The number of cosmetic enhancements in America dropped two percent last year, according to statistics just released by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
While surgical procedures like abdominoplasty, liposuction and breast reduction decreased by 17 percent, non-surgical cosmetic enhancements actually rose 0.6 percent. Clearly, like many other markets, plastic surgery has been affected by the recession.
Only 928 physicians responded to the ASAPS survey, which is intended to help analyze procedure data and understand current industry trends.
Breast Augmentation Still the Top Cosmetic Surgery
For the second year in a row, Breast augmentation was the most frequently performed cosmetic surgery with 311,957 procedures performed. Surgeons have suggested several reasons for its continued success.
There may still be some excitement about the reintroduction of silicone gel breast implants, suggested ASAPS President Dr. Renato Saltz in the Wall Street Journal.
Dr Bruce Genter, a plastic surgeon in Philadelphia, agrees, adding that it may also be due to the relatively quick recovery time of breast augmentation and the almost “immediate gratification” it brings. “There is also an overall upbeat aura about breast augmentation that is not pervasive in other cosmetic surgical procedures,” comments Genter.
Statistics show yet another possible reason: more younger patients choosing the breast implants. For patients 19-34 years old, it was the most chosen surgery, while patients age 35-50 actually chose liposuction more frequently.
More numbers for 2009 will be made public in the coming weeks from other groups, so it will be interesting to compare their findings and discuss the cosmetic trends that emerged over the last year.
- Read the ASAPS press release
- Breast Augmentation in New York