Baby boomers are entering their “golden years” more active,vital and youthful than virtually any generation before them. Soit’s no surprise that many of them want to look as young as theyfeel.

“The baby boomer clientele who come to our practice aren’tnecessarily interested in looking like movie stars,” says Dr.Alfred Sofer, a board Certified Plastic Surgeon, who owns thePlastic Surgery Centerof Fairfield, Conn. “They eat well and exercise regularly, theytake care of themselves, and they want their appearance to be ashealthy and youthful as their lifestyle.”

As skin ages it loses elasticity, and many people of the babyboom generation (born between 1946 and 1964) are finding theiroutward age just doesn’t match their inner age. In addition towanting to feel better about their appearance, many boomers alsorealize the value of a youthful look when competing for jobopportunities.

Many are opting to rectify the situation with cosmeticprocedures, from minimally invasive techniques to breast lifts andtummy tucks. More than 12 million elective cosmetic procedures wereperformed in the U.S. last year, according to the American Societyof Plastic Surgeons.

Dr. Sofer points to three popular nonsurgical procedures that havehelped many of his baby boomer clients look younger:

Dermal fillers

Loss of facial fullness and the development of wrinkles,especially beneath the eyes (tear trough) and in the lines fromyour nose to the corners of your mouth (nasolabial folds), areearly signs of aging. Injectable fillers safely and effectivelyfill in those lines, without the downtime and discomfort ofsurgery.

Dermal fillers can also make thin lips appear plumper, enhanceshallow contours, soften creases and wrinkles, fill and lift thecheeks, improve the appearance of scars and improve the jaw line.Popular fillers include: Restylane, Juvederm and Radiesse, eachwith their advantages for certain areas.

Botox

There’s a reason many aging Hollywood stars swear by Botox.Muscle contractions when you squint, frown or smile are the maincause of wrinkles and lines. When facial muscles contract, the skinfurrows and folds. Over time and years of repeated contractions,wrinkles can become permanent, even when muscles are resting.

Injecting prescription Botox medications into the facial musclescan help improve the appearance of moderate to severe frown lines.Many people like it because Botox reduces lines and wrinkleswithout causing substantial changes in facial appearance; you won’tlook like you’ve had “work done.” Plus, it’s fast – most people seeresults in just one to 10 days after treatment.

Microdermabrasion

The uppermost layer of our skin is exposed on a daily basis tofree radicals, toxins and sun damage. Removing that layer can helpskin look younger, more supple and refreshed.

Microdermabrasion softens and brightens the skin by usingsuction and crystals to gently resurface the most superficiallayer. The procedure also diminishes the appearance of fine linesand wrinkles, enlarged pores and coarse, textured skin.

“Baby boomers are working longer, remarrying and practicinghealthier lifestyles,” Sofer says. “There is no typical cosmetic procedure clientanymore. I’ve worked on mothers and fathers, office workers, salespeople and men and women with high-profile jobs. What they all havein common is a desire to have their faces and bodies reflect howthey feel and think, not just their chronological age.”

For more information on fillers, botox, microdermabrasion andother non-surgical and surgical procedures, visitwww.drsofer.com.