Plastic Surgery Continued to Grow in 2007

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the most recognized plastic surgery society in the U.S., has recently released their 2007 statistics. Each year the ASPS conducts a survey of its member plastic surgeons (comprises over 90% of board-certified plastic surgeons) to determine trends and numbers of plastic surgeries performed. Here are some highlights:

1. There were almost 12 million cosmetic plastic surgeries performed in 2007, a 7 percent increase from 2006 and a 59% increase from 2000.
2. The top 5 cosmetic plastic surgery procedures were: (1) Breast augmentation (up 6%), (2) Liposuction (unchanged), (3) Rhinoplasty (down 7%), (4) Eyelid surgery (up 3%), and (5) Tummy tuck (up 1%).
3. There were nearly 10 million minimally-invasive procedures performed, up 10% from 2006.
4. The top 5 minimally invasive cosmetic procedures were: (1) Botox (up 13%), (2) Hyaluronic acid fillers (up 35%), (3) Chemical peel (down 4%), (4) Laser hair removal (up 2%), and (5) Microdermabrasion (up 10%).
5. The amount of facelifts performed in 2007 has actually risen by 14% over 2006.

Some of my thoughts on these trends:
1. Even with a slowing of the national economy, plastic surgery continues to be a hot market. While more and more people are being introduced to plastic surgery via minimally invasive procedures like Botox, the traditional surgical procedures remain more popular than ever.
2. Breast augmentation is the top plastic surgery for the second year in a row, no doubt aided by the return of the silicone gel implants in November 2006.
3. Hyaluronic acid fillers rose from the fifth most common minimally invasive procedure in 2006 to the second most common in 2007. Patients are beginning to see the longevity of these excellent fillers (much better than collagen) without the long-term risks of longer-acting fillers (like silicone - shudder). I predict these numbers will continue to grow as more and more companies get into this market.
4. The status of facelifts may be finally turning a corner. Patients may be finally figuring out that most of the overly-hyped lunchtime facelifts are just that: hype. These mini-thread-lunchstyle-facelifts don't compare to the results of a real, muscle-tightening facelift, no matter what the fancy, deceptive advertising might say. With more patients undergoing real facelifts by real board-certified plastic surgeons, it is possible that patients are learning that advertising is not always truthful.
5. Keep in mind that these numbers do not reflect plastic surgery procedures being performed by non-board-certified plastic surgeons, such as cosmetic surgeons (dentists, ER Docs, ENT's performing breast augmentation, and the like). I would unfortunately assume that the numbers of plastic surgery procedures being performed by improperly trained doctors continues to rise at an alarming rate.

For more on the ASPS 2007 statistics, click here.

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.: