Recession Hasn't Put Damper on Cosmetic Procedures

Despite a continuing downturn in the economy, surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures remained popular in 2009.

When compared with 2008, there were only 2% fewer procedures performed in 2009, according to statistics from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). Surgical procedures dropped by almost 17%, but nonsurgical procedures increased by 0.6%.

Injection of botulinum toxin type A (Botox and Dysport) was the leading procedure overall, at 2.5 million. Nonsurgical procedures far outnumbered surgical procedures: 8.5 million to 1.4 million.

After botulinum toxin injections, which accounted for 26% of all nonsurgical procedures, the second most popular procedure was hyaluronic acid injections, including Hylaform, Juvéderm, and Perlane/Restylane. About 1.3 million procedures were performed.

Laser hair removal followed closely behind in popularity, with 1.28 million procedures. Microdermabrasion and chemical peels rounded out the top five nonsurgical procedures.

With the exception of laser hair removal, which decreased only slightly, there was a larger dip in other types of laser procedures. Intense pulsed light treatments dropped by 14%, laser skin resurfacing by 10%, and laser treatment of leg veins by 10%. The decline does not appear to be entirely related to cost, according to the ASAPS data.

The largest increase among nonsurgical procedure was for Sculptra (poly-L-lactic acid). In 2008, there were 31,928 Sculptra procedures; in 2009, there were 39,516 - an increase of almost 24%.

Nonsurgical procedures were most popular in the 35- to 50-year-old age group (45%), followed by the 51- to 64-year-old group (27%).

Women are still the largest users of cosmetic procedures. About 9% of procedures were performed in men, which is an increase of 8% from 2008. About a quarter of cosmetic procedures were performed in racial and ethnic minorities, with the most being performed in Hispanics (9%).

A new ASAPS survey also found that cosmetic surgery is becoming more acceptable to Americans of all income levels. Of people earning less than $25,000, 48% said that they approved of cosmetic surgery, compared with 52% of those with incomes of $25,000-$50,000, 55% of those with incomes of $50,000-$75,000, and 62% of those with incomes of more than $75,000.

The ASAPS said that 58% of cosmetic procedures were performed in an office-based facility and 23% in freestanding surgical centers. Eighty-eight percent of the 928 plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and otolaryngologists who completed the survey said that they do not work with medical spas.

The top five surgical procedures in 2009 were breast augmentation, liposuction, eyelid surgery, abdominoplasty, and facelifts.

Americans spent $4.5 billion on nonsurgical treatments in 2009 and $6 billion on surgical procedures.

Despite a continuing downturn in the economy, surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures remained popular in 2009.

When compared with 2008, there were only 2% fewer procedures performed in 2009, according to statistics from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). Surgical procedures dropped by almost 17%, but nonsurgical procedures increased by 0.6%.

Injection of botulinum toxin type A (Botox and Dysport) was the leading procedure overall, at 2.5 million. Nonsurgical procedures far outnumbered surgical procedures: 8.5 million to 1.4 million.

After botulinum toxin injections, which accounted for 26% of all nonsurgical procedures, the second most popular procedure was hyaluronic acid injections, including Hylaform, Juvéderm, and Perlane/Restylane. About 1.3 million procedures were performed.

Laser hair removal followed closely behind in popularity, with 1.28 million procedures. Microdermabrasion and chemical peels rounded out the top five nonsurgical procedures.

With the exception of laser hair removal, which decreased only slightly, there was a larger dip in other types of laser procedures. Intense pulsed light treatments dropped by 14%, laser skin resurfacing by 10%, and laser treatment of leg veins by 10%. The decline does not appear to be entirely related to cost, according to the ASAPS data.

The largest increase among nonsurgical procedure was for Sculptra (poly-L-lactic acid). In 2008, there were 31,928 Sculptra procedures; in 2009, there were 39,516 - an increase of almost 24%.

Nonsurgical procedures were most popular in the 35- to 50-year-old age group (45%), followed by the 51- to 64-year-old group (27%).

Women are still the largest users of cosmetic procedures. About 9% of procedures were performed in men, which is an increase of 8% from 2008. About a quarter of cosmetic procedures were performed in racial and ethnic minorities, with the most being performed in Hispanics (9%).

A new ASAPS survey also found that cosmetic surgery is becoming more acceptable to Americans of all income levels. Of people earning less than $25,000, 48% said that they approved of cosmetic surgery, compared with 52% of those with incomes of $25,000-$50,000, 55% of those with incomes of $50,000-$75,000, and 62% of those with incomes of more than $75,000.

The ASAPS said that 58% of cosmetic procedures were performed in an office-based facility and 23% in freestanding surgical centers. Eighty-eight percent of the 928 plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and otolaryngologists who completed the survey said that they do not work with medical spas.

The top five surgical procedures in 2009 were breast augmentation, liposuction, eyelid surgery, abdominoplasty, and facelifts.

Americans spent $4.5 billion on nonsurgical treatments in 2009 and $6 billion on surgical procedures.

Despite a continuing downturn in the economy, surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures remained popular in 2009.

When compared with 2008, there were only 2% fewer procedures performed in 2009, according to statistics from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). Surgical procedures dropped by almost 17%, but nonsurgical procedures increased by 0.6%.

Injection of botulinum toxin type A (Botox and Dysport) was the leading procedure overall, at 2.5 million. Nonsurgical procedures far outnumbered surgical procedures: 8.5 million to 1.4 million.

After botulinum toxin injections, which accounted for 26% of all nonsurgical procedures, the second most popular procedure was hyaluronic acid injections, including Hylaform, Juvéderm, and Perlane/Restylane. About 1.3 million procedures were performed.

Laser hair removal followed closely behind in popularity, with 1.28 million procedures. Microdermabrasion and chemical peels rounded out the top five nonsurgical procedures.

With the exception of laser hair removal, which decreased only slightly, there was a larger dip in other types of laser procedures. Intense pulsed light treatments dropped by 14%, laser skin resurfacing by 10%, and laser treatment of leg veins by 10%. The decline does not appear to be entirely related to cost, according to the ASAPS data.

The largest increase among nonsurgical procedure was for Sculptra (poly-L-lactic acid). In 2008, there were 31,928 Sculptra procedures; in 2009, there were 39,516 - an increase of almost 24%.

Nonsurgical procedures were most popular in the 35- to 50-year-old age group (45%), followed by the 51- to 64-year-old group (27%).

Women are still the largest users of cosmetic procedures. About 9% of procedures were performed in men, which is an increase of 8% from 2008. About a quarter of cosmetic procedures were performed in racial and ethnic minorities, with the most being performed in Hispanics (9%).

A new ASAPS survey also found that cosmetic surgery is becoming more acceptable to Americans of all income levels. Of people earning less than $25,000, 48% said that they approved of cosmetic surgery, compared with 52% of those with incomes of $25,000-$50,000, 55% of those with incomes of $50,000-$75,000, and 62% of those with incomes of more than $75,000.

The ASAPS said that 58% of cosmetic procedures were performed in an office-based facility and 23% in freestanding surgical centers. Eighty-eight percent of the 928 plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and otolaryngologists who completed the survey said that they do not work with medical spas.

The top five surgical procedures in 2009 were breast augmentation, liposuction, eyelid surgery, abdominoplasty, and facelifts.

Americans spent $4.5 billion on nonsurgical treatments in 2009 and $6 billion on surgical procedures.