Survey on Cosmetic Medicine Trends for People in Their 50s: Demand for Skin Rejuvenation Treatments Grows, Revealing Realities of Selection, Information Sources, and Costs

FoR INC. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Tomoki Takahashi) disseminates information on cosmetic medicine through its site 'Medimee,' which operates under the vision of 'making cosmetic clinics more accessible.' This time, we conducted a questionnaire survey on 'Cosmetic Medicine Trends for People in Their 50s' targeting men and women in that age group (researched by Medimee). << TOPICS >> ■ Among people in their 50s, about 55% are 'interested in but have not experienced cosmetic medicine,' showing a coexistence of high interest and a cautious attitude. ■ The most received treatment is 'spot and skin rejuvenation treatment,' indicating a clear need for addressing age-related skin concerns and maintaining a clean appearance. ■ 40% first received cosmetic medicine 'at age 45 or older,' suggesting a trend of adoption 'at the time they truly felt the concern.' ■ 'Google search' is the most common method for information gathering, characterized by rational, search-based decision-making compared to other age groups. ■ Clinic selection emphasizes 'reviews/reputation' and 'doctor's track record,' showing a clear tendency to prioritize reliability. ■ Annual costs are centered around '10,000 to 30,000 yen,' indicating that relatively light use is common. Survey Overview Method: Questionnaire survey Period: 2026/05/08 to 2026/05/12 Target: Men and women in their 50s Number of participants: 94 Topic: Survey on 'Cosmetic Medicine Trends for People in Their 50s' Survey Results Cosmetic medicine has been spreading as a familiar option in recent years. While more people are incorporating treatments like medical hair removal and skin rejuvenation according to their concerns, many are unsure about 'when to start' or 'if I really need it.' Furthermore, with the diversification of treatments, clinics, and information sources, there is a challenge of 'not knowing what criteria to use for selection.' In particular, points like fees, doctor's track record, and the reliability of reviews and social media information are sources of anxiety for many. Therefore, Medimee conducted a survey targeting men and women in their 50s about their experience with cosmetic medicine, the age they started, treatment details, clinic selection methods, information sources, and cost perception. This reveals the reality of cosmetic medicine for people in their 50s and their selection process. The age and gender of the 94 participants who cooperated in this survey are as follows: 50-54 years old: 59 people 55-59 years old: 35 people Male: 22 people Female: 72 people [Reality of Cosmetic Medicine for People in Their 50s] The survey on cosmetic medicine for people in their 50s showed that while a certain number are 'interested but have no experience,' the number of experienced individuals, including those who 'have received it in the past' and 'are currently receiving it,' is around half, indicating that cosmetic medicine is widely recognized and has penetrated this demographic. The most common treatment received was 'spot and skin rejuvenation treatment,' followed by 'medical hair removal.' Similar to the 40s age group, treatments aimed at addressing age-related skin concerns are central, suggesting a high need to maintain a youthful appearance and cleanliness. Regarding the age of first receiving cosmetic medicine, the majority started 'in their 40s or later.' Although the adoption age is later compared to those in their 20s and 30s, there is a tendency to start when concerns become apparent. The most common reason for starting cosmetic medicine was 'to improve a complex,' followed by 'increased beauty consciousness' and 'self-investment.' In addition to resolving concerns that come with age, there is a trend of viewing cosmetic medicine as an investment in oneself. Furthermore, when asked if they have people around them with experience in cosmetic medicine, more than half answered 'a few' or 'many,' indicating that personal stories and peer influence contribute to interest in cosmetic medicine. For information gathering, 'Google search' was the most common, followed by 'review sites' and 'friends.' There is a tendency to prioritize 'reliable information sources' like search and actual reviews over social media. The most important factor in choosing a clinic was 'doctor's track record/case numbers,' followed by 'reviews/reputation' and 'price.' A characteristic of the 50s age group is a strong tendency to choose clinics based on a sense of security and reliability, not just price. Regarding the annual cost of cosmetic medicine, '10,000 to 30,000 yen' was the most common, followed by 'less than 10,000 yen.' This suggests that many people incorporate cosmetic medicine continuously within a reasonable budget, rather than frequently undergoing expensive treatments. 