The number of patients pursuing plastic surgery has been steadily increasing in the last few years. This increase is composed of several elements, and these may include patients who make use of credit options, moms responding to their pregnancy changes, and men who want to be more competitive in their work environments. This represents a national and global trend.
The number of cosmetic procedures performed in 2011 was 13.8 million, an increase from 12.5 million in 2010, according to a recent article in The Oregonian. This represents a recent increasing trend as surgery numbers continue to improve after a dip in the late 2000s.
Financial and Personal Influences Affecting Cosmetic Surgery Numbers
Prior to 2008, some plastic surgeons reported that they routinely performed $300,000-400,000 worth of surgery a year that had been financed by banks. Yet with the financial situation of the late 2000s, these loans and the surgeries they financed dropped off dramatically, leading to a 30-40% decrease in business for many practices.
The loss of this bank financing particularly impacted younger patients. However, this problem has improved in recent years, as other financing options such as CareCredit and CosmetiCredit now provide patients with credit for these procedures.
More and more men are now choosing to have cosmetic surgery as a result of a competitive job market. These surgeries stand somewhat in contrast to the overall cosmetic surgery market, as some of the most common procedures for men include:
- Face lifts
- Ear surgeries
- Dermal fillers
- Liposuction
- Botox
The most popular procedures in recent years include breast augmentations and tummy tucks, as well as the mommy makeover procedure, which combines several cosmetic surgeries for mothers following childbirth. Other popular procedures include lower body lifts and upper body lifts.
Some procedures that are being performed less frequently include eyelid surgery and face lifts, as more and more surgeons are using injectable products to provide minimally invasive alternatives. Learn more about our San Antonio Plastic Surgery practice by calling us at (210) 614-4320.