Looking Your Age (Or Aging Your Look)

[Fenris]

Suppose that they come up with a very cheap, very safe form of plastic surgery. It doesn't actually change your appearance into something new: rather, by manipulating your genes, it fixes your appearance at some particular age.

So in other words, you can spend your entire life looking 20, or 30, or whatever age you'd like. (In the case of ages you haven't reached yet, the genes will be accelerated to show what you would have looked like, had your face aged naturally.)

Changes in body fat, muscle tone, and even size can be accomplished; your cells "remember" what your body was like at that age, and can be regressed to it. But the fitness of your body from then on will depend on you.


The big drawbacks of this process are these: that it's irreversible, and can only be done once; and that it's purely cosmetic, so that your perpetual "youth" won't add anything to your lifespan.

Again, it's safe; and lots of people, though not all, are doing it.

Would you do it; and if so, what age would you pick for yourself?

õ
Getting older every day!

[howyadoin]

I'd say mid-30s, most likely. I definitely had a bit less body fat at that point, and less body hair in unfortunate places.

[Paradox]

howy's looks about right to me. Old enough to look adult without looking like an old man. Doesn't hurt that people in my family all look younger than their real age, anyway.

[PatrickG]

I'll go 17. I could pass for younger OR older at that point. My hair was very thick. My wisdom teeth hasn't started to come in at that point. I was actually a bit under my ideal weight then too.

And if I could find a woman who did roughly the same, it would freakin' rock.

I tend to find 18 or 19 to be, objectively, the height of attractiveness for people. I don't date people that young but if she were really about my age, heck yeah.

I'd take the knowledge and experience I have now in a younger body.

Failing that, I wouldn't mind looking like my dad does at 50. I won't have his hair at that age. He's trim. His age lines are distinguished. He has as much energy as I do now.

But I really can't conceive of wanting to look any older than 25 if it's an option.

[HomerJay]

I'd definitely do it. If I could be eternally 19 with abs (as I once was) without busting my ass to get it, I'd take it in a heartbeat.

[The Wayner]

I'd pass on it. I'm 46, and dig the way I look. I'm easy to please! :D

[Slappy san]

Yeah I guess I would. I'd probably pick 22 (i think that's right) if only to rid myself of 50 lbs.

[howyadoin]

Just outta curiosity, would anybody pick their current age?

[Tom]

Just outta curiosity, would anybody pick their current age?
It was the first thing I thought. I'd rather just lock it in at my current look.

[kmeyers]

It was the first thing I thought. I'd rather just lock it in at my current look.
the lotion baths must be working well for you.

[Tom]

the lotion baths must be working well for you.
Well to be honest, I wasn't much to look at prior to 30.

[Rabid Trekkie]

I probably wouldn't take it, never really cared how I looked. I also tend to agree with my Mom that (whenever it does happen) whatever gray hairs or wrinkles I get I will have earned and therefore will wear them like a badge of honor.

[kmeyers]

Well to be honest, I wasn't much to look at prior to 30.
I was just trying to make a joke referencing a post from the Banned thread...the one where someone said they thought you were older.

but yeah, I'd either go with 20, or right now...things went bad in my 20s.

when I was 18 some gas stations accepted my fake ID that said I was 25, and now I'm almost 30 and people mistake me for 25.

[Gorthaur]

I'd freeze my appearance at my current age (24, though most people say I look about five years younger than that). Old enough to be past the baby fat and skin afflictions of my teens and, unfortunately, also old enough to be stressed about getting too old.

[Fabian]

Just outta curiosity, would anybody pick their current age?
Right here. 21 forever

[howyadoin]

Right here. 21 foreverIf I said that, I'd be stuck with a mullet for all eternity.

[Trystenn]

If I said that, I'd be stuck with a mullet for all eternity.
Why not like something in the middle like 27 or 32?

[howyadoin]

Why not like something in the middle like 27 or 32?Mostly it's a question of what hideous hairstyle I was sporting at the time.

[Fabian]

If I said that, I'd be stuck with a mullet for all eternity.
Yeah but my hair always rocks. It's a timeless classic. I will never look back and think my Elvis pompadour or Wolverine horns are ridiculous

[howyadoin]

Yeah but my hair always rocks. It's a timeless classic. I will never look back and think my Elvis pompadour or Wolverine horns are ridiculousI thought the same thing in 1986.

[Fabian]

I thought the same thing in 1986.
Next thing you'll say would be that my clothes would probably look dated too.

It won't happen to me damnit.

[howyadoin]

Next thing you'll say would be that my clothes would probably look dated too.

It won't happen to me damnit.Would you like to see pictures of me in skintight grey jeans and Air Jordans?





(Of course you wouldn't. That's a stupid question.)

[Fabian]

Actually yes I would. You should post them and take some flack away from Tom's hose pic

[Trystenn]

Mostly it's a question of what hideous hairstyle I was sporting at the time.
Ha! Couldnt have been that bad.

[Tom]

Actually yes I would. You should post them and take some flack away from Tom's hose pic
While there is a prominent hose in that pic, I'm holding an extension cord. Incidentally, I found another version of that pic floating arouund the internet a couple weeks ago.

[Gilda Dent]

At 29, I still get carded on occasion. I'm in very good physical condition, just got my weight back up to a healthy level (104 as of this morning, Yay!), and given what aquiring this appearance has cost thus far, both literally and figuratively, there's no way in hell I'd want to go back to any look I've ever had previous to what I'm sporting now.

I'm thinking I'm still a couple of years away from where I'd want to freeze things, but given that I'm doing good right now, my current age would be cool, too. I'd probably go with 30 just for the nice round number, and still at that nebulous age where a woman can look nearly any age from 20-40 merely by changing her clothing style, hair, and makeup.