'Spot and skin rejuvenation treatment' was also the most desired future treatment, revealing a high interest in continuous skin improvement and anti-aging care. From these results, it can be inferred that for people in their 50s, cosmetic medicine is becoming established not just for 'rejuvenation,' but as 'care to maintain and improve their current selves.' Unlike the trend-driven, introductory use by younger generations, there is a stronger tendency to select cosmetic medicine that suits them with a clear purpose. We have also published past survey results on the reality of cosmetic medicine for those in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. You can see the differences and changes by age group below. Reality of Cosmetic Medicine for People in Their 20s Reality of Cosmetic Medicine for People in Their 30s Reality of Cosmetic Medicine for People in Their 40s [Reality of Cosmetic Medicine for Women in Their 50s] For women in their 50s, about 50% have experience with cosmetic medicine ('have received it in the past' or 'are currently receiving it'), while about 50% are 'interested but have no experience,' showing both high interest and a cautious attitude. Compared to those in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, the percentage of experienced individuals slightly decreases with age, suggesting that psychological and financial hurdles to cosmetic medicine exist to some extent. The most common treatment received was 'spot and skin rejuvenation treatment,' followed by 'medical hair removal.' Similar to the 40s age group, treatments aimed at addressing skin concerns are central, showing a tendency to respond more specifically to changes due to age. 'Spot and skin rejuvenation treatment' also ranked high for desired future treatments, revealing a high need for continuous skin improvement. Looking at different age groups, 'spot and skin rejuvenation treatment' and 'medical hair removal' are common top treatments across all ages, but the breakdown differs. In the 20s and 30s, 'medical hair removal' is the most common, followed by 'double eyelid surgery' in the 20s, and 'Botox' and 'hyaluronic acid' in the 30s, with treatments centered on cosmetic purposes and improving one's impression being chosen. On the other hand, in the 40s and 50s, 'spot and skin rejuvenation treatment' was the most common, surpassing 'medical hair removal.' In addition, 'cosmetic dentistry' and 'hyaluronic acid' in the 40s, and 'Botox,' 'hyaluronic acid,' and 'cosmetic dentistry' in the 50s are also listed, showing a shift in treatment selection according to changing concerns with age. A characteristic feature is that the purpose of cosmetic medicine changes from 'improving impression' to 'specific measures for concerns' as age increases. Regarding the age of first receiving cosmetic medicine, '45 years or older' was the most common, followed by '40-44 years old.' On the other hand, a certain number had experience at a relatively young age, such as '20-24 years old,' showing a polarization between those who start early and those who start after their concerns become apparent. The proportion of '45 years or older' is particularly higher compared to the 40s. The most common reason for starting cosmetic medicine was 'to improve a complex,' followed by 'increased beauty consciousness' and 'self-investment.' For those in their 50s, it is characteristic that they view cosmetic medicine not just for cosmetic purposes, but from a long-term perspective of 'anti-aging care (*)' and 'maintenance/improvement.' Also, regarding whether they have people around them with experience in cosmetic medicine, more than half answered 'a few' or 'many,' indicating that personal stories and peer influence lead to interest in cosmetic medicine. For information gathering, 'Google search' was the most common, followed by 'review sites' and 'friends.' There is a tendency to gather information with an emphasis on reliability, such as search and reviews, rather than social media. In clinic selection, 'doctor's track record/case numbers' was the most important, followed by 'reviews/reputation' and 'price.' Women in their 50s show a stance of making a comprehensive judgment based on multiple factors. Regarding annual costs, '10,000 to 30,000 yen' was the most common, followed by 'less than 10,000 yen' and '50,000 to 100,000 yen.' Compared to the 20s and 30s, the overall spending on cosmetic medicine tends to be lower, suggesting that many people incorporate necessary treatments within a reasonable budget rather than continuously receiving expensive ones. From these results, it is clear that for women in their 50s, cosmetic medicine is becoming established not only for 'improving concerns' but also as 'care to maintain their current selves.' Looking at different age groups, it can be seen that the role of cosmetic medicine changes according to life stages: '20s = entry,' '30s = establishment,' '40s = problem-solving,' and '50s = maintenance/selection.' [Reality of Cosmetic Medicine for Men in Their 50s] For men in their 50s, about 60% are 'interested but have no experience,' which is the largest group. While a certain number 'have received it in the past,' no one answered 'currently receiving it.' This shows that while interest in cosmetic medicine is growing, there is a cautious attitude towards implementation and continuation. Also, the gap between the percentage of experienced and inexperienced individuals suggests that among men in their 50s, there are individual differences in awareness and behavior towards cosmetic medicine, showing a polarization between an interested group and a cautious group. The most common treatments received were 'AGA/hair thinning