When it Comes to Plastic Surgery, Bodies are Busy
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) released their numbers first in late February. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) publishes their statistics later in spring, but released “preliminary” numbers on the same day as the ASPS. While the numbers and percentages reported by the two groups vary quite a bit this time, it’s possible to spot trends.
One notable trend points out that 2015’s plastic surgery patients focused on sculpting and lifting their bodies more than ever before. Here’s some evidence from the two organizations.
- The ASPS declared that the tummy tuck made it into the top five procedures for the first time, nosing out the facelift, with 128,000 total procedures.
- The ASAPS pointed to fat grafting as a way to enhance breasts, buttocks and faces that’s particularly growing in popularity.
- The ASPS noted that procedures that lift various areas of the body, including arms, buttocks and the entire lower body, are trending upward dramatically with rises from 250 to 5000% percent year over year.
Although the ASPS and the ASAPS survey board certified plastic surgeon members to come up with their figures, they’re not able to gather much information that sheds light on the “whys” behind the trends. Here are some factors we see that may be influencing the rise in body-focused procedures.
- Fat grafting: transferring extra fat from one place in the body to another is becoming more popular as plastic surgeons perfect the technique. Fat grafting is now a valid choice for enhancing the curves of the breasts and buttocks—patients enjoy the benefits of a more generous figure without the downtime that comes with surgery. For the right candidates, fat can also be used to rejuvenate the face, allowing patients to bypass or delay a traditional facelift.
- Efficacy of non-surgical facial procedures: along with the success of fat transfer to the face, cosmetic surgeons have more tools than ever for people who want to plump or smooth wrinkles and improve facial skin texture. From Botox to fillers to chemical peels, patients can gain moderate improvement without surgery in the hands of a skilled, experienced professional.
- Weight loss: as people across the country work on getting to a healthy weight, they learn about the benefits of plastic surgery to remove redundant skin and localized fat deposits that remain. As the ASPS noted, procedures that lift and tuck various areas of the body are experiencing tremendous growth. The weight loss movement has much to do with this.
We are happy to see these trends reflected in our New York plastic surgery practice. Why? At least two good things are behind them: innovation in our field and the motivation many people have to get healthy and have their appearance reflect their vitality.
Here in Manhattan, we offer new techniques and products along with tried and true plastic surgery for New York patients. To learn more, give us a call at 212-570-6080.
