Cosmetic Procedures are on the Rise: Who is Doing What (and Where)?
At the beginning of 2016, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) reported that Americans spent more than 13.5 billion dollars on combined surgical and nonsurgical procedures in the year prior. Not surprisingly, both Dr. Restifo and Dr. Mao have seen a marked increase in both the number and diversity of patients considering cosmetic improvements. As new technologies emerge and the cost of procedures becomes more affordable, the demand is growing.
Subtle Changes Have a Significant Impact
Over the past few years there’s been a steady increase in the number of first-time patients eager to explore the ways cosmetic procedures can improve their appearance and boost their confidence. While some patients want dramatic results, most people are just looking to make subtle changes that will restore their sense of balance and beauty; what’s amazing is how significantly these changes can affect a person’s self-esteem and overall feeling of well-being.
The Top Surgical Procedures
The top five surgical procedures for women in 2017 were: tummy tuck, breast augmentation, liposuction, eyelid surgery, and nose surgery. For men, the most popular procedures were liposuction, nose surgery, eyelid surgery, male breast reduction and facelift.
What Age Demographic Has the Most Cosmetic Procedures?
People between the age of 35-50 had the most surgical and non-surgical procedures performed in 2015; over 5.1 million accounting for 40.4% of the total. This is not surprising given that these years are often characterized by sleepless nights of child-rearing and stressful days in the pursuit of professional goals. Those ages 51-64 had 30.2%, followed by ages 19-34 at 17%. People 65 years old and over accounted for 10.2%, with less than 2% of procedures being performed for people under 18.
What Women Want
Women ages 19-34 most commonly come in to see Dr. Restifo about breast surgery; augmentation or reduction. Those between the ages of 35-45 typically express a desire to reclaim their pre-pregnancy body. A lot of mothers want “Mommy Makeovers” because diet and exercise alone can’t achieve the results they want. Pregnancy can cause significant loss of breast shape and volume, and it often loosens the abdominal skin and muscles; these changes are often unresponsive to nonsurgical approaches. Mommy Makeovers are designed to restore a woman’s sense of wholeness. The procedures are highly personalized and usually include an abdominoplasty with breast surgery; usually an augmentation or lift, or a combination augmentation/lift. Although technically, mommy makeovers are elective surgery, many patients consider them to be restorative – physically, psychologically, and emotionally. Patients frequently report feeling a renewed sense of confidence and vitality.
Men and Cosmetic Procedures
Women are not the only ones seeking cosmetic improvements. Dr. Mao sees both men and women who are using cosmetic improvements as one tool to bolster their careers. As a matter of personal branding, many professionals want to communicate self-confidence and approachability — looking their best is an important part of that. When people feel more confident, they act more confident. Not surprisingly, eye lifts and nose jobs are among the most common surgical procedures between ages 35-50, while Botox, lip and cheek augmentation, and laser skin treatments are becoming a regular part of many patients’ noninvasive self-care regimen.
What Do You Tell the Kids?
To those who might be cautious about sending the wrong message to their kids about cosmetic surgery, Dr. Restifo is quick to assuage any concerns. “Looking and feeling our best is what we want for our children as well as ourselves. Of course parents should underscore the importance of living a healthy lifestyle first. Cosmetic surgery is just another tool to help people look and feel their best, both personally and professionally. If surgery helps people embrace and enjoy life more fully, it’s a great option.”
Read the full article at Orange Life Magazine, pgs. 48-49
