Smooth aging: A phenomenological study on anti-aging, body and self experiences

The increase in life expectancy in Turkey and the world brings up issues such as aging, old age and anti-aging. In parallel with scientific, technological and medical developments, anti-aging interventions for the body are increasing. Aging is embodied in the body. Therefore, there is an inseparable, intertwined relationship between the body, aging and the self. In this context, the subject of the study is about the aging experience of people who have undergone plastic surgery to eliminate the signs of aging in the body. Purpose of the study; To examine the body and self-perception of people who undergo anti-aging intervention, their individual and social experiences leading to the intervention, and their perception of aging, old age and the elderly body. This study was designed with a phenomenological pattern by adopting the qualitative research method. In this context, in-depth interviews were conducted with 29 people using purposeful and snowball sampling techniques. The data obtained was analyzed through the MAXQDA 20 program. In the results of working; It has been determined that people who have anti-aging interventions on their bodies consider their bodies important as a living and perceiving being, establish a close relationship between the body and self-perception, and therefore try to eliminate the symptoms of biological aging embodied in the body. So much so that it has been observed that people have a low self-perception before the intervention and a high self-perception after the intervention. Old body; It is perceived as a weak, incomplete, defective, pathological, disadvantaged body that evokes death. It has been determined that a young and smooth body is appreciated, provides an advantage in partner relationships and is preferred in the job market. It has been understood that there is a discriminatory discourse towards the elderly body in society and therefore it reveals the stigmatization of the elderly/aging body. For these reasons, people have made anti-aging interventions. It has been observed that people who undergo interventions have a perception of the "popular/ideal body" prototype. After the intervention, a "uniform body typology" emerges and people express their "praise for naturalness".