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A renowned plastic surgeon has opened up about why he tells his patients to avoid running, saying high-impact exercise makes people age faster.
Dr. Gerald Imber, 82, maintains a private office on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, where he specializes in procedures for the face and body, including the limited-incision facelift he pioneered decades ago.
The expert, who has a special interest in the treatment and prevention of aging, simultaneously delighted and infuriated TikTok this week when he opened up about how long-distance running is one of his “favorite hobbies.”
“Half of my patients love me for it, and half of my patients hate me for it,” he admitted at the start of the now-viral video.
Plastic surgeon Dr. Gerald Imber, 82, went viral on TikTok this week after opening up about why he tells patients to avoid long-distance running.
He admitted that running is a “pet motive” for him, saying, “Half of my patients love me for it, and half of my patients hate me for it.”
Dr. Imber challenged viewers to think of a long-distance runner who didn’t have a “haggard old face.”
Dr. Imber noted that it’s “perfectly fine to run a little bit every day or run a couple miles a few times a week,” but in his opinion, anything more than that is too much.
‘Have you ever seen a long-distance runner who didn’t have a gaunt, old face?’ he asked. ‘That is what happens.’
‘Runner’s face’ has long been a hot topic of debate in the running community, with some claiming that the shock of running has caused the skin on the face to sag.
Others suggest that the perceived advanced aging is due to the low amount of body fat or increased sun exposure of outdoor runners.
Dr Imber added that running a marathon also causes stress on the body, saying: ‘Your knees wear out, your ankles wear out, [and] your back goes
“It’s a bit silly,” he added.
However, running also has a number of benefits, and he reiterated that there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a run once in a while.
“So if you want to run a bit, fantastic but non- or low-impact aerobics is really the way to get your exercise in,” he concluded.
Dr Imber added that running a marathon also causes stress on the body, saying: ‘Your knees wear out, your ankles wear out, [and] your back goes’
Dr. Imber noted that it’s “perfectly fine to run a little bit every day or run a couple miles a few times a week,” but in his opinion, anything more than that is too much.
Several commenters agreed with the plastic surgeon, including some former runners, but others made it clear that they weren’t going to give up their favorite workout.
Dr. Imber’s video has been viewed 1.8 million times and received over 4,000 comments in just two days.
Unsurprisingly, there were plenty of people who were delighted by the pundit’s anti-race stance.
‘You don’t have to tell me twice!’ one fan joked.
Some former runners were inspired to share the injuries they have accumulated over the years from high-impact exercise.
“I used to run 6 miles a day,” shared a 44-year-old man who has already had two hip replacements.
‘Accept!! I ran marathons, had 2 back surgeries,” someone else added.
The comments section was also filled with many messages from running devotees who made it clear they won’t give up their favorite form of exercise.
‘I love running. It’s therapeutic for me and I feel amazing after a good run,” one person wrote. ‘I’m addicted to high runners. I guess I’ll look old but I’ll feel great!’