Cosmetic surgery industry continues to grow in the U.S., says AACS survey

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

“The cosmetic surgery industry continues to grow at a rate many people never thought it would reach”

The total number of procedures from this first-time study far surpasses any number that has been previously 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 2008 to 34,455 in 2009, a 44 percent spike.

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

In the accompanying video, Dr. Mark Berman talks more in depth about the recent survey and what it means for the cosmetic surgery industry.