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2010 Plastic Surgery Statistics

by Marisa Amorasak

Earlier this month, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) released its annual report on plastic surgery statistics. As a highly respected group comprised of board-certified plastic surgeons, ASAPS offers the most accurate and recent reports on overall plastic surgery trends. In 2010, ASAPS found that plastic surgery procedures were still on the rise, while the popularity of non-surgical procedures had actually decreased (despite earlier assumptions that more consumers would turn to affordable, minimally invasive alternatives to surgery during a down economy). This year, the ASAPS also paid particular attention to the types of people that were getting plastic surgery of any sort-- including their gender, geographic location, and ethnicity. By identifying the most popular procedures in 2010 and comparing their popularity rate to recent years, we can offer some insight on what types of plastic surgery procedures people are interested in right now-- and why.

Top 5 Plastic Surgery Procedures in 2010

Breast Augmentation
Nose Reshaping
Eyelid Surgery
Liposuction
Tummy Tuck

It comes as little surprise that the most popular surgical procedure in 2010 was breast augmentation. It was also the most popular in 2008 and 2009. In all, there were 296,203 breast augmentations performed in 2010, which is a 2% rise compared to 2009. It probably doesn't seem like much, but it's apparent that people are requesting more and more breast augmentations as the years go by. There were 39% more people who had breast augmentations in 2010 versus 2000. nose reshaping, or rhinoplasty, came in a close second, at 252,261 procedures total. Although it's still an incredibly popular surgery, nose reshaping has been on a steady decrease. There were 35% less nose reshaping procedures performed in 2010 than in 2000. Eyelid surgery saw a 3% increase since 2009, but a significant 36% drop since 2000. Eyelid surgery encompasses a few procedures, including augmentation of both the upper and lower eyelid. Liposuction and tummy tuck just barely increased and 2% and 1%, respectively. But compared to 2000, liposuction is losing popularity with a 43% decrease. Perhaps people are opting for other procedures to get rid of fat, like tummy tucks, which have risen a considerable 86% since 2000.

Top 5 Minimally-Invasive Cosmetic Procedures in 2010

Botox
Dermal Fillers
Chemical Peel
Laser Hair Removal
Microdermabrasion

Over the last ten years, surgical procedures have taken a somewhat of a backseat to non-surgical procedures, which are up by 110% compared to surgical procedures, which are down by 18%. At least some of that gap in percentages is due to the incredibly popular Botox. It's 584% more popular than it was in 2000, and in the last year alone there was a 12% increase in Botox injections. While 5.4 million people got Botox, 1.8 chose dermal fillers. Dermal fillers also treat fine lines and wrinkles, but can also plump the lips and skin with injectables like Juvederm. Chemical peels saw no change between 2000, 2009, or 2010. Laser hair removal is gaining steam with a 5% step up since 2009. This is likely due, at least partially, to the technological advancements in laser hair removal, which can now treat blondes, redheads, and even some darker skin tones. Microdermabrasion was less popular, with a 9% decrease since 2009.

It's notable that overall, the popularity of non-surgical procedures was down in 2010 compared to the year before by 9%. Still, the non-surgical market makes up the majority of procedures performed with 83% of the total.

Top 5 Male Plastic Surgery Procedures in 2010

Nose Reshaping
Eyelid Surgery
Liposuction
Breast Reduction
Hair Transplants

Men's plastic surgery has been a growing topic of interest for plastic surgeons, as it's becoming more and more socially acceptable for men to get procedures. Nose reshaping saw a 4% decrease in male patients since 2009, which mirrors the decrease in nose reshaping overall. Eyelid surgery gained four percentage points since 2009 with 31,000 total procedures. Interestingly, liposuction was 9% more popular for men in 2010 than it was in 2009, which is dissimilar to the overall decreasing trend in liposuction. It seems that while women are showing less interest in that procedure and more in tightening surgeries like tummy tucks, men are looking to get rid of excess fat. Male breast reduction and hair transplants each saw an increase in procedures performed, at 2% and 6%, respectively.

Regional Distribution of Plastic Surgery

To assess what geographical locations were home of the most plastic surgery procedures performed, ASAPS divided the country into five regions. Region 1 includes New England and the Middle Atlantic, Region 2 encompasses the Midwest and Mideast, Region 3 covers the South Atlantic, Region 4 includes the Southwest and Southeast, and Region 5 is compromised of the Pacific states. Overall, Region 5 had the most plastic surgeries with 31% of the total. They top the list when it comes to the most popular procedures, including breast augmentation, eyelid surgery, liposuction, and tummy tuck. But that's not to say that other areas of the U.S. Don't give the Californians a run for their money. Breast reduction for men and nose reshaping was most popular in Region 1 and Region 2 had 32% of the buttock lifts. Buttock implants were definitely the most popular in Region 3, which includes the states along the Atlantic, like Florida and South Carolina. Cheek implants were concentrated in Region 4 with 42%. There are numerous possible explanations for the popularity of certain procedures in one region versus another. Cultural demographics probably play a big role. For example, there's a large Hispanic and Latin American population in Florida. Both cultures find a curvy butt appealing, which may be why butt implants are particularly popular in Region 3.

Plastic Surgery Ethnic Demographics

Speaking of cultural demographics, ASAPS also broke down the ethnic makeup of plastic surgery patients. Caucasians comprised the majority, with 70% of patients in 2009 and 2010. Hispanics make up 11% of patients, while African American and Asians were 8% and 6%, respectively. There was little to no change in the distribution of plastic surgery amongst these demographics between 2009 and 2010, and there's no data on the subject prior to 2009. African Americans mostly came to their plastic surgeon for liposuction, nose reshaping, and breast reduction. Hispanics commonly came in for breast augmentation, liposuction, and nose reshaping. Breast augmentation, nose reshaping, and eyelid surgery were the most popular amongst Asians. These statistics are interesting because they may shed some light on the aesthetic concerns and ideals of non-Caucasians in the U.S.

Why 2010 Plastic Surgery Statistics Matter To You

The ASAPS plastic surgery statistics reveal what's hot and what's not in 2010. But don't base your plastic surgery decisions on these statistics only. The best way to find out what's right for you is to visit a specialist in the field, who can give you customized advice. If you'd like to discuss any of the above procedures in a private consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area, contact us today.