We all know that different genetic racial backgrounds have different aging. I love to describe skin quality as a bathing suit, and some people get a Speedo bathing suit, and some get an off brand bathing suit that loses its elasticity after a summer. But there are more differences than skin quality.
This was an interesting article in our recent August 2024 Aesthetic Surgery Journal, “Racial Perspectives on Facelifts: Evaluating Techniques and Outcomes Across Diverse Populations.” They talk about how we may need to reevaluate approaches, as there is not a single “standard” of aesthetics. Yup We are all different. They highlight how much of the published papers have focused on White or Caucasian, but if you live anywhere like I do in the Bay Area, we have a wide patient population.
They looked at 22 publications. Of the ethnic groups studied, Asians were the most described at 12, followed by Black/African at 5, and Hispanic/Latinx with 4.
This is important. the US Census shows there was an 8% decline in those identifying as White since 2010. This blog and the journal article on which it is based are not meant to be triggering or racially charged in any way. Genetic ethnic diversity is real, racial diversity is real, having mixed race is real. This is about how to be better plastic surgeons and what are common issues within each group.
Read further blogs to see anatomical variations and the aging among racial populations.