It's true that skin becomes more fragile and less elastic as we age. But the wrinkles that we see are the result of sun damage. It took decades for the payback to arrive.

We rock 'n roll teens of the '50s were also beach blanket kids, baking happily in the sun while we developed those "healthy" tans. The sun sports of the California beaches and the winter sports of its snowy mountains beckoned seductively and seemed to fit the Hollywood image of the carefree young athlete. We didn't worry about the glaring sun overhead and the reflective rays from the snow and water below our feet.

Warnings began to emerge in those early years, but the focus was on avoiding the pain of sunburn; later we heard of possible skin cancers with the discovery of the receding ozone layer. Only in the era of global warming have we elders in the U.S. finally come to understand the collateral damage we have caused to our skin, the largest organ system of our bodies.

Unfortunately, the baby boomers who followed us weren't very much smarter than we were. Since their youth, however, they have gained momentum: they are more interested in health and longevity than any generation before them. In 2006, approximately 77 million boomers will reach their 60th birthday. Already, boomers constitute 42 percent of all U.S. households and control 50 percent of consumer spending. With this tremendous spending power, boomers are expected to take health care into their own hands by testing new and experimental therapies for long-term health problems. Among their age-defying treatment plans will be more and better cosmetic surgery.

Those who appear to be winning the race against aging are taking shortcuts. Health-conscious 65-year-olds seem to realize that they have another 20 to 30 years to socialize. Both men and women want to be trim and youthful looking for as long as possible by turning to cosmetic surgery for a little help. One important piece of advice comes from Dr. Mets Hagstrom, a plastic and cosmetic surgeon at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, based in Palo Alto and Fremont: "If you have any vanity at all, quit smoking." Smoking is bad for the skin and increases the risks associated with anesthesia and surgery.

Liposuction is the No. 1 cosmetic surgery procedure among men, according to new statistics released by the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. A total of 19,789 liposuction procedures were performed last year, more than tripling the figure of 6,138 just seven years earlier. Liposuction is a technique to remove unwanted fat deposits from specific areas of the body. It is not a substitute for weight reduction, but a method of removing localized fat that doesn't respond to dieting and exercise. Statistics show that 9 percent of all cosmetic procedures are performed on men. Men are having cosmetic surgery not only to look and feel younger, but also to give themselves a competitive edge in the workplace.

A facelift is a major rework. "A properly done facelift includes a lot more than simply pulling on the skin," says Hagstrom. "Most of the pulling should be done in the tissue layer below the skin to avoid an 'operated' or pulled look. A pulled face looks tight and unnatural." For the first few days after a facelift the patient may look like a car crash survivor. Wise patients plan to go into social hibernation for at least two weeks while the entire understructure of the face heals. New methods make it easier for plastic surgeons to correct specific problems, and thereby postpone facelifts for later years. Subtler procedures make patients look more natural and help avoid such side effects.

Laser resurfacing, for instance, vaporizes the superficial layers of damaged skin and helps firm the deeper layers with high-energy light, allowing new, smoother skin to emerge. Lasers have largely replaced deep chemical peels that use harsh chemicals to rejuvenate facial skin. Again, patients should plan to curtail social activities for two weeks or more until the swelling, redness and crusting has ceased. Wrinkles around the eyes and mouth and on the cheeks respond well to laser resurfacing.

Laser resurfacing does not work well, however, on much deeper frown lines, forehead creases and crow's feet.

Eyelifts, or blepharoplasties, involve surgical removal of fat deposits and droopy skin on the eyelids, which can remove years from a person's age. This is the second most popular procedure for male patients.

When choosing a surgeon, the red flags that seniors should look for include the following: an impatient doctor who rushes you to make your decision; a doctor willing to combine several major surgeries into one operation to cut costs; and a doctor who ignores your questions.

Beware of unrealistic expectations. Ultimately, the best results from any cosmetic surgery will result when the surgeon is conscientious and experienced, and the patient is informed and healthy.