2018 Spending on Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Topped $16.5 Billion

The worldwide demand for plastic surgery has risen sharply year after year among consumers, and numbers suggest that this trend will continue with increases to the affordability and convenience of procedures. Last year, American spending on cosmetic procedures (including both surgical and minimally invasive treatments) saw a growth of 4%, to reach a record number of more than $16.5 billion. This is according to a recent report published by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), which also provides a detailed breakdown of the most and least expensive cosmetic treatments, as well as national average surgeon fees.

Depending on your body goals and expectations of plastic surgery, St. Louis’ West County Plastic Surgeons agree that cosmetic treatments can be beneficial in the long term, both in an aesthetic and functional sense, as well as a psychological one, given how they can boost feelings of self-esteem and confidence. When choosing an elective procedure, patients will want to first weigh the pros and cons (including the associated costs), talk to family and friends, and consult a board-certified plastic surgeon to learn more about developing a personalized surgery plan that best fits their situation. In many cases, patients find that repeated procedures—or, alternatively, surgical procedures used in conjunction with minimally invasive treatments—can produce the most optimal effects.

To summarize, the statistics released by the ASPS have indicated that the least expensive surgeries were breast augmentation, liposuction, eyelid surgery, and labiaplasty. More than 300,000 breast augmentations were performed in 2018, with a national average surgeon fee of $3,824 (a 2.8% increase from 2017), while labiaplasty was on the lower end with just more than 10,000 procedures and an average cost of $2,924. On the other end of the spectrum, facelift surgery was the costliest procedure, at a national average surgeon fee of $7,655. Tummy tuck procedures followed closely behind at $6,253.

Breast augmentations remain the procedures performed most prolifically in the United States. According to research by the ASPS, they were most frequently applied surgery in the country in the previous year, with liposuction and rhinoplasty taking the second and third position, respectively. These procedures involve transferring fat or using breast implants to enhance the size and shape or breasts or restore symmetry. Depending on the patient’s age range and the desired texture and shape they are seeking, there are different types of implants available to create the most natural-looking results.

From lasers and neurotoxin injections to needles and ultrasound energy, treatments that promise to smooth and soften facial wrinkles have dominated the beauty world for decades. When it comes to reducing the appearance of creases, fat, and sagging skin, while simultaneously firming and tightening the face, facelift surgery still reigns supreme in many cases of moderate to severe facial laxity. While a facelift may not be the best option for diminishing some dynamic and static wrinkles, facelift surgery is an effective tool for restoring youthful contours to the face when performed by a skilled and knowledgeable practitioner. The surgery involves artfully removing unwanted fat in the subcutaneous layer and drawing back layers of skin and tissue to lift the face.

In general, reducing or streamlining the appearance of body fat and creating a more symmetrical, younger-looking face continue to be the two major interests of persons who are considering plastic surgery. Minimally invasive beauty procedures such as BOTOX^®, Ultherapy^®, and CoolSculpting^® are on the rise as patients who are searching for less dramatic changes or are uncomfortable with the severity of surgical procedures take advantage of the trend toward nonsurgical treatments. To that end, statistics from the ASPS show that the cost of neurotoxin injections rose by 3 percent in 2018. These so-called “lunchtime procedures” require significantly less downtime and are relatively pain-free, with few side effects.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to the board-certified team of practitioners at West County Plastic Surgeons of Washington University. Give them a call at (314) 996-8800 or fill out the form on their website to request more information about any of the procedures or treatments mentioned here.