Top 5 Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Procedures in 2009

According to statistics released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), nearly 5.2 million reconstructive plastic surgery procedures were performed last year. Reconstructive plastic surgery, which improves function and appearance to abnormal structures, increased 5 percent in 2009. The top five reconstructive procedures in 2009 were:

* Tumor removal (3.9 million)
* Laceration repair (332,000)
* Scar revision (171,000)
* Hand surgery (110,000)
* Maxillofacial surgery (90,000)

“Reconstructive plastic surgery is an important part of what we do,” said Dr. McGuire. “We know that 70 percent of women eligible for breast reconstruction after cancer are not aware of their reconstructive options. We would like to see this change to the point that we can report this procedure is now among the top five reconstructive procedures.”

Top 5 Cosmetic Plastic Minimally Invasive Procedures in 2009

Cosmetic minimally-invasive procedures increased 1 percent, to nearly 11 million procedures in 2009 according to statistics released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Minimally-invasive procedures are up 99 percent since 2000. The top five minimally-invasive procedures in 2009 were:

* Botulinum toxin type A (4.8 million)
* Soft tissue fillers (1.7 million)
* Chemical peel (1.1 million)
* Microdermabrasion (910,000)
* Laser hair removal (893,000)

“Skin is in,” said Dr. McGuire. “Chemical peels and soft tissue fillers like hyaluronic acid are up 9 percent, microdermabrasion is up 8 percent – these are the procedures that patients are opting for despite the economy.”

“It would seem, as innovations in cosmetic minimally-invasive procedures increase, surgery will continue to decrease,” added Dr. McGuire. “However, as the economy rebounds, more patients and Boomers will continue to seek surgical body contouring procedures (liposuction, tummy tuck), eyelid surgery and breast augmentations. In fact, breast augmentations are up 36 percent since 2000. Silicone implants are now used in 50 percent of all breast augmentations.”

Top 5 Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Procedures in 2009

Although it’s been a sluggish year for plastic surgery due to the economy the long-term outlook is more encouraging. According to statistics released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), 12.5 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures were performed in the United States in 2009.

Cosmetic surgical procedures decreased 9 percent, with more than 1.5 million procedures in 2009. Surgical procedures are down 20 percent since 2000. The top five surgical procedures in 2009 were:

* Breast augmentation (289,000)
* Nose reshaping (256,000)
* Eyelid surgery (203,000)
* Liposuction (198,000)
* Tummy tuck (115,000)

Before and after a breast augmentation surgery

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FDA Approves First Sclerosant to Treat Small Varicose Veins in 60 Years

Washington – Merz Aesthetics  makes its debut at the prestigious American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS) annual meeting with the announcement of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recent approval of Asclera™ (polidocanol) Injection, a sclerotherapy treatment for uncompplicated spider and reticular veins.

“Spider and reticular veins are a common, often embarrassing condition that can be treated safely and effectively,” said Robert A. Weiss, M.D., director of the Maryland Laser, Skin, and Vein Institute and Associate Professor of Dermatology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD. “Asclera™ is a minimally-invasive option for patients who are unhappy with the appearance of their legs.”

The FDA approved Asclera™ (polidocanol) Injection on March 30, 2010 to sclerose uncomplicated spider veins (varicose veins less than or equal to 1 mm in diameter) and uncomplicated reticular veins (varicose veins 1 to 3 mm in diameter) in the lower extremity, making it the first sclerosant to be approved in over 60 years.  Once injected, Asclera™ acts by damaging the cell lining of blood vessels, causing them to close and eventually be replaced by other types of tissue. Asclera™ is safe and effective when used as directed. Commonly observed local adverse events included injection site hematoma, irritation, and discoloration. Asclera™ has not been studied in varicose veins more than 3 mm in diameter.

“We are very excited about the approval of this treatment, expanding our aesthetics portfolio with products that really matter to patients,” said Dennis Condon, President of BioForm Medical, Inc., a Merz Aesthetics company. “Merz Aesthetics is committed to bringing forward true innovation to solve real problems that impact the lives of aesthetics users, and this takes us in the right direction.”

During the meeting, the company will also unveil the first phase of a unique national consumer survey of women’s experiences and perceptions of minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures. The results shed some light on the underlying motivations behind these women’s cosmetic procedure choices.

- Baby boomers keep cosmetic procedures on the rise

- Facelifts, eyelid lifts among anti-aging surgeries up in 2009

Chicago – The baby boomer generation may be well into their 50s and 60s, but that doesn’t mean they’re ready to concede their looks just yet. In fact, many “boomers” are determined to maintain their once-youthful appearance.

According to a recent survey by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, anti-aging procedures such as facelifts and blepharoplasty (eyelid lifts) are on the rise. So are botox and fillers. The bottom line is that baby boomers are aging but they don’t want their looks to do the same.

Before and after blepharoplasty

“The baby boomers are getting older but they still feel young and they want to look that way too,” said AACS President Mark Berman, MD. “With anti-aging procedures, people tend to feel much better about themselves afterward.”

