The 2016 ASAPS statistics are in, unveiling an interesting insight into the most popular procedures in the ever-expanding aesthetic market.
The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) has found that for the first time ever, American’s spend more than $15 billion on aesthetic procedures, accounting for an 11% increase over the past year alone.
This is the largest dollar amount spent on cosmetic surgery since ASAPS began its Cosmetic Surgery National Data Bank survey in 1997.
Of the total, surgical procedures account for 56% and non-surgical procedures account for 44%.
“The numbers have been increasing in our industry year-over-year for a variety of reasons,” states President of ASAPS, Daniel C Mills, MD.
“A healthy economy with the lowest unemployment rate since 2008, a desire on the part of baby-boomers and their offspring to remain competitive in a youth-centric workforce, younger generations recognising the value in preventative anti-ageing care and, of course, procedural and technological innovations that provide patients with more personalised options in both the surgical and non-surgical categories. In other words, there’s something for everyone,” he explains.
Some of the most interesting data to come from the 2016 statistics is the surge in fat transfer to the breast (up 41% since 2015). The other most significant increases in 2016 include labiaplasty (up 23%) buttock lift (up 21%), fat transfer to the face (up 17%) and breast implant removal (up 13%).
Interesting, men now account for nearly one in 10 procedures performed in the US. This shows they are readily embracing aesthetic procedures, with treatments such as laser hair removal, injectables, photorejuvenation and chemical peels.
The top surgical procedures
Overall, surgical procedures were up 3.5% in 2016. Liposuction remains the most popular surgical procedure for the fourth year running, boasting a 134% increase in the number of procedures performed since ASAPS initiated its survey in 1997.
Breast augmentation remained somewhat steady, coming in as the second-most popular procedure with a marginal increase of 1.5% compared with last year’s figures.
The number of breast implant explantation has increased by 13.4%, while breast lifts have risen by 8.4% and tummy tucks remain the same (up 0.5%).
Top non-surgical procedures
Non-surgical procedures were up 7% in 2016 and saw the most significant increases in photorejuvenation (up 36%), hyaluronic acid fillers (up 16%), laser tattoo removal (up 13%), nonsurgical skin tightening (up 12%) and botulinum toxin (up 8%).
Botulinum toxin injections surpassed the 4.5 million mark for the number of procedures performed for the first time this year, and together with hyaluronic acid fillers, the two procedures have maintained the #1 and #2 spots for most popular non-surgical procedures for eight years running. Injectables overall saw a 10% increase in 2016.
Photorejuvenation wiped microdermabrasion off the list of Top 5 non-surgical procedures in 2016, while non-surgical skin tightening devices increased by 11.6% and laser or pulsed light hair reduction decreased by 8.9%.
