The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) recently released the results of its annual member survey.
A top trend, according to the survey, is that more younger patients are seeking aesthetic procedures. In 2015, 64% of member facial plastic surgeons saw an increase in cosmetic surgery or injectable treatments in patients under age 30, according to a media release from the AAFPRS.
In addition, it appears according to the survey that patients may be becoming desensitized to plastic surgery as more celebrities reveal the cosmetic work that they had done. Having a little “work done,” may be becoming less taboo, as the survey reveals that 82% of surveyed surgeons report that celebrities were a major influence on their patients’ decisions to undergo a plastic surgery procedure in 2015.
The top three trends in 2015, according to the survey, were people requesting natural-looking rhinoplasty results (74%), combined surgical and nonsurgical procedures (72%), and eyelid procedures to look less tired (71%). More than half of surgeons also saw a rise in patients asking to get their cheekbones back (56%) and people turning to cosmetic procedures to remain competitive in the workforce (51%), the release explains.
BOTOX® (Allergan), along with Dysport® (Galderma) and Xeomin® (Merz), remains the most popular minimally invasive procedure for both women and men, followed by hyaluronic acid fillers. As for surgical trends, rhinoplasty (nose surgery) leads the way again, followed by blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) and facelifts, the release continues.
Along with this, explains AAFPRS President Edwin Williams III, in the release, is that the “commoditization of cosmetic procedures, both surgical and especially non-invasive, is increasing due to Groupon® and other daily deal aggregators as well as the prevalence of plastic surgery on TV.”
However, he adds, “When we see things like BOTOX® offered in gyms and salons, or on-demand injectables through new apps, this runs the risk of demedicalizing what truly are medical procedures that should be administered in a controlled environment by a highly trained healthcare professional.”
Williams notes in the release that each year, the AAFPRS sees a more highly educated consumer that, thanks to the wealth of information available on the Internet from validated sources and knowledgeable media, is now far more savvy about choosing a qualified surgeon.
Not surprisingly, the survey found that the top concern among patients was finding a surgeon whom they could trust, followed by concerns about the costs and visible results. Their least concern was pain and discomfort, and this was maybe due to improved methods of topical anesthesia and more less painful treatment options.
“Due to the improving economy and increased consumer awareness, coupled with a growing comfort level with the safety and predictability of cosmetic treatments, we expect the demand for facial cosmetic procedures to continue to expand,” Williams states in the release.
So what could be the next big thing in cosmetic surgery? Per the survey, according to the release, the biggest trend for the future of plastic surgery is more emphasis on early maintenance starting in the twenties and thirties to avoid larger procedures and delay the need for cosmetic surgery down the road.
“With rapid advancements in nonsurgical and minimally invasive procedures, the face of aging as we know it is changing,” Williams says in the release. “Our patients understand that prevention is key to preserving a youthful look as they age. New developments like Kybella™ (Allergan), CoolSculpting® Mini (Zeltiq), and faster lasers that have significantly less downtime will make aesthetic procedures increasingly accessible for consumers.”
For more information, visit AAFPRS.
[Source(s): American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, PR Newswire]
