Australia isn’t the U.K. or the U.S., but these countries can be a good litmus test for what’s happening in the world of cosmetic enhancement. That’s why we thought you might enjoy knowing what’s happening in the northern hemisphere, where the business of being beautiful is booming.
In its annual “state of the state” of plastic surgery procedure statistics released in February of this year, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) reported that 15.1 million cosmetic surgery procedures, both minimally-invasive and surgical, were performed in the United States in 2013, a 3% increase over the previous year.
In addition to cosmetic procedures, reconstructive surgery also saw an increase of 2% as men, women, and children were helped by more than five-and-a-half million procedures performed to correct genetic and trauma-related problems.
Media attention to celebrity makeovers certainly plays a part in the surge of cosmetic procedures. ASPS suggests, however, that new products and strides in technology may be paving the way for more people to seek solutions.These advancements are making cosmetic procedures safer, less time-consuming, and, in many cases, more affordable.
About Face
Facial rejuvenation procedures were especially popular with Americans, who chose facelifts, forehead lifts, eyelid surgery, fillers and peels in growing numbers. “With new devices and products hitting the market each year, there are more options and choices available to consumers wanting to refresh their look or a little nip and tuck,” says ASPS President Robert X. Murphy, MD.
As you can see, three of the top five facial procedures experienced an uptick.
- Injectables (6.3 million injections, up 3%)
- Soft-tissue dermal fillers (2.2 million procedures, up 13%)
- Chemical peels (1.2 million procedures, up 3%)
- Laser hair removal (1.1 million procedures, down 4%)
- Microdermabrasion (970,000 procedures, no change)
Minimally invasive procedures for facial enhancementare especially popular.
‘The 2013 statistics show a healthy increase in most areas of our specialty. I would predict that surgical procedures will see steady growth in the years ahead, but the non-invasive body contouring technologies will see greater increases.” – Dr. David Reath, American Society of Plastic Surgeons Blog
Traditional Cosmetic Surgery
Minimally invasive and non-surgical procedures are on the rise, but many men and women still chose these top five body modifications in 2013.
- Breast augmentation (290,000 procedures)
- Nose reshaping (221,000 procedures)
- Eyelid surgery (216,000 procedures,)
- Liposuction (200,000 procedures)
- Facelift (133,000 procedures)
Cosmetic Procedures to Watch
For the first time, the ASPS report included statistics on buttock augmentation (with fat grafting) and neck lifts, two highly talked-about procedures on the rise in the U.S. Nearly 10,000 Americans had buttock augmentations with fat grafting in 2013, an increase of 16% from the previous year.
Neck lifts were up 6%. The neck is one of the first areas of the body to exhibit signs of ageing, so it’s no wonder that more than 55,000 procedures were performed last year.
U.K. Cosmetic Surgery Also on the Rise
Across the Atlantic from America, there has also been a dramatic increase in the popularity of cosmetic surgery. The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) statistics on plastic surgery reveal that 50,122 cosmetic procedures were performed in the U.K. in 2013, an increase of 17% on the previous year.
The number of nose jobs, facelifts and breast implant operations all soared by more than 10%. The biggest boom was in liposuction, increasing 41%. In an official statement, BAAPS said these numbers represent “the most impressive rise in demand” since the start of the recession in 2008.
The BAAPS figures do not include non-surgical “lunchtime” cosmetic treatments, such as injectables.
“Everyone’s doing it,” is NOT a reason to opt for cosmetic enhancement. If you’re considering a cosmetic procedure, talk to a qualified professional to ensure that you have all the facts as they pertain to Y-O-U.