Post-pandemic plastic surgery boom: Record 26m cosmetic tweaks were carried out last year – these were the most in-demand procedures

Record numbers of Americans are getting cosmetic surgery, national data shows.

An annual report from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) shows that 26.2 million cosmetic and reconstructive procedures were performed in 2022 – a 19 percent increase from 2019.

A cosmetic procedure involves improving or changing a person’s appearance. was the most popular Botoxwith 8.7 million procedures and filler injections performed, of which 4.8 million were performed.

These Facials That Fight Aging have increased more than 70 percent since the year before the pandemic.

The most popular were cosmetic surgical procedures such as liposuction – the removal of excess fat – and breast enlargement – to reduce the size of the breasts.

Plastic surgeons said the Ozempic effect could be driving the rise as more people undergo surgery after being left with an Ozempic face from rapid weight loss.

Plastic surgeons said the record number of operations was likely due to people having savings after the Covid pandemic and spending them on long-awaited procedures.

They said social media influencers were also driving a boost in some procedures such as lip augmentation, while the increasing popularity of breast reductions may be linked to a desire for a more active and healthy lifestyle.

Plastic surgery is also becoming less stigmatized, they added, as more celebrities and social media influencers are pictured having the changes.

Famous examples include Kylie Jenner, who was mentioned in the report, and Madonna, who has undergone at least twelve procedures.

Dr. ASPS President Gregory Greco said this year’s report “supports the larger trend of the public’s growing desire to look and feel better in their own skin.”

“As interest in and acceptance of plastic surgery increases, ASPS member surgeons remain committed to maintaining rigorous safety standards and continuing to prioritize patient and provider education.”

The data was based on procedure reports submitted by the society’s 8,000 members – 92 percent of all plastic surgeons in the United States.

They also used data from the CosmetAssure and PatientNow databases.

Rounding out the top five treatments were skin resurfacing (3.3 million), which involves removing the top layer of skin to stimulate the growth of new skin underneath and counteract aging.

Skin treatments – such as using lasers to treat skin – were fourth at 2.9 million, while lip augmentations – or enlargements – were fifth at 1.4 million.

All of these procedures saw an increase in the number of procedures performed compared to previous years.

The report said lip enhancements are more than just a “fair weather fad” – public interest is likely being driven by celebrities like Kylie Jenner and social media influencers.

“Ozempic Face” could also be the reason for the growing interest in procedures such as Botox, fillers and facelifts.

Ozempic can cause sudden weight loss, which can lead to loose or sagging skin in patients, a phenomenon called “Ozempic face.” This can be corrected through plastic surgery.

The report states: “The increase in rapid weight loss attributed to medications such as Ozempic has resulted in a phenomenon colloquially known as “Ozempic face,” in which the face shows greater signs of aging due to rapid and significant weight loss. “

“While it is still early to predict the impact of this trend on plastic surgery, ASPS is currently monitoring its potential impact.”

When it comes to cosmetic surgical procedures, abdominoplasty or abdominoplasty ranked third with 161,000 procedures completed in 2022.

This was followed by breast lift or mastopexy at 143,000 and eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty at 115,000.

Among the reconstructive procedures, tumor removal was the most common with 344,000 procedures.

This was followed by hand surgery (204,000), breast reconstruction (151,000), maxillofacial surgery for jaw correction (52,000) and scar correction (51,000).

Surgeons say more than 90 percent of the procedures have been performed on women, although there is a growing trend of men coming forward for these procedures.

Patients were most likely to have surgery on the areas they could “see first” in the mirror – such as the face and neck.

Plastic surgeons said there was a particular focus on the area around the eyes in 2022, which may be related to more people wearing face masks.

The rise in fat removal procedures may also be related to the Covid pandemic, they said, when many people gained weight due to a more sedentary lifestyle.

Dr. Greco said, “Certified plastic surgeons can offer a range of surgical and minimally invasive options to help patients feel better after lifestyle changes that have impacted their weight.”

“ASPS member surgeons can work with patients to develop a personalized solution that prioritizes safety and promotes effectiveness.”

According to the report, people also received customizations based on what they saw from celebrities and social media influencers.

They said social media had also helped make the surgeries “less stigmatized” and led to more people coming forward for the surgeries.

On the causes of the increase, they said savings from the Covid pandemic played a key role.

A spokeswoman said: “Patients are no longer putting off the procedures they are considering, perhaps as a result of spending more time working from home and the flexibility that hybrid work schedules offer patients for recovery.”