Facelifts rose 44 percent from 2008 to 2009 in procedures by AACS members, totaling 34,455 in ’09. Blepharoplasty procedures went up 42 percent, from 42,602 to 60,507. Similarly, non-invasive anti-aging procedures such as Botox (up 157 percent) and fillers (up 245 percent) rose exponentially.

In procedures performed by AACS members, the average age of facelift patients is 54.1 years. The average age for blepharoplasty is 52.3 years. In addition, the average age of patients receiving Botox is 46.6 and fillers is 46.8.

“I think this might come as a surprise to the public when they see just how many baby boomers are trying to slow down the aging process,” Berman said. “As a surgeon, these numbers aren’t surprising because we see older patients all the time.”

Source: American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery

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More than 17 million cosmetic procedures performed last year in USA

Chicago – A procedural survey conducted by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery says more than 17 million cosmetic surgery procedures were performed in the United States in 2009.

The total number of procedures from this first-time study far surpasses any number that has previously been reported in the U.S. This is the first nationwide survey of its kind done by the AACS. In addition to the annual polling of its own members, the AACS also surveyed random physicians across the country to find out who is performing cosmetic surgery procedures.

The total number of procedures performed by AACS members has increased by eight percent since 2008.

“The cosmetic surgery industry continues to grow at a rate many people never thought it would reach,” said AACS President Mark Berman, MD. “With the aging of the baby boomer generation, I don’t think we’ve come close to hitting the ceiling yet. That 17 million is only going to expand.”

Among AACS member practices, the biggest increase in invasive procedures in the last five years are in blepharoplasty (eyelid lift), abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and rhinoplasty (nose). For less-invasive procedures, the biggest increase over that five-year period is in laser resurfacing, chemical peels and fillers.

For AACS members, rhinoplasty surgeries jumped from 12,460 in 2008 to 21,730 in 2009, a 74 percent increase. Facelifts were also up this year, from 20,478 in ’08 to 34,455 in ’09, a 44 percent spike.

“As the economy recovers slowly but surely, we are seeing patients come back and feel better about doing some things for themselves that maybe they’d been putting off for a while,” Berman said.

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Society more open than ever about cosmetic surgery

Consumer survey results indicate ‘having work done’ not taboo anymore

Chicago – Cosmetic surgery is everywhere these days: TV, magazines, Internet and more. And according to new data, society is indeed more comfortable talking about cosmetic surgery than ever before.

In a survey released today by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, 71 percent of respondents think society is less judgmental about cosmetic surgery than it was just five years ago. Furthermore, about 62 percent said society’s attitude toward cosmetic surgery made them feel more comfortable about getting a procedure.

Before and after a tummy tuck surgery

“This is a confirmation of what many of us have felt for a long time – that cosmetic surgery has become mainstream,” said Dr. Mark Berman, AACS President-Elect. “A variety of factors have contributed to the normalization of our industry, but the bottom line is that people are not afraid to talk openly about cosmetic surgery anymore.”

According to the survey, the most accepted invasive procedures are breast augmentation (42.4%), facelift (32.2%) and tummy tuck (32.1%). Among non-invasive procedures, the most accepted are laser hair removal (61.9%) and Botox (61.6%). Additionally, 52 percent of respondents said they would tell family about having invasive cosmetic surgery.

Before and after a breast augmentation surgery

About 20 percent said they would consider getting cosmetic surgery in the future, while about 22 percent were unsure if they would. Respondents under the age of 40 were nearly twice as likely to consider having a procedure in the future.

“It’s been a long road but thanks to the hard work of so many, cosmetic surgery is rightfully gaining acceptance in our society,” said Dr. Patrick McMenamin, AACS President. “We’ve reached a point where people are no longer quiet about having a cosmetic procedure and that is important to all of us.”

Before and after a facelift surgery (rhytidectomy)

Source: American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery

Plastic Surgeons Respond to Proposed Cosmetic Surgery Tax

Surprise Addition to Healthcare Bill is Arbitrary, Difficult to Administer

Arlington Heights, IL and New York, NY – Democratic leaders in the Senate unveiled their proposal for overhauling the health care system, which included a new 5% tax on elective cosmetic procedures. Senate Democrats argue that the tax, which was a surprise addition to the sweeping 2,074-page bill, will generate $5.8 billion over the next 10 years to be put towards the bill’s estimated $849 billion price tag. However, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) oppose this tax as discriminatory, arbitrary and ineffective.

“Elective surgery taxes discriminate against women, given that 86 percent of cosmetic surgery patients are female, of which 91 percent are between the working ages of 19-64,” said Michael McGuire, MD, ASPS President. “Moreover, contrary to popular belief, cosmetic surgery is no longer an exclusive luxury afforded by the very wealthy, but rather a mainstream and reasonable option most common amongst the working middle-class.”

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