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The 2021 Plastic Surgery Statistics were released last week by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), and the numbers are up.

2021 ASAPS Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Statistics - Non-Surgical Procedures

The 2021 Aesthetic Society Cosmetic Plastic Surgery procedure statistics are out.

The 2020 Slump and 2021 Jump

Plastic Surgeons, like every other service industry, saw a decline in 2020. With COVID anxiety and massive government ordered shut downs, this is not surprising. On the other hand, the recovery was quick in 2021, with a year-over-year increase of over 50% for Cosmetic Plastic Surgery procedures.

Why the Surge in 2021?

There are many theories circulating about the increase in the number of Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Procedures. The most common rationalizations are that Zoom calls and the increase in social selfies are driving an increase in Facial Plastic Surgery. While brow lifts and face lifts increased 54% last year, body procedures such as abdominoplasty, buttock augmentation, and liposuction increased more (by 63%).

Increased plastic surgery may be that with the increase in remote working, we have a greater ability to recover from surgery and still do our jobs. Or it may be as simple as post-pandemic patients wanting to do something for themselves after a long year of sacrifices. With very high patient satisfaction, plastic surgery provides the option to improve oneself in ways that diet and exercise cannot. Whatever the reason, the numbers don’t lie.

This week I dive into the non-surgical procedures, and next week we will look at the surge in surgical procedures.

Non-Surgical or Minimally Invasion Procedures

Non-surgical procedures accounted for 79% of all the cosmetic procedures performed in 2021, and they were up 44%. On average, the cost of a non-surgical procedure increased 1%, even though the wholesale cost of these products and ancillary equipment (syringes, needles, etc.) increased more than 1%.

The Top on-Surgocal Procedures were:

Breakdowns by age and gender are seen in the following illustration from the Aesthetic Society.

2021 ASAPS Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Statistics - Non-Surgical Procedures

2021 Aesthetic Society Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Statistics – Non-Surgical Procedures are listed by age group and gender for the most popular procedures. Courtesy of the Aesthetic Society.

How are these Statistics Collected?

For the 2021 Statistics, aggregate data from 294 participating ASAPS plastic surgeons across the U.S. were analyzed. The procedure counts were extrapolated to estimate nationwide statistics. These statistics have a standard error of +/- 5.60% at a 95% level of confidence.

Cosmetic Non-Surgery vs. Cosmetic Surgery

Non-surgical procedure are an excellent adjunct to Cosmetic Plastic Surgery. Neuromodulators like Botox and Dysport and Fillers like Restylane and Juvederm can do things that surgery cannot. They provide quick fixes with minimal downtime and in some cases they can delay the need for plastic surgery. These products can prevent wrinkles caused by muscle motion and add volume in areas where it has been lost and needs replacement.

On the other hand, when you have a hammer, the whole world looks like a nail. Practitioners who only offer non-surgical techniques may use them in situations that require a surgical lift. Fillers don’t lift; they fill. Attempts to lift with massive amounts of filler often lead to balloon face and unnatural puffiness and roundness of the face. Nothing lifts and rejuvenates the face like surgery.

Plastic Surgery Consultations

Next week we will focus on my area of specialization, Cosmetic Plastic Surgery. How have the numbers increased for Liposuction, Breast Augmentation, Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck), Face Lifts, Mastopexy (Breast Lift) and Eyelid Lifts (Blepharoplasty)? I’ll discuss those numbers and the trends next week.

If you are considering Cosmetic Plastic Surgery in the San Francisco Bay Area call (925) 943-6353 to schedule a private and personalized consultation.

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