2010 Plastic Surgery statistics do an about face and show big increase

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is just out with its annual statistical review of procedures and the big news is an uptick in numbers, especially facelifts. This is encouraging for those who consider cosmetic surgery a harbinger of an economic rebound, suggesting that consumers are more willing to spend. Chalk it up to frugality fatigue, or just an affirmation that even when times are tough people want to look their best.

The overall number of elective surgical procedures ramped up 5% over 2009, with breast augmentation again the most popular procedure, but facelifts are up by nearly double that. My take on it is that there are several factors behind this, one being that it became unfashionable to spend money lavishly when so many were suffering, even if one could afford it, and having a facelift might be considered a particularly flagrant example. More likely though it is that people who tided themselves over with Botox and dermal fillers finally realized that good maintenance alone isn’t always enough. Add that to the trend toward more minimally invasive techniques with faster recovery and more natural appearing results, and the case becomes pretty compelling.

My own practice reflects the national trend, with facelifts leading the rebound over the past year and continuing into 2011. We are also finding a place for noninvasive technologies such as Ulthera, which gives sagging skin a boost for those who aren’t quite to the point where a facelift makes sense. But no matter how sophisticated the technology, nothing does what a facelift does.