Demand for plastic surgery is growing worldwide, with a 9% increase in procedures globally. Not surprisingly, the United States dominates, performing 17.9% of the total procedures, almost twice as many as second place Brazil. New statistics highlight where the U.S. stands in the world of plastic surgery and which procedures are gaining ground.
The statistics come from the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), who have tracked the total number of international procedures for the past few years. For their study, the organization surveyed 35,000 plastic surgeons spanning the globe, asking about surgical and non-surgical procedures they performed in 2016. The report provides insights not only into which countries are performing these procedures, but which procedures are trending higher worldwide.
According to the report, there were 4,217,862 procedures in the U.S. in 2016, which are 17.9% of all procedures performed worldwide. Next in the rankings is Brazil, not surprisingly, with 2,524,115 procedures, accounting for 10.7% of the total worldwide. Rounding out the top five, and far behind the U.S., are Japan at 4.8%, Italy at 4.1%, and Mexico, at 3.9%. These are followed by Russia, India, Turkey, Germany, and France, spanning a wide variety of cultures.
Breast augmentation was the top surgical procedure in 2016, with 331,122 procedures in the U.S., a total of 20.1% of the global total. Brazil was next at 13.2%, followed by Russia at 5.5%, Mexico at 3.8%, and Italy at 3.3%. Germany, France, Spain, Colombia, and Turkey rounded out the top ten. Worldwide, breast procedures increased by 11% in 2016 versus 2015, with breast size increases and breast reductions both gaining popularity. Breast augmentation procedures using fat transfer increased by 22%, but women sought to enhance the look of their existing breasts too, with breast lifts gaining 14% year-over-year. On the other end of the spectrum, 10% more women sought a breast reduction to reduce their breast size in 2016, and 11% more men sought treatment for their gynecomastia, hoping to reduce the excess fat in their chest area for a more masculine look. No matter what, breasts continue to be a major focus when it comes to plastic surgery, with 15.8% of the total surgical procedures aiming for larger breasts.
The next most popular plastic surgery procedure was liposuction, accounting for 14% of the total surgical procedures worldwide, not far behind breast augmentation. The U.S. dominated here as well, with 257,334 procedures in 2016, 17.7% of the global total. Brazil again came second, at 14.4% of the world’s total, followed by India at 5.0%, Mexico at 4.8%, and Italy at 3.5%. Rounding out the top ten were Russia, Germany, Colombia, Turkey, and France. For eyelid surgery, Brazil came out on top, with 159,720 accounting for 11.9% of the total, but the U.S. was second at 9.6%, followed by Russia (8.8%), Japan (7.9%), and Germany (4.3%). The U.S. was further down the list for Rhinoplasty, with Brazil, Russia, and India topping the U.S.’s 53,130 procedures, but it came out on top again for abdominoplasty, at 137,610 procedures (17.9%), followed by Brazil, Mexico, India, and Russia.
Worldwide, reflecting the U.S. trends, labiaplasty had the largest increase in procedures, rising 45% compared to 2015. These procedures help restore the vaginal area to a more youthful look and feel. Lower body lifts increased by 29% from the previous year, along with upper body lifts and breast augmentation with fat transfer, both growing 22% from 2015. Buttock lifts also gained popularity worldwide, with a 20% increase from the previous year.
Penile enhancement saw the biggest drop in popularity worldwide from 2015 to 2016, with 28% fewer procedures this past year. Men accounted for 13.8% of total cosmetic procedures across the globe, at 3,264,254, but instead of penile enhancement they opted for eyelid surgery, gynecomastia reduction procedures, rhinoplasty, liposuction, and hair transplants. Women, on the other hand, opted for 20,362,655 procedures, with breast augmentation using silicone implants the most popular procedure, followed by liposuction, eyelid surgery, abdominoplasty, and breast lifts.
Not surprisingly, minimally-invasive procedures gained traction across the globe. Botulinum toxins continue to be the most popular, with 4,627,752 procedures in 2016. That is a 7% increase from the previous year, as more people become aware of just how little surgery it takes to make a big difference in wrinkles. Hyaluronic acid injectables were popular around the world, with 3,372,445 procedures, while calcium hydroxylapatite (like Radiesse products) accounted for 165,911 procedures and poly-l-lactic acid (like Sculptra products) fillers accounted for 79,665.
While botulinum toxin and hyaluronic acid injections were the most popular non-surgical procedures in the U.S. in 2016, at 1,118,370 and 650,232 injections, respectively, other minimally-invasive procedures were popular there too. U.S. plastic surgeons performed 166,254 hair removal procedures and 154,770 photo rejuvenation procedures, along with 140,778 non-surgical fat reduction procedures. The popularity of the latter treatment is not surprising, with the approval of Kybella, the fat-dissolving injections, in 2015. Patients request procedures like this to help them fight their last stubborn pockets of body fat after weight loss.
The ISAPS report also included some interesting statistics breaking down particular procedures by age. Botulinum toxin injections, for example, were most popular with 35 to 50-year-olds, at 2,411,048 procedures. Next were 51 to 64-year-olds, at 1,160,893, and 19 to 34-year-olds, at 1,079,522. 246,579 patients over the age of 65 opted for botulinum toxin injections, and surprisingly, 33,535 of those aged eighteen or younger had the procedure.
U.S. plastic surgeons are likely not surprised at finding themselves at the top of world statistics as they see more, and younger, patients coming into their practices every day for cosmetic injections and other procedures. In 2016, patients spent just over $8 billion on plastic surgery alone in the U.S., not even taking into account minimally-invasive procedures such as Botox injections. Men accounted for 13% of the 1.65 million plastic surgery procedures in the U.S. in 2016, and with an increase of 28% from the year 2000, indicating a growing segment of plastic surgery patients in the U.S.
One thing is clear from the ISAPS report: in the U.S., and around the world, surgical and minimally-invasive plastic surgery procedures continue to grow, showing no signs of stopping. This once taboo topic is becoming more commonplace as minimally-invasive injections are allowing people to make subtle enhancements to their look in a quick procedure.
With the growing popularity of dermal filler injections across the globe, it is time to make sure your clinic is well stocked. Visit Medica Depot to buy a wide selection of dermal fillers, Belotero, and other minimally-invasive devices and products to help keep your patients looking their best.
