Plastic surgery is more popular than ever, according to the latest report from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. A total of 17.5 million cosmetic procedures were performed in 2017, a 2 percent increase from the previous year. Here, San Antonio plastic surgeon Dr. Robert Young breaks down the top procedures and interesting trends revealed in ASPS’ latest report.
Top Surgical Procedures
Approximately 1.8 million cosmetic surgical procedures were performed in 2017, a 1 percent increase from the previous year. The top five were:
- Breast augmentation – 300,378 procedures (3 percent increase)
- Liposuction – 246,354 procedures (5 percent increase)
- Nose reshaping (rhinoplasty) – 218,924 procedures (2 percent decrease)
- Eyelid surgery – 209,571 procedures (no change)
- Tummy tuck – 129,753 procedures (2 percent increase)
Top Minimally Invasive Procedures
Minimally invasive procedures outpaced surgical procedures in 2017. There were a total of 15.7 million minimally invasive procedures, a 2 percent increase from 2016. The top five were:
- Botulinum toxin type A – 7.2 million procedures (2 percent increase)
- Soft tissue fillers – 2.7 million procedures (3 percent increase)
- Chemical peels – 1.4 million procedures (1 percent increase)
- Laser hair removal – 1.1 million procedures (2 percent decrease)
- Microdermabrasion – 740,287 procedures (4 percent decrease)
Non-surgical Fat Removal and Skin Tightening Procedures Rise
Speaking of minimally invasive, more people are looking for non-surgical methods to remove unwanted deposits of fat and tighten saggy skin. Non-surgical treatments that eliminate fat and tighten skin increased nearly 20 percent over the previous year. Among the most popular procedures in this category is CoolSculpting, which uses fat freezing technology to permanently destroy fat cells. CoolSculpting is popular for many reasons. First, it doesn’t involve surgery, anesthesia, incisions or needles. Unlike liposuction and other surgical body contouring procedures, CoolSculpting doesn’t require downtime. The final slimming results typically become visible several months after treatment.
Breast Reduction and Brazilian Butt Lift Surge
Both breast reduction and Brazilian butt lift experienced noticeable increases in 2017. Breast reduction, which resizes overly large breasts and the nipple-areolar complex, increased 11 percent from the previous year. Brazilian butt lift, which enhances the shape and size of the buttocks using unwanted fat from another body area, increased 10 percent in 2017.
1.3 Million Procedures Were Performed on Men
The number of men seeking plastic surgery is increasing. There were more than 1.3 million cosmetic procedures performed on men in 2017. The ASPS report revealed that younger men are gravitating towards body contouring procedures. Liposuction increased 23 percent among men, tummy tucks increased 12 percent and male breast reduction increased approximately 30 percent over the past five years.
While younger men are concerned about sculpting their bodies, older men are more concerned about taking years off their facial appearance. According to ASPS, dermal fillers performed on men increased nearly 99 percent, while Botox almost quadrupled since 2000!
Discuss your cosmetic concerns and goals with a board certified plastic surgeon. To schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Young, please call (210) 496-BODY (2639) or email our office today.