Top 5 Plastic Surgery Procedures

Every decade has its own look! The fashion industry, of course, has a detailed history. However, the people themselves seem to change over the years too. It’s funny but it shouldn’t be a surprise. After all, every year we see changes in dieting trends and beauty ideals. In 2016, for example, everyone was swept away by big lips. Remember the Kylie Jenner lip challenge? Yikes! Thankfully, when it came to making large cosmetic changes, most people know to trust a professional. When it came to plastic surgery, there were some noticeable changes in procedure popularity.

Not all plastic surgery is the same. Comparing reconstructive surgery to Botox isn’t a fair comparison. One is about returning to health after serious damage, while the other is focused on creative a pleasing aesthetic. That is why, when looking at plastic surgery trends, it’s good to divide plastic surgery procedures up into different categories.

Cosmetic Surgical Procedures

Plastic surgery is, as the name implies, surgical. These procedures will make a bigger, longer lasting impact than less invasive procedures; however, they also require more recovery time.

1.       Breast Augmentation

·         Breast augmentation is an invasive surgical procedure that increases the size and improves the shape of breasts by placing implants.

·         There were 290,467 breast augmentations in 2016. During 2015, there were only 279,143. That is a 4% increase. Since 2000, however, there has been a 37% increase in the number of breast augmentations done annually in the United States.

2.       Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty)

·         Blepharoplasty, also known as eyelid surgery or an eye lift, removes excess baggy tissue around the eyes.

·         There were 209,020 eyelid surgeries in 2016. During 2015, there were only 203,934. That is a 2% increase. Since 2000, however, there has been a 36% decrease in the number of eyelid surgeries done annually in the United States.

3.       Facelift (rhytidectomy)

·         Rhytidectomy, also known as a facelift, removes excess skin and fat around the face to make the skin more taunt and remove wrinkles.

·         There were 131,106 facelifts in 2016. During 2015, there were only 222,051. That is a 4% increase. Since 2000, however, there has been a 2% decrease in the number of facelifts done annually in the United States.

4.       Liposuction

·         Liposuction removes fat around the body to reshape it.

·         There were 235,237 liposuction treatments in 2016. During 2015, there were only 222,051. That is a 6% increase. Since 2000, however, there has been a 34% decrease in the number of liposuction treatments done annually in the United States.

5.       Nose reshaping (rhinoplasty)

·         Rhinoplasty, also known as nose reshaping or a nose job, reshapes the nose to correct disfigurement or improve function.

·         There were 223,018 nose reshaping surgeries in 2016. During 2015, there were only 217,979. That is a 2% increase. Since 2000, however, there has been a 43% decrease in the number of breast augmentations done annually in the United States.

Cosmetic Minimally-Invasive Procedures

Minimally-invasive procedures allow patients to see results without needing to undergo a surgery that will require them to take a significant amount of time off to recover. Understandably, since these procedures involve minimal trauma, the number of cosmetic minimally-invasive procedures per year is significantly more than other, more difficult procedures.

1.       Botulinum Toxin Type A (Botox, Dysport, Xeomin)

·         Botox, Dysport, etc. paralyzes muscles to remove wrinkles.

·         There were 7,056,255 botulinum toxin type A treatments in 2016. During 2015, there were only 6,757,198. That is a 4% increase. Since 2000, however, there has been a 797% increase in the number of botulinum toxin type A treatments done annually in the United States.

2.       Chemical peel

·         Chemical peels come in a variety of types. Their goal is to remove acne scars, wrinkles, discoloration, and sun damage.

·         There were 1,360,850 chemical peels performed in 2016. During 2015, there were only 1,310,252. That is a 4% increase. Since 2000, however, there has been a 18% increase in the number of chemical peels done annually in the United States.

3.       Laser hair removal

·         Laser hair removal uses a beam of highly concentrated light to destroy hairs at the follicle. This prevents the need to shave, tweeze or wax in the future.

·         There were 1,109,385 cases of laser hair removal in 2016. During 2015, there were 1,116,708. That is a 1% decrease. Since 2000, however, there has been a 51% increase in the number of laser hair removal procedures done annually in the United States.

4.       Microdermabrasion

·         Microdermabrasion uses tiny crystals to exfoliate the skin.

·         There were 775,014 microdermabrasions performed in 2016. During 2015, there were 800,340. That is a 3% decrease. Since 2000, however, there has been a 11% decrease in the number of microdermabrasions done annually in the United States.

