The popularity of cosmetic procedures exploded in the last decade, according to a recent report by The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Since 1997, surgical procedures have increased by 114 percent, while non-surgical procedures rose by an impressive 754 percent, according to the report.

     Eighteen percent of the procedures performed in 2007 were surgical and 82 percent were nonsurgical.

     This is the 11th consecutive year that data from multiple specialties have been collected for cosmetic procedures. To obtain the data, more than 12,000 surveys were sent to plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and otolaryngologists. The findings were then used to generate national estimates.

 

TOP FIVE SURGICAL

The most popular cosmetic surgical procedure last year was liposuction, with nearly half a million operations performed. Rounding out the top five were breast augmentation, eyelid surgery, abdominoplasty (better known as a tummy tuck), and breast reduction.

     Botox injections were far and away the most popular non-surgical procedure with nearly 2.8 million treatments logged. Hyaluronic acid injections were the next most popular with roughly half the number of Botox procedures. Other procedures making the top five were laser hair removal, microdermabrasion, and laser skin resurfacing.

     The vast majority of patients undergoing cosmetic procedures were women, the report indicates. Ninety-one percent of the procedures (10.6 million) performed in 2007 were on female patients.

 

MEN FIGHT WRINKLES

Compared with 2006, however, there was a much greater increase in cosmetic procedures among men than women: 17 percent vs. 1 percent. The procedure with the biggest increase among women was buttock augmentation, while the biggest gainer among men was injections of calcium hydroxylapatite (Radiesse) for filling wrinkles.

     Although the FDA advises against cosmetic breast augmentation in women under 18, the report indicates that nearly half the augmentations performed in this group were for cosmetic reasons. These procedures, however, represented less than one percent of the total number of breast augmentations performed in 2007.

 

COSMETIC BREAST SURGERY

In related news - in a survey of more than 300 women who had one of several cosmetic breast operations, nearly 97 percent of said that the results met or exceeded their expectations.

     And while 43 percent of women said they experienced nipple numbness after cosmetic breast surgery, the problem persisted in only about 5 percent.

     The survey included women who were treated over a 5-year period by Dr. Eric Swanson, a plastic surgeon in private practice in Leawood, Kansas.

     On average, patients used prescription painkillers for 5.4 days after surgery, resumed driving in 5.8 days, started work again in 5.4 days, and reported feeling normal at 27.8 days.

     Breast lift and breast reduction patients reported a significant improvement in physical symptoms following surgery.

 

ACUPUNCTURE NON-SURGICAL FACELIFTS

Facial acupuncture treatment, dubbed "non-surgical face-lift" has also grown in popularity over the past few years, according to a recent Reuters Health report. Acupuncture, which has been used for more than 2,000 years, involves stimulating certain points on the body, known as "qi" with needles, heat, pressure. Practitioners specializing in cosmetic acupuncture insert between 25 and 75 needles on the face to increase the circulation and stimulate collagen production, which fills in wrinkles, tightens sagging skin and eyelids and brightens a dull complexion.

 

COSMETIC DENTISTRY

The top cosmetic  dental procedures over the past few years,  according to The American Dental Association, include:  Teeth Whitening (bleaching); Bonding (improving the appearance of teeth that are chipped, broken, cracked, stained, or have spaces between them. With bonding, tooth-colored materials are applied, or bonded, to the tooth surface); Enamel Shaping (modifying teeth to improve their appearance by removing or contouring enamel. The process, which often is combined with bonding, usually is quick and comfortable and the results can be seen immediately) and Veneers (thin custom-made shells designed to cover the front side of teeth. Made of tooth-colored materials, veneers are used to treat spaces between teeth and teeth that are chipped or worn, permanently stained, poorly shaped or slightly crooked).

November 2008