Between 2015 and 2016, cosmetic surgical procedures increased by four percent and minimally invasive procedures increased by three percent. The popularity of surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic enhancements is expected to continue to grow in 2017, spurred in large part by an aging population and an increasing acceptance of these procedures by the general public. Ongoing technological advances will also play a role in shaping the availability of new treatments that will likely revolutionize the field of plastic surgery in the next year or two.
Increased Growth in this Emerging Market
A study and analysis conducted by Persistence Market Research indicates that cosmetic surgery is projected to become one of the largest emerging markets in the U.S. and worldwide by 2020. This correlates with high rates of growth over the past few years. Patients are increasingly willing to invest in looking younger and in enhancing their personal appearances.
Surgical Fat Removal on the Rise
Liposuction will continue to be one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures and may often be combined with body sculpting and lifting treatments that can create a brand-new look. Tummy tucks and breast implants will also remain among popular procedures and, when combined with liposuction, will provide added confidence for patients in 2017. In particular, breast implants are expected to increase by more than four percent over the next seven years.
Top Procedures for 2016
According to a report released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), breast augmentation, liposuction and rhinoplasty were the three most popular and commonly performed cosmetic surgery procedures in 2016:
- Breast augmentation: 290,467
- Liposuction: 235,237
- Rhinoplasty: 223,018
The report also indicated three other treatments increased significantly in popularity between 2015 and 2016:
- Lip reduction increased by 283 percent.
- Labiaplasty procedures increased by 39 percent.
- Buttock augmentation using fat grafting went up by 26 percent.
It is still too soon to determine if these trends will continue throughout 2017, but it would not be surprising to continue to see growth across both surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures.
Natural Looks Will Dominate
While breast implants and Brazilian butt lifts are expected to retain their current popularity among patients, most are opting for a smaller and more natural change to their body shape such as in the breasts, hips and buttocks. This trend toward natural techniques has also led to increased popularity in fat grafting and fat injection techniques. According to the ASPS, fat grafting for breast augmentations has increased by 72 percent since 2015, while buttock augmentations using this technique have gone up by 26 percent in that time.
Added Interest in Noninvasive Procedures
Most cosmetic surgery experts predict that dermal fillers will become even more popular in 2017. Injectables designed specifically for lips, cheekbones, and eye areas will hit the market soon and will provide added choices for patients interested in enhancing their appearance with these minimally invasive products. Targeted laser procedures will also see increased demand to eliminate body fat deposits without surgery; injection lipolysis treatments will provide the same benefits around the jaw and chin area.
BOTOX® Continues to Reign
As more of the population seeks solutions for the visible signs of aging, demand for BOTOX® injections is expected to increase in 2017. Because skill and experience are major factors in the success of BOTOX® treatments, more patients are expected to seek treatment directly from a plastic surgeon with proven qualifications. This can ensure the best possible results from these advanced anti-aging procedures.
Dr. Shahram Salemy, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Seattle, believes that by working with a knowledgeable and experienced surgeon both men and women can enjoy the most comprehensive range of options and the best solutions for all their aesthetic needs.