5.       Soft tissue fillers

·         Soft tissue fillers are injections that are used to make lips more plump, contour the features, and decrease signs of aging.

·         There were 2,600,868 soft tissue filler procedures performed in 2016. During 2015, there were only 2,550,987. That is a 2% increase. Since 2000, however, there has been a 298% increase in the number of X done annually in the United States.

Reconstructive Procedures

Unlike the plastic surgery procedures mentioned above, reconstructive surgery focuses on repairing damaged caused by a trauma. Plastic surgeons need the same skills for these surgeries as others. However, the starting point and ultimate goals are different. These surgeries are about returning to normalcy and health, whereas the popular surgeries above focused on visually improving an otherwise healthy body.

1.       Hand surgery (excluding microsurgical)

·         There were 135,250 hand surgeries in 2016. During 2015, there were only 130,280. That is a 4% increase. Data is unavailable regarding the increase from 2000.

2.       Laceration repair (other than facial)

·         There were 253,361 laceration repairs in 2016. During 2015, there were 253,441. That is a 0% increase. Since 2000, however, there has been a 29% decrease in the number of laceration repairs done annually in the United States.

3.       Maxillofacial surgery

·         There were 202,688 in 2016. During 2015, there were only 200,550. That is a 1% increase. Since 2000, however, there has been a 155% increase in the number of maxillofacial surgeries done annually in the United States.

4.       Scar revision

·         There were 181,190 scar revisions in 2016. During 2015, there were only 179,066. That is a 1% increase. Since 2000, however, there has been a 18% decrease in the number of scar revisions done annually in the United States.

5.       Tumor removal (including skin cancer)

·         There were 4,473,238 tumor removals in 2016. During 2015, there were 4,472,153. That is a 0% increase. Data is unavailable regarding the increase from 2000.

Overall, the prevalence of minimally-invasive procedures cannot be ignored. Plastic surgery is a safe option that can help meet a patient’s cosmetic needs without requiring significant time off from work. Cosmetic surgical procedures rose from 2015 but the most popular surgeries have been decreasing in popularity since 2000.

Here are some plastic surgery procedures that did not make it into the top five of their respective categories but have seen a dramatic increase in popularity since 2000.

·         Breast lift (mastopexy)

o   Mastopexy, also known as a breast lift, raises sagging breasts higher on the chest.

o   While 52,836 breast lifts were performed in 2000, there were 101,264 in 2016. This is a 92% increase in the number of breast lifts in the United States annually.

·         Buttock lift

o   Buttock lifts enhance flat or sagging buttocks areas.

o   While 1,356 buttock lifts were performed in 2000, there were 4,251 in 2016. This is a 213% increase in the number of buttock lifts in the United States annually.

·         Dermabrasion

o   Dermabrasion “sands” the skin to remove the superficial layers.

o   While 42,218 dermabrasions were performed in 2000, there were 88,182 in 2016. This is a 109% increase in the number of dermabrasions in the United States annually.

·         Lower body lift

o   Lower body lift, also known as a belt lipectomy, removes extra tissue from the abdomen, hips, outer thighs, and buttocks.

o   While 207 lower body lifts were performed in 2000, there were 11,299 in 2016. This is a 5358% increase in the number of lower body lifts in the United States annually.

·         Thigh lift

o   Thigh lifts remove extra fat and skin from the thighs.

o   While 5,303 thigh lifts were performed in 2000, there were 9,929 in 2016. This is a 87% increase in the number of thigh lifts in the United States annually.

·         Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty)

o   Tummy tucks remove extra skin and fat from the belly. It also often restores weak or separated abdominal muscles.

o   While 62,713 tummy tucks were performed in 2000, there were 127,633 in 2016. This is a 104% increase in the number of tummy tucks in the United States annually.

·         Upper arm lift

o   Upper arm lifts remove extra fat and skin from the upper arms.

o   While 338 upper arm lifts were performed in 2000, there were 17,860 in 2016. This is a 5184% increase in the number of breast lifts in the United States annually.

·         Laser skin resurfacing

o   Laser skin resurfacing, sometimes known as a laser peel, removes sun damage, acne and signs of aging.

o   While 170,951 laser skin resurfacing procedures were performed in 2000, there were 586,662 in 2016. This is a 243% increase in the number of breast lifts in the United States annually.

While the popularity of a particular plastic surgery procedure may bring awareness to it, patients should determine what is best for them by consulting a doctor, not any online materials.

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