Which plastic procedures became the most frequently requested in 2015?
The latest annual data on plastic surgery procedures in this country has recently been released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Not surprisingly, it shows continuing growth in cosmetic procedures over the last year. In 2015, 15.9 million surgical and minimally invasive aesthetic procedures were performed in the U.S. — a 2 percent increase over 2014. Even more impressive, the number of overall cosmetic procedures has risen 115 percent since the year 2000.
Perhaps not as anticipated, however, the research shows a shift in the types of surgeries and cosmetic procedures that have become most popular. According to ASPS President David H. Song, MD, MBA, FACS, “While more traditional facial procedures and breast augmentations are still among the most popular, we’re seeing much more diversity in the areas of the body patients are choosing to address.”
The Most Popular “Lifts” This Past Year
With more and more procedures available to them, patients are choosing to have their bodies molded to meet their own specific needs, targeting the regions of their bodies that displease them the most. While facelifts were the first of the popular aesthetic lifts, the tide has shifted and now the list of most popular lifts reads as follows (percentage increases are from the year 2000):
- Breast lifts — up 89 percent
- Buttock lifts — up 252 percent
- Lower body lifts — up 3,973 percent
- Upper arm lifts up — up 4,959 percent
Five Most Frequently Performed Minimally Invasive Cosmetic Procedures
Further evidence of changing trends regarding aesthetic procedures is shown by the fact that the once most popular facelift has now fallen out of favor to the extent that it is no longer among the top five cosmetic surgeries. The new top five in 2015 were:
- Breast augmentation
- Liposuction
- Nose reshaping (rhinoplasty)
- Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty)
- Tummy tuck
Muscle Relaxants (Paralytics) and Dermal Fillers
Procedures that focus primarily on the appearance of the skin have also increased in popularity. As patients try to maintain a youthful appearance, they turn to medical aesthetics to receive help in removing wrinkles and unwanted hair, filling in sunken areas (such as acne scars), and re-establishing a smooth, even skin tone. The five most popular of the 14.2 million minimally invasive or non-invasive procedures performed in 2015 were:
- BOTOX® (Botulinum Toxin Type A)
- Soft tissue fillers
- Chemical peel
- Laser hair removal
- Microdermabrasion
Three Other Interesting Statistics Regarding Cosmetic Procedures
- According to the ASPS research, 2015 was “the year of the rear,” with buttock surgeries, involving augmentation, lifts, and implants, rising dramatically.
- The other intriguing statistic is that, for the first time, during 2015, men accounted for more than 40 percent of breast reduction surgeries. Men are more ready than ever to tackle the common reality of gynecomastia (excessive male breast tissue).
- The Breast Reconstruction Awareness Campaign, initiated by ASPS in 2012, has resulted in larger numbers of women having reconstructive surgery after lumpectomies or mastectomies.
Reasons for Increased Numbers of Cosmetic Procedures
The increase in cosmetic procedures is multifold. Not only have such procedures become safer and less invasive, they have become less expensive, making them more appealing to a broader segment of the population. It is still, however, as the ASPS points out, very important to put yourselves in the hands of a highly qualified, board-certified, ASPS physician when undergoing even seemingly simple procedures, since many are more complicated than they appear.