Rest and relaxation seem like impossible feats to most Americans trying to balance the demands of family and career. This balancing act could account for the continued growth in minimally-invasive cosmetic plastic surgery procedures with 8.4 million performed in 2005. According to the statistics released today by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), minimally-invasive procedures increased 13 percent from the previous year and 53 percent since 2000.

Minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures are mostly performed in an outpatient setting, do not call for general anesthesia, require little to no downtime and usually cost less than the more invasive cosmetic surgeries. The top five minimally-invasive procedures this year and since 2000 are Botox® (3.8 million), chemical peel (1 million), microdermabrasion (840,000), laser hair removal (780,000), and sclerotherapy – elimination of spider veins (590,000).

“For facial rejuvenation especially, we have seen a shift from surgical treatments to a more subtle approach,” said ASPS President Bruce Cunningham, MD. “As patients choose to address signs of aging with less invasive procedures, plastic surgeons also have more tools at their disposal to care for these patients. For instance, plastic surgeons may use more than one type of product or procedure to treat different areas of a patient’s face.”

Since 2000, total surgical cosmetic procedures have decreased by five percent. In the same time period, facelifts decreased 19 percent and forehead lifts 54 percent; however, Botox® injections increased 388 percent and laser skin resurfacing 59 percent. Another notable trend - collagen and fat injections have decreased 58 and 13 percent respectively since 2004, but on the rise are hyaluronic acid (Restylane®, Hylaform®), polylactic acid (SculptraTM), and calcium hydroxylapatite (RadiesseTM) fillers. This can be attributed to the fact that collagen and fat injections can be time consuming with allergy tests and harvesting procedures, and the newer fillers can achieve similar, if not better, results.

To obtain a full report of the 2005 National Clearinghouse of Plastic Surgery Statistics, which includes trending data on gender, age, geography, surgeons fees, ethnicity and more, contact ASPS Public Relations, or log onto the official ASPS website at www.plasticsurgery.org.

Patients are weighing in on liposuction, the most popular cosmetic plastic surgery procedure in 2005, and resoundingly saying they would have the procedure again. According to a study in May’s Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), 80 percent of patients were satisfied with their results and 86 percent would recommend the procedure to family or friends.

“Liposuction is one of the most satisfying procedures for patients and most effective at eliminating localized fat,” said ASPS Spokesperson Jeffrey Kenkel, MD, study co-author, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. “The majority of patients recognize their role in maintaining positive results and pursue a healthy diet and exercise. These patients typically maintain or lose weight after surgery, while those that do not may gain small amounts of weight. Ultimately, one’s lifestyle can affect long term-results.”

According to the study, approximately 57 percent of patients reported no weight change after having liposuction – 46 percent of these patients actually reported a weight loss, losing an average of five to 10 pounds in less than six months. Forty-three percent of patients reported gaining weight, with the majority gaining between five and 10 pounds more than six months after surgery.

Fifty-five percent of patients reported an average decrease of three dress sizes after liposuction. Thirty-five percent said their clothing size did not change.

Thirty-three percent of patients reported exercising more after the procedure, while 58 percent had no change in their exercise regimen. In addition, 44 percent reported eating a healthy diet, while 53 percent reported eating the same.

More than 323,600 liposuction procedures were performed in 2005, according to ASPS statistics. In this study, the thighs and abdomen were the most common liposuctioned areas, followed by the hips, buttocks and knees.  

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is the largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world. With more than 6,000 members, the society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises 94 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Courtesy of the ASPS and Dr. Richard Hainer MD FACS. For more information log onto the ASPS website at  www.plasticsurgery.org or Dr Hainer’s website at www.drhainer.com.