Last Updated on August 21, 2018 by
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) has just released their annual plastic surgery procedural statistics, showing a three percent growth in cosmetic procedures over the last year.
According to ASPS, there were 17.1 million surgical and minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures performed in the United States in 2016.
“One trend we are seeing with fat involves an increase in fat grafting procedures. Plastic surgeons harvest a patient’s unwanted fat from their abdomen using liposuction and then inject it to lift and rejuvenate other areas such as the face, buttock and even the breast,” said ASPS President Debra Johnson, MD. “Because the material injected is the patient’s own fat the results typically last longer than fillers.”
- Minimally invasive cosmetic fat injections increased 13%
- Buttock augmentation using fat grafting increased 26%
- Breast augmentation using fat grafting increased 72%
Newer, non-invasive fat reduction and skin tightening procedures are also gaining popularity among patients:
- Injection-based procedures such as Kybella that target fat pockets in specific areas such as under the chin, increased 18%
- Non-invasive fat reduction procedures such as CoolSculpting that use special technology to “freeze” fat without surgery increased 5%
- Non-invasive skin tightening procedures that target fat and tighten sagging areas increased 5%
“These newer, non-invasive procedures appeal to a broad range of patients,” said Dr. Johnson. “Even though they aren’t surgeries, patients still need to take these procedures seriously. Before undergoing any procedure, consult with a board-certified, ASPS-member surgeon who will ensure that it’s performed to the highest medical standards.”
For the first time ASPS stats include data on labiaplasty, which the organization began tracking in 2015. The plastic surgery which rejuvenates the labia by lifting and/or injecting fat or filler into the area, increased by 39 percent in 2016, with more than 12,000 procedures.
“As cosmetic procedures become more common we are seeing more diversity in the areas of the body that patients are choosing to address,” said Dr. Johnson. “A decade ago plastic surgeons might have seen a patient every seven to ten years when they needed a major procedure like a facelift or tummy tuck. Now patients have ongoing relationships with their plastic surgeons and feel more comfortable discussing all areas of their body that they may be interested in rejuvenating.”
About the ASPS Annual Procedural Statistics
ASPS members may report procedural information through the first online national database for plastic surgery procedures, Tracking Operations and Outcome for Plastic Surgeons (TOPS). This data, combined with an annual survey sent to American Board of Medical Specialties’ certified physicians most likely to perform these procedures, results in the most comprehensive census on plastic surgery.
See the full report here.
