2008 Trend Reports on Cosmetic Plastic Surgery in the United States

The recession has certainly taken its toll on the plastic surgery industry as a whole, but the news may not be all that grim, according to the latest statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

In 2008, Hispanics and members of other ethnic groups nipped and tucked in record numbers. In fact, ethnic cosmetic procedures increased by 11 percent in 2008.

And that's not the only good news. Overall, 12.1 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures were performed in 2008, representing a three percent increase from 2007.

We spent $10.3 billion on cosmetic procedures in the United States in 2008.

The new 2008 ASPS stats paint a slightly different, potentially more optimistic picture than do the 2008 statistics compiled by American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), which showed a decrease in plastic surgery procedures overall.

There are some reasons for the differences. The two groups do not necessarily poll the same individuals. ASAPS surveys dermatologists and otolaryngologists, in addition to plastic surgeons; ASPS does not. ASPS also includes reconstructive plastic surgeries in their report, while ASAPS does not.

Cosmetic Surgical Procedures

The number of surgical cosmetic procedures such as breast augmentation, liposuction, tummy tuck and facelift decreased nine percent since 2007, but certain cosmetic surgical procedures were on the rise in 2008, ASPS reports.

Procedures on the rise include:

  • Pectoral (chest) implants. This procedure increases the size and shape of a man's pectoral muscles.
  • Dermabrasion. This procedure is more invasive and far less gentle than microdermabrasion. Your surgeon uses a wire brush or a diamond wheel with rough edges to remove the upper layers of the skin. This process wounds the skin and causes it to bleed. As the wound heals, new skin grows to replace the damaged skin.
  • Cheek implants
  • Buttock Lift
  • Lower body lift. This procedure tightens loose, sagging skin in the buttocks, hips, and thighs.

Minimally Invasive Cosmetic Procedures

There were 10.4 million minimally invasive procedures performed in 2008, up five percent from 2007.

Minimally invasive cosmetic procedures that increased in 2008 included:

Reconstructive Procedures

There were 4.9 million reconstructive plastic surgery procedures were performed in 2008, representing a three percent increase over 2007.

Reconstructive surgeries that increased in 2008 included:

Cosmetic Surgery Among Ethnic Patients

The new statistics also analyzed plastic surgery procedures among ethnic patients. Hispanics made up 10 percent of the 12 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures performed in 2008, up 18 percent from 2007. African Americans comprised eight percent with 910,000 procedures, up 10 percent; and Asians accounted for seven percent with 866,000 procedures, up five percent.

The most popular minimally-invasive procedures among all ethnic groups were:

  • Botox
  • Injectable fillers
  • Chemical peels

About the 2008 ASPS Statistics

ASPS procedural statistics are collected through the first online national database for plastic surgery procedures, Tracking Operations and Outcomes for Plastic Surgeons (TOPS). This data is then combined with an annual survey sent to American Board of Medical Specialties certified physicians most likely to perform plastic surgery.

Related Topics

[page updated April 2009]