2003 Cosmetic Surgery Statistics Show Strong Increases

CHICAGO -- The results of the American Academy of

Cosmetic Surgery's (AACS) 2003 Procedural Survey show growth in nearly all

cosmetic procedures, with the greatest amount of growth in non-invasive

treatments. According to its members, more than 870,000 patients were treated in

2003, a 6.7 percent increase from 2002.

The largest area of growth was in non-invasive procedures, with treatments

such as Botox, microdermabrasion and newly FDA-approved Restylane leading the

way. With an 11 percent increase in treatments from the previous year, Botox not

only saw the largest increase, but also remained the most requested cosmetic

surgery procedure overall.

Invasive surgical procedures saw modest growth driven by an 8.5 percent increase

in breast augmentation and 6.3 percent growth in liposuction. Liposuction remains

the most popular surgical procedure overall followed by sclerotherapy and

breast augmentation. Survey results also showed the variance between men and

women requesting cosmetic surgery. While the largest growth remained with

women, over 89,000 men had cosmetic surgery in 2003. Their most popular

treatments were hair transplantation and restoration, liposuction and

blepharoplasty.

Results show that cosmetic surgeons perform a variety of procedures in

their office. More than 90 percent of the cosmetic surgeons surveyed perform Botox in

their office, making it the most widespread treatment, while 74 percent perform

liposuction in an ambulatory setting. Additionally, over 30 percent of respondants

are already utilizing the new injectable Restylane, poising it to record

extreme growth in the next year. More specialized procedures such as buttock

lifts and implants and pectoral implants are only performed by about 2 percent of

surgeons. The average age of patients receiving cosmetic surgery grew

slightly to 41.

The 2003 Procedural Statistics are based on a survey of U.S.-based AACS

members completed in December 2003.

The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery is a professional medical society

whose members are dedicated to patient safety and physician education in

cosmetic surgery. Most members of the AACS are dermatologic surgeons, facial

plastic surgeons, head and neck surgeons, general surgeons, oral and

maxillofacial surgeons, plastic surgeons, or ocular plastic surgeons -- all of

whom specialize in cosmetic surgery. AACS is an organization that represents

a group of cosmetic surgeons in the American Medical Association through its

seat in the AMA House of Delegates.

Source: American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery