Aging is unavoidable. However, how people deal with the changes they see in their appearance as they age and how they view the aging process varies widely.
While there are more options than ever for those who want to improve their appearance and maintain a more youthful look as they get older through both surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures, individuals' perceptions of how they look vary greatly.
In a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, Vivian Diller, a psychologist, former model and dancer as well as the co-author of the book "Face It: What Women Really Feel as Their Looks Change," discussed the many ways women cope with getting older.
She said that many women typically start to notice changes in their physical appearance sometime between the ages of 40 and 50, which can negatively impact self-confidence. However, she says that plastic surgery can be a good way for some to feel better about themselves.
"As long as a woman is healthy, can afford [it] and thinks carefully about [the] impact - psychologically as well as physically - I think [plastic surgery] can serve some women's needs. These procedures can have positive effects on self-esteem," Diller told the newspaper.
Popular cosmetic surgeries include facelifts, forehead lifts, eyelid surgery, chin augmentation, lip augmentation and liposuction. Commonly used non-surgical anti-aging treatments include injectables such as Botox, hyaluronic acid and collagen as well as skin treatments such as microdermabrasion and chemical peels.
Whether or not women decide to seek medical help to lessen the signs of aging, Diller told the news source that it's important for them to be able to accept how they look.
"It's not about trying to look like our former selves," she said. "Keeping that in mind stops us from constantly trying to look younger than our age. Accepting that you're aging means saying, 'When I am 47, I'm not going to look like I did at age 37. I can look great for 47, but my looks will change at some point, no matter what I do.' And unless we accept that, we will be fighting the same fruitless battle in our 80s."
Individuals of all ages who are interested in discussing how cosmetic surgery can improve their appearance are urged to seek the advice of a licensed, board-certified plastic surgeon.