Seen At 11: Women Take Precautions To Avoid Moms' Facial Aging Genes

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- From your eyes and your mouth to your chin, are you morphing into your mom?

For many women, their mothers' genetic code will dictate how they age – and not always so gracefully. But as CBS2's Cindy Hsu reported, some are now fighting mom's genes.

Kimberly Donahue, 16, said she hopes she ends up looking like her mother when she is her mother's age. But Kimberly's mother, June, did not always feel that way about her own mother.

"My mother was beautiful," June Donahue said, "but I feel like that generation didn't care for their skin."

June Donahue said her mother passed down many wonderful traits, but her premature aging was not one of them.

"This in particular seems to be deeper," she said, pointing to her laugh lines, "and you know, I'm starting to get a little bit sunken."

Donahue is far from alone.

A survey conducted by the dermatology company Galderma found 67 percent of women worry about aging. That number increased to nearly 80 percent with those who felt they were starting to look like their moms.

Now, a growing number of daughters are taking matters into their own hands.

"We're seeing a lot of people seeking cosmetic treatment at much younger ages," said Dr. Kavita Mariwalla.

Using facial imaging and 3D computer modeling, researchers can predict aging patterns and inherited features, like turkey neck, crow's feet, and sunken cheeks, so preventative measures can be taken. Some measures are taken even decades before the women will even see the inherited damage.

"Ten years ago, I would say your average patient was between the age of 35 and 50, maybe 60," Mariwalla said. "Now, that average age has actually decreased. We see people in their late 20s and mid-30s."

Mariwalla said while the phrase, "like mother, like daughter" definitely holds true, when it comes to aging, there are signs even within her own family that she'd like to avoid.

"I sort of hate the dark circles under my eyes," she said.

Today, there are more options to prevent or reverse genetic facial aging.

"I can use injectables to soften (my cheek lines) up, and I can also use injectables to lift the skin underneath my eyes up off that tear trough bed, so it makes them look less dark," she said.

Kimberly Donahue said of her mother, "I think she looks really good for her age." Still, June Donahue is taking these new options under consideration.

"I feel like I'm ready for it," she said.

Donahue said she will still look like her mom -- only better.