The American Society of Plastic Surgeons just released their annual statistics for 2009.  They say plastic surgery is “up 69 percent for the decade and consumer interest continues to rise.”  Given the economic situation, this is strong optimism for an industry dependent on purchases most consider to be “luxury” choices.

Minimally invasive procedures appear to be the driving force behind the 10-year increase.  Procedures like Botox, Injectable Fillers, and Laser Skin Resurfacing have spiked 99 percent since the year 2000.  People have many reasons to visit their plastic surgeon right now.  One of the main reasons is skin renewal.  “Skin is in,” says ASPS President Michael McGuire.

Read more from the ASPS on PlasticSurgery.org and RealSelf.com for more information on this story.

The society says that surgical procedures like abdominoplasty, liposuction and breast reduction decreased by 17 percent, while non-surgical cosmetic enhancements such as Juvederm or Botox jumped slightly, rising 0.6 percent.  “Plastic surgery is feeling the effects of the recession, just like many other sectors of the marketplace,” said ASAPS President Renato Saltz.

The ASAPS survey compiled responses from over 900 board certified physicians to analyze the procedure data and understand current trends.

Breast Augmentation Still on Top for 2009

For the second year in a row, Breast augmentation was the most frequently performed plastic surgery with 311,957 procedures performed. Surgeons have suggested several reasons for the procedure’s continuing success….

Dr. Saltz suggests in the Wall Street Journal that there may still be some excitement about the reintroduction of silicone gel breast implants.

Pennsylvania Plastic surgeon Bruce Genter agrees and says it could also be due to the relatively quick recovery time of breast augmentation and the almost “immediate gratification” it brings.  “There is also an overall upbeat aura about breast augmentation that is not pervasive in other cosmetic surgical procedures,” comments Genter.

Statistics show yet another possible reason: the favorability of breast implants among younger women.  For patients 19-34 years old, it was the most chosen surgery, while patients age 35-50 actually chose liposuction more frequently.

More data for 2009 will be made public in the coming weeks from other groups, so it will be interesting to compare their findings and discuss the cosmetic trends that emerged during the recession.

• Read the press release from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
• Read more in the Wall Street Journal