At my practice, I’ve noticed an increase in requests over the last few years for more subtle plastic surgery results. I’m sure that I’m not alone in this either; other plastic surgeons have also made note of this trend. While there will always be patients who do still want a dramatic change, the majority of men and women these days want to enhance their natural look, not pursue total makeovers.
Looking at Statistics
In general, the popularity for cosmetic enhancement is on the rise. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) reports that the total number of cosmetic procedures saw an increase, up five percent in 2012 from the previous year. And yet, looking more closely at the number shows an interesting detail: cosmetic surgical procedures actually declined two percent, while minimally invasive cosmetic procedures increased by six percent. These numbers offer an objective confirmation of my own observations, as well: nonsurgical treatments are trending upward. With 2013 now in its final quarter, it will be interesting to see if next year’s numbers bear out this development.
Changes in Motivation
Many of my patients tell me that they don’t mind growing older; they simply want more control over the process. That explains the dramatic jump in BOTOX® and other injectables; rates for minimally invasive procedures have nearly tripled over the past decade.
Another reason for the move toward subtlety is that motivations have changed. For example, more men and women are choosing plastic surgery for professional reasons, and don’t necessarily want to advertise they’ve had work done. Instead, they just want to look more refreshed, and to age more gracefully.