Cosmetic Procedures Rise 25% to 5.7 Million American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Releases National Statistics Procedures Increase by 173% Since 1997 New York, NY (March 19, 2001) – The number of cosmetic procedures performed last year rose to 5.7 million, according to national statistics released today by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). That represents a 25% increase since 1999 and a 173% jump since 1997.
The five most popular surgical procedures were lipoplasty, up 113% since 1997 and totaling 376,633 procedures in 2000; eyelid surgery, up 33% since 1997 to 212,133 procedures; breast augmentation, up 101% since 1997 to 203,310 procedures; rhinoplasty, down 1% since 1997 (but up 32% compared to 1999) to 135,795 procedures; and facelift, up 4% since 1997 to 102,842 procedures.
There was a 23% increase in the number of procedures performed on men last year. Men still account for only 11% of the total number of procedures, unchanged from 1999.
The ASAPS statistics are based on surveys to nearly 8000 physicians nationwide, and project combined totals of three specialties – plastic surgery, dermatology and otolaryngology. ASAPS members, who represent only a portion of the physicians surveyed, are board-certified plastic surgeons specializing in cosmetic surgery of the face and the entire body. Among all surgical specialists, ASAPS members generally perform the highest volume and widest range of cosmetic procedures.
The new statistics include some surprises. For example, the number of procedures performed on teens under 18 was down 34%, even though rhinoplasties – or "nose jobs," a traditional choice for teens – have made a comeback (up 32% from the previous year).
The biggest upsurge in numbers comes from nonsurgical Botox injections. As an aid in helping to eliminate wrinkles and frown lines, over one million (1,096,611) Botox injections were performed last year. This represents an increase of 120% from 1999 and a rise of almost 1600% since 1997.
Other nonsurgical procedures scoring high in popularity last year were: chemical peel, with 630,194 procedures (up 31% since 1997); microdermabrasion, with 610,705 procedures (up 113% since 1999, the first year in which statistics for this new skin polishing procedure were gathered); and collagen injections, with 592,195 procedures (up 71% since 1997).
"These increases in the number of cosmetic procedures continue a well-established trend," says ASAPS President Daniel C. Morello, MD. "The public has a growing awareness of the surgical procedures available to them, their safety and, in addition, the many nonsurgical procedures that often are a prelude to having more extensive cosmetic surgery."
While demand for surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures was up, the ASAPS statistics show that surgeons’ fees remained essentially the same, making cosmetic procedures more affordable for more people