Yeah, I've decided. Freeze me in at 30, on my birthday in 9 months.

Gilda

[Xetal]

About half my current age would see me 29 - and on honeymoon. That'll do nicely! :D

[K'Nort]

I would pretty much say my current age, actually. Fenris did say that although you'd regress to whatever weight/fitness you were then, you wouldn't stay there unless you put the regular effort in, so there's only temporary benefit there. I'd probably say two years ago, since I'm suddenly noticing some fine lines around the eyes. But anything blatantly under 30 and I'd have to worry about being taken seriously professionally.

[west3man]

While there is a prominent hose in that pic, I'm holding an extension cord.
I really thought you were going somewhere else with that one.

Oh well. I got a good chuckle, anyway.

[Solaris]

Suppose that they come up with a very cheap, very safe form of plastic surgery. It doesn't actually change your appearance into something new: rather, by manipulating your genes, it fixes your appearance at some particular age.

So in other words, you can spend your entire life looking 20, or 30, or whatever age you'd like. (In the case of ages you haven't reached yet, the genes will be accelerated to show what you would have looked like, had your face aged naturally.)

Changes in body fat, muscle tone, and even size can be accomplished; your cells "remember" what your body was like at that age, and can be regressed to it. But the fitness of your body from then on will depend on you.


The big drawbacks of this process are these: that it's irreversible, and can only be done once; and that it's purely cosmetic, so that your perpetual "youth" won't add anything to your lifespan.

Again, it's safe; and lots of people, though not all, are doing it.

Would you do it; and if so, what age would you pick for yourself?

õ
Getting older every day!

Yes, and probably around 21-22. :D I had stopped growing by that point (a good thing to remember: don't go for an age where your bones etc. are still growing), and was in good shape.

Why?

Well, in part because while I love the wisdom age can bring, I don't like the aches and pains as body parts start to wear down/wear out. As for "looking" that age... while I am able to appreciate an older look in a lot of other folk, it's simply harder for me to appreciate it in myself. Stupid of me, I know, and I work on it---but there it is. If I had a shot at looking (and feeling) 22 for the rest of my life, you bet I'd take it. :D Although, I *would* like to keep a silver streak in the front of my hair, just because I like it. Hee.

EDIT: Also, my teeth were a lot healthier back then (comparatively), and my vision wasn't as bad. It's be great if they could also genetically "fix" problems like teeth, vision, hearing, etc. along with the rest of the process.

[Tadhg Adams]

I'd pick 10 months from today, my 25th Birthday.

[DarkBlade]

I can tell you right now that pleaaaaaanty of my friends appreciate your current look, Mom.

[west3man]

I've been thinking about this.

Y'know what I think I'd do? I'd get old... THEN I'd decide which age I'd prefer to be.

For all I know, the best is yet to come.





If I *had* to decide now, I guess I'd go for either 22 or my current age (31). Helluva span, I know.

[Shellhead]

I would hope for some Frankenstein combination from different points in my life.

Hair: last year would be my pick. I had the perfect quantity of gray hair to have these neat highlights, while still having mostly dark brown hair. This year, my hair has thinned a little more than I'm happy with, and the gray hair has become a little too much.

Skin: right now is great. My whole life, I have tended to have a problem with oily skin and blocked pores, but now my skin has cleared up and the wrinkles are just barely present, and only on my forehead.

Muscles: right now, I'm stronger than I've ever been in my whole life, because I continue to step up my game with the workouts.

Overall physical fitness: age 30. I was really healthy then, and didn't have any problems yet with my knee or my back. These days, if I run every other day and work out at least twice a week with the weights, I'm fine, but if I get slack, these minor pains start up and bother me.

[Solaris]

I can tell you right now that pleaaaaaanty of my friends appreciate your current look, Mom.

Thank you, hon. :) I know, I know... but if I'm speaking in complete self-honesty, there's things about my looks now that I'd change if I could, just because I'd enjoy it more looking the other way. :D Still, my opinion of my looks has improved a lot over the last few years, and is much better than it was when I *was* 22! Heh.

[YoursTruly]

Hmmm... I'm gonna have to go with late teens/early twenties.

[tricksterpup]

I am told I still look like a pup of 4 years old, even though I am closer to 6. :D
http://tipt3.utoledo.edu/starters/coyote/coyote2a.jpg

[howyadoin]

I can tell you right now that pleaaaaaanty of my friends appreciate your current look, Mom.I seem to recall Alex addressing that particular issue in San Diego, the year before last.

[Dom]

I'm only 24.

I'll defer to see how ugly I get in my 30s.

But, when I think about it, I've always been out of style and ugly.

[BlairH]

I dunno. I think I'll stay the handsome, wealthy 19 year old young man about town...

[Dom]

I dunno. I think I'll stay the handsome, wealthy 19 year old young man about town...

Your teens may seem good, but I assure you adulthood if far better.

I may still be ugly, but at least I'm not so spastic and awkward.

And I can grow a beard.

[Dr. Hfuhruhurr]

Your teens may seem good, but I assure you adulthood if far better.

I may still be ugly, but at least I'm not so spastic and awkward.

And I can grow a beard.

Well, to be fair, your colon is still spastic.

[howyadoin]

I'm only 24.

I'll defer to see how ugly I get in my 30s.Take a picture of yourself, move the hair on the head to the ears and back, and widen the whole picture 25%.

[Dom]

Take a picture of yourself, move the hair on the head to the ears and back, and widen the whole picture 25%.

HA!

There already is more hair on my ears and back than on my head! I'm ahead of the game.