Preface

In 1997, the guest editors Seth L. Matarasso, MD, and Alan Matarasso, MD, discussed the changing demographics of the aging population, noting that baby boomers were entering middle age and that the average life expectancy had increased to 75 years. This shift had significant implications for medicine, which historically focused on disease prevention and health maintenance but was now seeing an increase in demand for aesthetic medicine due to various factors such as medical technology advances, media influence, and a competitive job market. The treatment of the aging face had evolved from simple skin lifting and chemical peels to a more comprehensive approach that included facial plasty, resurfacing, soft tissue augmentation, chemical denervation, hair restoration, and addressing aging dentition. The editors highlighted that aging is influenced by both intrinsic genetic factors and extrinsic environmental factors, with the latter being preventable. They emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing the aesthetic concerns of an aging population and expressed gratitude to their colleagues and family for their support.