treatment' and 'spot and skin rejuvenation treatment' (tied for first), followed by 'medical hair removal.' In addition to hair loss, a concern specific to men, there is high interest in treatments conscious of 'cleanliness' and 'youthfulness,' such as improving spots and skin impression. For desired future treatments, 'spot and skin rejuvenation treatment' was the most common, followed by 'AGA/hair thinning treatment.' This suggests that they are considering cosmetic medicine not just for appearance improvement, but as a measure against age-related changes. Looking at different age groups, in the 20s and 30s, treatments for improving impression centered on 'medical hair removal' are common, and in the 30s, options like 'Botox' and 'hyaluronic acid' expand. On the other hand, in the 40s and 50s, 'spot and skin rejuvenation treatment' ranks higher, shifting to treatment selection aimed at specific measures for concerns. Particularly for men, there is a strong tendency to 'select treatments they feel are necessary,' and they seem to consider and implement treatments with clear objectives. Regarding the age of first receiving cosmetic medicine, over 60% were '45 years or older,' indicating that many started cosmetic medicine for the first time when their concerns became noticeable. The proportion of '45 years or older' is also higher compared to the 40s, suggesting that with the recent expansion of awareness of cosmetic medicine, the number of new adopters may increase. The most common reason for starting cosmetic medicine was 'to improve a complex,' followed by 'increased beauty consciousness' and 'self-investment.' While there is an aspect of self-investment similar to women, it is characteristic that men tend to place more emphasis on 'improving concerns' and 'practicality.' Also, regarding whether they have people around them with experience in cosmetic medicine, 'a few' was the most common answer, but the proportion who answered 'none' or 'almost none' was higher compared to other age groups. This suggests that while some are interested due to having experienced people around them, many others judge based on their own needs. In information gathering, 'Google search' was the most common, followed by 'review sites' and 'friends.' The influence of social media is limited compared to other age groups and women, and it is characteristic that rational information gathering starting from search is central. In clinic selection, 'reviews/reputation' was the most important, followed by 'doctor's track record/case numbers' and 'price.' There is a tendency to make a satisfying choice by balancing reliability and cost. Regarding annual costs, 'less than 10,000 yen,' '10,000 to 30,000 yen,' and '30,000 to 50,000 yen' were tied, and the sense of cost was relatively dispersed. This suggests that they are selectively incorporating necessary treatments rather than continuously undergoing expensive ones. From these results, for men in their 50s, cosmetic medicine is recognized as 'an option to be adopted as needed,' and while interest is growing, there is a cautious attitude towards implementation. There is a tendency to consider treatments with clear objectives, especially 'AGA/hair thinning' and 'spot/skin impression improvement.' Looking at different age groups, cosmetic medicine changes as '20s = entry,' '30s = selection,' '40s = necessity,' and '50s = purpose-driven/cautious adoption.' It is characteristic that for men, cosmetic medicine is utilized as a 'problem-solving' tool. [Do you think cosmetic medicine will become more common in the future?] Think so: 37.2% Somewhat think so: 53.2% Don't really think so: 7.4% Don't think so: 2.1% To the question of whether cosmetic medicine will become more common in the future, about 50% answered 'somewhat think so' and about 40% answered 'think so,' with a total of about 90% having a positive attitude towards the generalization of cosmetic medicine. Less than 10% answered 'don't think so' or 'don't really think so,' indicating that acceptance of cosmetic medicine is at a high level even among people in their 50s. These results suggest that while people in their 50s are cautious about actual use, they view the spread of cosmetic medicine itself positively, and it is possible that 'whether I actively use it' and 'whether it becomes socially common' are recognized separately. Also, compared to those in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, the higher proportion of 'somewhat think so' than 'think so' is also characteristic, suggesting a tendency to see it as 'something that will gradually spread' rather than the active expectation of younger generations. From this, it seems that for people in their 50s, while awareness and understanding of cosmetic medicine have already advanced, they are at a stage where they accept the future market expansion itself, even as they make cautious judgments about actual use. Summary and Discussion This survey revealed that while there is a certain level of interest and awareness of cosmetic medicine among people in their 50s, there is a cautious attitude towards actual use. Treatment contents are centered on those directly linked to age-related concerns, such as 'spot and skin rejuvenation treatment' and 'AGA/hair thinning treatment,' and cosmetic medicine is seen as a way to address 'appearance.'