Ringing out the old year with plastic surgery

December 29, 2011

Plastic surgery trends are a mirror of our society.
Plastic surgery trends are a mirror of our society.

Oh, those end-of-the-year lists: most glamorous and fattening, biggest lies and disappointments, stupidest fads and TV shows, worst dresses and investments−−and, of late, most sustainable foods, eco-friendly chocolate, reusable plastic bags and environmentally-friendly children. If you’re like most people, you put cooking, gift wrapping, cleaning and other holiday chores on the back burner while you have another cookie and pour over the lists of the latest, greatest and most disastrous of the year.

Oprah.com is very interested in plastic surgery statistics in the United States. This is no idle curiosity. Plastic surgery trends are a mirror of our society or the statistics “that keep on giving.” They reveal the look the American people invested in last year, the demographic that did the investing and what they’re planning to invest in next year − nothing less than the wheels that drive a significant part of our economy.

When Oprah.com contacted the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery to get their most recent statistics, here is what they found most interesting:

• There were 318,123 breast implant surgeries performed in 2010.
• Of those 318,123 breast implant surgeries, 2,414 were performed on patients 65 and older.
• Of the 318,123 breast implant surgeries, 4,153 were performed in patients 18 and younger.
• According to a recent FDA report, 20 percent of patients with breast implants will need them removed within ten years because of rupture, hardening of the tissue around the implant and other complications.
• There were 133,511 nose jobs performed in 2010.
• Thirty-three percent of patients desiring nose jobs have moderate to severe symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder (distorted body images), according to a recent study in the journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
• There were 84,685 cosmetic surgical procedures performed on patients 65 and older in 2010, including 26,635 facelifts and 24, 783 cosmetic eyelid operations.
• Ninety-one percent of cosmetic surgical procedures were performed in women in 2010.
• In 2010, Americans spent $10,677,415,674 on cosmetic procedures.

The demand for plastic surgery procedures increased almost 9% in 2010 in what was (and still is) a recession economy, illustrating several important trends. Similar to dying your gray hair, plastic surgery is more and more considered simple maintenance work. Further, you may find yourself considering plastic surgery as a necessity to keep your competitive edge in the workplace.


The mission of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) includes medical education, public education and patient advocacy. Plastic Surgery News Briefs are summaries of current stories found through various news and magazine outlets that relate to or mention plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures. The views expressed in these news articles do not necessarily reflect the opinions of ASAPS, but are merely published as an educational service to our members and the general public. For additional information on these subjects and other plastic surgery related topics, please go to www.surgery.org

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About ASAPS
The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), is recognized as the world’s leading organization devoted entirely to aesthetic plastic surgery and cosmetic medicine of the face and body.  ASAPS is comprised of over 2,600 Plastic Surgeons; active members are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (USA) or by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and have extensive training in the complete spectrum of surgical and non-surgical aesthetic procedures. International active members are certified by equivalent boards of their respective countries. All members worldwide adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and must meet stringent membership requirements.

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