
Number of Treatments: 6 to 12
Time Between Treatments: 2 to 4 weeks
Areas to Treat: Entire face
6. Chemical Peels
Chemical peels are one of the most convenient and popular treatments for younger generations. In fact, more than 21,000 chemical peels were performed on people under the age of 29 in 2020.
In-office chemical peels have a very easy introduction because of how popular at-home peels are. The process is essentially the same thing, but the strength and results you get from a pro-grade peel will be like night and day compared to the at-home variety.
The results include improved skin tone, texture and clarity. Specifically, it can reduce age spots, freckles, hyperpigmentation and melasma; soften fine lines and wrinkles; and clear acne and acne scars. Chemical peels also create more youthful, firm skin by stimulating your body’s natural production of collagen, the primary protein responsible for keeping our skin taut.
Chemical Peel Details
Anesthesia: None
Downtime: 0 to 7 days, depending on peel strength
Number of Treatments: 1 to 3
Time Between Treatments: 1 month
Areas to Treat: Entire face
Get Your Ideal Gen Z Cosmetic Treatment at Dermacare in San Diego
If you are ready to learn more about any of these treatments or want to see for yourself why they are sweeping an entire generation, give our Carlsbad office a call at 760-448-8100 or our Rancho Bernardo, San Diego, office at 858-487-3376. You can also fill out our online contact form below to have someone from our staff give you a call at a more convenient time.
We look forward to being a trusted resource and partner throughout your aesthetic journey.