Top Plastic Surgery Trends and Choices

Statistics compiled by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons highlight an intriguing contrast: In plastic surgery, the trend is clearly up – and down. Skilled Bay Area plastic surgeon Dr. Alexander Ereso explains the paradox.

Leading Indicators

The upward trajectory represents the surging popularity of both surgical and noninvasive procedures. This trend has been constant over recent years, with a slight pause during the closure of medical offices during the pandemic.

The downward trend represents patients’ more intense focus on body contouring procedures – surgical techniques that rejuvenate from the neck down.

In fact, in 2019 body contouring surgeries accounted for six of the top 10 procedures: breast augmentation(299,715 surgeries performed), liposuction (265,209), eyelid surgery(211,005), rhinoplasty(207,284), facelift(123,685), tummy tuck(123,427), breast lift(113,188), dermabrasion(77,366), neck lift(54,852) and breast reduction(46,340).

Inflation Index

Injectables represent another strong upward trend line, rising at a pace slightly faster than the increase in surgical procedures. Although patients and doctors alike tend to be excited about the newest, most innovative dermal fillers, the leader of the pack continues to be the grandfather of all injectables: Botox (botulinum toxin type A).

In 2019 there were 7.69 million Botox injections, the highest number ever. Dermal fillers were next with 2.72 million procedures, with chemical peels at 1.38 million, laser hair removal at one million, and intense pulsed light (IPL) treatments at 685,755.

As an economist might say, the strong inflationary pressures of breast augmentation, along with emerging favorites such as Brazilian butt lift, were balanced in 2019 by underlying deflationary trends in liposuction and breast reduction; even as facelift once again remained the gold standard in facial rejuvenation.

First Choices

A slight leveling off in rhinoplasty and eyelid surgery is evidence of another clear trend among patients – a preference for trying noninvasive solutions before opting for surgery. Patients are now more likely to seek injections of dermal fillers to make subtle changes to the shape and profile of the nose before choosing rhinoplasty. And these collagen-stimulating injectables are increasingly used to improve the appearance of skin around the eyes before blepharoplasty or brow lift is chosen.

If you would like to learn more about plastic surgery options, schedule a personal consultation with trusted Bay Area plastic surgeon Dr. Alexander Ereso by calling (650) 964-6600, or email his Mountain View office today.