© JLP/Jose Luis Pelaez/Corbis
A reflection of the still sagging economy, there was a slight overall drop (1%) in elective cosmetic procedures last year compared with 2008, but 12.5 million Americans still spent an estimated $10 billion on plastic surgery in 2009, according to data released this week by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Nine percent fewer people opted for more invasive surgical procedures, such as nose jobs or breast implants, last year compared with 2008, but minimally invasive procedures, including things like chemical peels and laser hair removal, increased by 1% overall. During the same time period, out-patient procedures that can be performed in the doctor’s office grew by 6%. Though there have been small fluctuations in which nips and tucks people are choosing to spend their money on, overall in the last decade the number of Americans opting for plastic surgery has been steadily—and significantly—growing. From 2000 to 2009, the total number of cosmetic procedures jumped by nearly 70%.
And, according to a new survey of more than 2,000 people sponsored by the cosmetic surgery community site RealSelf.com, if money weren’t an object more adults might be getting touch-ups. Of people who said that they would consider any sort of cosmetic procedure, when asked what they would choose if money weren’t an issue, nearly half said they’d get their teeth whitened (a statistic that should provide more fodder for those who scratch their heads over the American penchant for gleaming white choppers). Of minimally invasive procedures, people said they would prioritize hair removal (27%) or cellulite smoothing (14%), and nearly 40% said they would get surgery to correct their vision. Between 2000 and 2009, these types of less invasive procedures increased by 99%.
In the last nine years, the number of people choosing large surgeries such as face lifts and calf implantations has dropped by 20%, but there still appears to be plenty of interest at least in more invasive cosmetic procedures. In the RealSelf survey, 29% of those who said they would consider cosmetic tinkering said they’d opt for a tummy tuck if affording it weren’t a problem, while 23% said they’d go for liposuction.