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Small-Scale Question Sunday for August 27, 2023

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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Why do women seem to be pursuing the Botox/lip filler/cheek filler look at younger and younger ages? It could just be my perception but I see women doing this in their early and mid 20s, which is bonkers to me. It’s understandable once you hit 35-40, but why do it when you’re young and still in your sexual marketplace prime?

At that age it tends to give your face a very eerie quality and actually make you look older and less attractive. This seems to be the consensus view among men, so presumably high-status men would also overwhelmingly feel this way. Are women doing it for instagram and to compete against other women? If that’s the case it’s counterproductive and actively harming their sexual marketplace value in the large majority of cases.

The other argument that I can buy: maybe I’m just not noticing all the instances of those touch-ups being applied with a milder hand. If done properly, it can increase a woman’s SMV? I don’t necessarily agree with this, I think straight men are extremely fine-tuned by millions of years of evolution to detect unnatural things like this, but I could be wrong. I certainly seem to be able to distinguish the odd and uncanny-valley quality it lends to a woman’s face.

Most cosmetic intervention is preventative. The young man who takes finasteride at the first sign of balding often has a full head of hair well into middle age, the one who only starts taking it when his hair loss is very advanced sees little benefit.

Botox works best as a preventative solution, at very small volumes. I use it and it works, and is mostly unnoticeable. “Botox face” is almost always about old people using it at very high volumes because they didn’t look after themselves when they were younger. Fillers are different and should be used more sparingly, and only in rare cases on the lips (where they most often look terrible).

Agree. I'm seeing a dermatologist soon about preventing aging because I've noticed very faint forehead and nasolabial lines. Best to keep on top of this stuff, especially if you want to maintain twink aesthetic into your 30s.

Mind if I ask your current age?

Not if you have a good reason: so why do you want to know?

I’m thinking about consulting a dermatologist friend about this as well. I suppose I should ask are you starting in your 20s or 30s?

Late 20s.