What’s Trending? 3 Interesting Plastic Surgery Statistics

I’m always interested to look at the annual statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons® (ASPS) to see whether the national trends correspond to what’s happening at our practice serving Lombard, Downers Grove, Naperville, and other Chicago suburbs. As a plastic surgeon who partners with a dermatologist, I’m not surprised that our well-rounded practice reflects the growing interest in non-surgical cosmetic treatments, as well as other trends around the country.

Let’s take a closer look at the numbers and why they matter:

• Surgical treatments rose 1% while minimally invasive procedures increased 4% from 2013 to 2014. Cosmetic enhancement is becoming more popular overall. Technological advances have led to exciting new non-surgical treatments, such as improved laser skin resurfacing and versatile dermal fillers that last longer. Women and men who are interested facial rejuvenation but aren’t ready for plastic surgery are taking advantage of the benefits offered by these procedures.

• Silicone implants were chosen in 77% of breast augmentation procedures. Silicone breast implants are now the choice of 3 out of every 4 women who get breast augmentation, and I expect that trend to continue. The highly cohesive silicone gel implants available today have advanced to a point where they offer patients a look and feel that’s remarkably similar to natural breasts. There is a wide range of styles and shapes to choose from, allowing surgeons to customize procedures for each patient.

• Breast reconstruction was up 7%. As a practice that supports breast cancer awareness efforts, we are so pleased to see this trend, which shows that more and more women are aware of their options after getting a mastectomy. Those options include advanced surgical techniques such as microsurgery and reconstruction with or without breast implants.

There are some other intriguing trends contained in the ASPS statistics that you may find interesting, as well, such as the popularity of buttock augmentations and the increasing number of men getting cosmetic procedures. Check out the ASPS statistics to learn more.