Database statistics for 2005 show that full blown facelift surgery has fallen somewhat in the list of most popular cosmetic procedures in the United States. But interest in facial reconstruction remains strong, with ala carte surgeries and injection therapies for the nose, eyelids, brows, skin and hair gaining ground.
Although 109,000 facelift surgeries were performed in 2005, the operation no longer ranks among the top five most popular cosmetic operations. Those, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), are liposuction (324,000 procedures), nose remodeling (298,000), breast enhancement (291,000), eyelid reconstruction (231,000), and tummy tuck (135,000).
“The fact that it (facelift) didn’t make the top five surgical procedures can be attributed to increased consumer demand for minimally-invasive injectable wrinkle fillers and fighters as a remedy to combat facial aging,” said ASPS President Bruce Cunningham, MD.
Indeed, BOTOX® injection therapies led the charge in minimally-invasive facial treatments during 2005, with 3.8 million procedures administered. Increasing support for BOTOX® treatment is further evidenced by license approvals for use of existing products in new indications. Allergan Ltd. of Irvine, Ca. announced recently that its BOTOX® has been approved in the United Kingdom under the brand name VISTABEL® for temporary improvement of glabellar )“frown” lines) in men and women aged 65 or younger.
The license, granted by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), is one of 20 approved since 1989 for use of BOTOX® as a therapy or remedy for debilitating disorders or cosmetic applications. VISTABEL® targets specific muscles that cause glabellar lines by blocking nerve impulses to effectively prevent wrinkle-causing contractions.
Retrospective and systematic reviews of clinical trial data have shown that botulinum toxin type A effectively reduces glabellar line severity between the brows, is well tolerated in patient populations, and has earned a solid safety profile when used over multiple sessions and for extended periods.
The segmentation of cosmetic surgery into ala carte, minimally-invasive procedures has continued to chip away at demand for more comprehensive facelift treatments. Minimally-invasive single-area surgeries increased 13 percent in 2005, to almost 8.5 million procedures.
The top five procedures for 2005 were BotoxA® (3.8 million), chemical peels (1 million), microdermabrasion (838,000), laser hair removal (783,000), and sclerotherapy, with 590,000 procedures performed. It was the fourth consecutive year that these techniques ranked in the top five.
Other categories of reconstructive plastic surgery remained stable throughout the year, according to the ASPS. The top five categories for improving function and appearance in specific body areas were tumor removal, laceration repair, scar revision, hand surgery and breast reduction. Surgery counts for these procedures were, respectively, 3.9 million, 344,000, 181,000, 172,000 and 114,000.
Since 2003 the ASPS has collected statistics for cosmetic and reconstructive procedures via the Tracking Operations and Outcomes for Plastic Surgeons (TOPS) online database. This data is sent annually to more than 17,000 board-certified physicians working in various specialties.
Founded in 1931, the ASPS is a leading authority and information source on cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. Its more than 6,000 members are certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery and The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
If you or someone you know is considering cosmetic surgery, think about contacting an experienced cosmetic surgeon for a consultation before undergoing surgery.
