More Than a Trend: Plastic Surgery Numbers Rise 12 Years in a Row
“With the increasing popularity of Botox and other fillers, this isn’t surprising,” says Dr. Kimball Crofts. “Patients no longer have to go under anesthesia and deal with recovery times to freshen their look. Minimally invasive procedures fit into a patient’s busy and active lifestyle.”
The top minimally invasive procedures include Botox, laser hair removal, laser skin resurfacing and chemical peels.
On the surgical side, breast augmentations continue to be the most commonly asked for procedure. Other common procedures are liposuction, eyelid surgery, nose jobs and facelifts.
Twelve years in a row of consistent growth might seem too good to be true, but Dr. Crofts and other plastic surgeons don’t expect the trend to slow any time soon.
“Plastic surgery is becoming more popular with baby boomers who want to look as young as they feel,” says Dr. Crofts. “But we’re also seeing more younger patients, too. We live in a world dominated by social media, and younger patients are trying to capture the perfect selfie. And we’re seeing many turn to plastic surgery to achieve that.”
In fact, the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery polled its members and found that one in three member surgeons had seen an increase in consultations based on patients’ social media images. This included a 10 percent rise in rhinoplasty procedures and a six percent jump in eyelid procedures.
Since 1997, cosmetic procedures for women have increase 471 percent. But they aren’t the only ones turning to plastic surgery. The number of cosmetic procedures performed on men increased 471 percent from the 1997 numbers.
In 2013, Americans spent more than $12 billion on cosmetic procedures. Of that, $7 billion was spent on surgical procedures, while the other $5 billion was spent on non-surgical procedures, such a Botox.
As the statistics for 2014 are gathered, we can expect more of the same – an increase in the number of people turning to plastic surgery to perfect their looks and feels as beautiful on the outside as they do on the inside.