Aesthetic and reconstructive surgery in the aging patient

Before discussing the many ways in which plastic surgeons interface with elderly patients, a preliminary question should be addressed: who are the elderly? Life expectancy continues to increase toward the maximum theoretical age of 120 years in humans. A life expectancy of only 21 years could be expected in the Bronze Age and 47 years in 1.900.(1) In 1998, the mean life expectancy was 72 years for men and 79 years for women. The number of centenarians in the United States is projected to increase from 60000 in 1998 to 200 000 in 2020 and then to an incredible 5 million in 2046.(2) Most recent studies arbitrarily designate "over 65" years as elderly, although it is clear that biological aging, which for so long eluded any attempt to quantify it, dwarfs chronological age in its overall reflection of an individual's health. Women aged 65 years can expect to have well over a fifth as many years remaining, and their objection to the designation of elderly is understandable.