STATS SHOW 2008’S ECONOMIC SLUMP IMPACTED FOLKS FROM HEAD TO TOE

Top Seattle Surgeon Releases Annual Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Statistics with National Group

Seattle, WA — Seattle’s Richard Baxter, MD and a group of board-certified plastic surgeons with the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) are releasing their 2008 cosmetic plastic surgery statistics this week. The bottom-line: while Americans spent almost $11.8 billion on cosmetic procedures in 2008, the number of surgical procedures decreased 15%. Non-surgical procedures slipped almost 12%. Women had 92 percent of all cosmetic procedures, a total of 9.3 million procedures. People ages 35-50 had 45 percent of all cosmetic procedures.

Nationally, the top five 2008 surgical procedures were breast augmentation (355,671); liposuction (341,144); eyelid surgery (195,104); rhinoplasty (152,434); and abdominoplasty (147,392). For the first time in the study’s 12 years, liposuction was not the top surgical procedure. 2008’s top nonsurgical cosmetic procedures were: Botox injections (2,464,123); laser hair removal (1.280, 964); hyaluronic acid (1,262,848); chemical peel (591,808); and laser skin resurfacing (570,880).

Dr. Richard Baxter, a faculty member at the University of Washington School of Medicine, notes that the trends here in the Puget Sound region, and in his practice specifically, mirror those nationally. Botox and breast augmentation were the top procedures in 2008. According to Baxter the preeminence of breast augmentation is big news.

“My take is that patients are a lot more comfortable with the safety issues and with the approval of silicone implants two years ago the results are more natural for a lot of women. A natural look is especially important in the Northwest versus LA and New York,” said Baxter. “This survey confirms that Americans continue to view cosmetic plastic surgery as an important way to enhance their quality of life in spite of the economy.”

For this report over 16,000 questionnaires were distributed nationally to a random sampling of board-certified doctors in three specialties most likely to perform several of the 39 top cosmetic procedures. Plastic surgeons who are active members of ASAPS performed an average of 252 surgical procedures last year. Aesthetic Society members also performed an average of 594 nonsurgical procedures.

Dr. Richard Baxter has been an ASAPS member since 1997 and is on their Emerging Trends Committee. He is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and specializes in cosmetic surgery of the face and the entire body. In addition to being a faculty member at the University of Washington School of Medicine, Baxter is the Chief Medical Officer of Calidora Skin Clinics, the Medical Director of Healthy Aging, and the author of Age Gets Better with Wine. His website is www.baxterplasticsurgery.com and blog is www.plasticsurgeryarts.blogspot.com.

ASAPS, founded in 1967, is the world’s leading organization for cosmetic surgery education and research with members in the U.S., Canada and 32 other countries.

*All statistics presented courtesy of the Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS).