Plastic Surgery in 2014: What the Stats Show

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) recently released its annual report of national trends in plastic surgery. Results show that 2014 was another popular year for plastic surgery. In fact, Americans spent more than $12 billion on cosmetic procedures in 2014!

Here, San Diego plastic surgeon Abhay Gupta unpacks the ASPS’s findings and reveals surprising new trends.

Plastic Surgery Reaches More People

Nearly 15.6 million Americans underwent cosmetic procedures last year, which is an overall 3 percent increase from 2013. This number encompasses minimally invasive and surgical procedures.

Dr. Scot Glasberg, the president of ASPS, said, “Today, more than ever, patients are empowered with choices to achieve the results they are seeking. Through open communication and a mutual understanding of expectations, patients work closely with their surgeon to determine the procedures most appropriate for them to achieve their optimal outcomes.”

About 5.8 million people had reconstructive procedures; this number reflects an overall increase of 1 percent over 2013. More than 102,200 breast reconstruction procedures were performed last year, 7 percent more than in 2013.

Liposuction More Popular Than Ever

More people than ever are realizing the incredible body sculpting benefits of liposuction! The number of liposuction procedures performed last year increased by 5 percent, for a total of 210,552 procedures.

Breast Augmentation Procedures Drop (Slightly)

The number of breast augmentation surgeries dropped by 1 percent. However, breast augmentation remains the most popular cosmetic surgical procedure, with 286,254 procedures performed.

Buttock Procedures Skyrocket in Popularity

Buttock augmentation shot up in popularity. Buttock implants were up by an astounding 98 percent from 2013 to 2014, buttock augmentation with fat grafting (a.k.a., Brazilian Butt Lift) was up 15 percent and buttock lift was up 44 percent.

The Top Five

As mentioned, breast augmentation is still the No. 1 procedure in the country. Rhinoplasty, liposuction, eyelid surgery and facelift fill out the top five surgical procedures performed.

On the whole, minimally invasive procedures increased by 4 percent, for a total of more than 13.9 million procedures. The top five minimally invasive procedures were Botox, dermal fillers, chemical peel, laser hair removal and microdermabrasion.

The ASPS report is culled from data reported by its surgeon members. ASPS represents more than 7,000 surgeons, and comprises more than 94 percent of all board certified plastic surgeons in the country. Dr. Gupta is proud to be an active member of ASPS and has been since 1999.

If you’re inspired to pursue your cosmetic goals this year with a surgical or non-surgical procedure, contact Dr. Gupta today! He can draw up a treatment plan tailored to your unique needs. Call our office today at (858) 408-6100 to schedule your complimentary consultation appointment with Dr. Gupta.

Fun Fact of the Month: Male cosmetic surgery is at an all-time high! The number of procedures performed on men has increased by 43 percent since 2010. “Remaining competitive in the job market” is a common motivating factor for many men seeking plastic surgery.