Facial Plastic Surgery Scottsdale
More people are now choosing facial cosmetic surgery procedures, as the rates of body and breast surgeries are showing a decline for the first time in six years. Yet overall, cosmetic procedures are on the rise, with a 5% increase over previously reported 2011 numbers. This would seem to be heavily influenced by cultural factors that are starting to turn away from exaggerated breasts and buttocks to focus more on anti-aging procedures of the face.
These dramatic 2012 plastic surgery statistics come from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and the cultural underpinnings of these numbers were recently the focus of an in-depth CNN article. According to the ASPS report, inimally invasive procedures remained the most popular form of cosmetic intervention, with more than six million injections of Botox Cosmetic performed in 2012, an 8% increase over 2011. Dermal fillers such as Juvederm and Restylane were performed about two million times, as were laser treatments, with both procedures increasing at a 5% rate. This is likely due to enhanced results, lower pricetags, and decreased recovery time for these procedures as they continue to develop.
More Patients Choosing Anti-Aging Procedures Like Botox, Facelifts
One of the biggest trends of the past decade was the enhancement of curves, popularized by cultural icons like Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian. However, statistics for body surgeries show that these trends are changing, and surgical choices are changing with them. Buttocks augmentation, one of the hottest procedures of the recent era, fell 36% in 2012, with only 3,800 procedures performed. Though breast augmentation was still the most popular surgical procedure, it decreased by 7%, while facial procedures had dramatic increases.
Among facial surgeries, face lifts increased in popularity by about 6%, as did cheek augmentation. Eyelid surgery increased by 4%. In addition, nearly all of the minimally invasive procedures, which is the most popular and rapidly increasing area of cosmetic medicine, focus on the face. As these minimally invasive procedures become more accepted, they are lauded on daytime talk shows and given a much wider exposure than they once had.
Cultural Changes Lead to More Anti-Aging Procedures for Baby Boomers
One of the most significant forces in this recent trend, according to many experts, is the aging of the baby boomer generation. This historically significant group has been influencing the cultural condition of the United States at every stage of their development, and the current stage has been focused on aging. In the words of Joan Rivers: “Looking 50 is great … if you’re 60.” This quote exemplifies the thinking of this demographic, which is now ready to turn its extensive resources toward extending its lifespan with medical research and treatments, and improving its appearance as it does.
Many experts predict that this will lead to a rise in both minimally invasive procedures and anti-aging surgeries, as more baby boomers seek long-term results which can only be obtained through surgery. Many of the millions who are now experiencing satisfactory results from their Botox injections and dermal fillers will likely turn to a more long-term approach in the future to keep the desired effect lasting longer. This may contribute to even more increases in anti-aging facial plastic surgeries in the years to come.
