Reno Plastic Surgeon Breaks Down ASAPS Statistics: Part 2

In last week’s blog post regarding the most common age range for cosmetic plastic surgery, I presented some interesting statistical trends recorded by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). To recap: cosmetic plastic surgery numbers have increased annually since 1997. Over the past year, patients within the age range of 35-50 years received the most plastic surgery, and breast augmentation, liposuction, and tummy tuck surgery led the way for all cosmetic surgical procedures performed.

In this second installment of my three-part blog series breaking down the ASAPS statistics, I will discuss why I believe the aforementioned procedures have become so popular.

Why Breast Augmentation, Liposuction, and Tummy Tuck Top the List

Breast augmentation surgery has come a long way in my opinion. Many women are seeking a natural-looking result that improves fullness, yet doesn’t look overly fake. Once the FDA lifted the moratorium on silicone gel implants following their proven safety, women began to feel more confident using them. Silicone implants offer a more natural look and feel than saline implants, in my opinion, which most likely aided in rise of breast augmentation popularity. Additionally, the desire for breast augmentation also spans a wide age range of women. It encompasses younger women who never quite developed as much as they hoped, as well as women who lost a significant amount of volume with pregnancy, age, or weight fluctuations.

In regard to liposuction, there are many alternatives to traditional liposuction which have collectively led to an increase in volume. Some of these involve concurrent laser skin tightening, while others offer less invasive techniques for smaller areas that do not require general anesthesia or treatment in a surgery center. An example of this is CoolSculpting^®, which is a technology that allows the “freezing” of fat and works very well for bulges. This particular procedure has been a great addition to our practice as it is non-invasive, yet effective, and it affords no downtime whatsoever.

I feel tummy tuck surgery remains as popular as ever because of its superior ability to remove excess skin and fat, as well as repair the anterior muscles to the abdominal wall that are often stretched apart during pregnancy. Additionally, stretch marks can typically be removed during a tummy tuck as well, making the procedure even more beneficial.

Further Statistical Breakdown

For my theory as to why plastic surgery numbers have spiked, as well as my projection for future trends, be sure to check out part three of my blog series later this week.