ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, III., April 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) – the world’s largest plastic surgery society, representing nearly 8,000 members – today released the results of the society’s 2020 annual procedure survey in conjunction with a national consumer survey reflecting trends during the COVID-19 era for to help predict what 2021 will bring.
The Society’s board-certified plastic surgeons reported that they stopped performing elective surgeries for an average of 8.1 weeks in 2020 due to COVID-19, or 15 percent of the year, reflecting a decrease in the total number of procedures performed last year .
ASPS survey finds Americans have more positive attitudes toward plastic surgery during COVID-19
ASPS recently measured Americans’ perceptions of plastic surgery more than a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, analyzing responses from more than 1,000 women in a national survey conducted by market firm Equation Research, providing insight into how consumers feel about the category, top treatments and likelihood of pursuing plastic surgery.
During the pandemic, 11% of women surveyed said they are more interested in cosmetic plastic surgery or non-surgical procedures now than they were before COVID-19, and the percentage is even higher among women who have already undergone surgery or operation – 24%. respectively. Also, 35% of women who have previously had at least one cosmetic surgery or minimally invasive procedure plan to spend significantly or somewhat more on treatments in 2021 than in 2020.
“For more than a year, COVID-19 has largely confined people to their homes during quarantine and has significantly affected almost every aspect of their lives,” he says Lynn Jeffers, MD, MBA, FACS. “The pandemic is not over, but thanks to vaccines, a new normal is beginning to define itself – and some surgeons’ offices that have closed or offered only limited services in the last year are seeing more demand.”
Upping the Ante on Body Enhancement
While the first wave of pandemic demand saw a rush to facial procedures in response to a significant increase in Zoom calls and downtime for discreet at-home rehabilitation, national survey results show that tummy tucks (22%) and liposuction (17%) ) are among the top procedures sought by women who are extremely or very likely to consider the procedures within six months. The reason is attributed to weight variation during quarantine and more time to review procedures that are delayed due to time or cost.
ASPS Top Procedures 2020
Top 5 cosmetic surgeries
While ASPS saw an overall 15% decrease in the total number of cosmetic procedures in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the decline is largely in line with when practices were closed – and three of the top 5 procedures focused on the face .
The top 5 cosmetic surgeries performed in 2020 were:
- Nose reshaping (352,555 procedures)
- Eyelid surgery (352,112 procedures)
- Face lifting (234,374 procedures)
- Liposuction (211,067 procedures)
- Breast enlargement (193,073 procedures)
Top 5 minimally invasive cosmetic procedures
In 2020, minimally invasive cosmetic procedures declined slightly more than surgery (16% vs. 14%) during stay-at-home orders, falling for the first time in four years.
Injectables continued to be the most sought-after treatments in 2020. ASPS member surgeons reported a significant increase in demand during the coronavirus pandemic with current patients wanting to reschedule appointments for neurotoxins and fillers and new patients motivated for the first time to follow the least invasive facial treatments they had considered – some even before last March.
Among the 13.3 million minimally invasive cosmetic procedures performed in 2020, the top 5 were:
- Botulism toxin type A (4.4 million operations)
- Soft tissue fillers (3.4 million procedures)
- Laser skin resurfacing (997,245 procedures)
- Chemical peeling (931,473 procedures)
- Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy (827,409 procedures)
Top 5 Remedial Procedures
Almost 7 million reconstructive procedures were performed in 2020, up 3% overall compared to 2019, despite the impact of the global pandemic on elective surgery. Tumor removal is by far the most common reconstructive plastic surgery procedure with approximately 5.2 million procedures.
The top 5 reconstructive surgeries performed in 2020 were:
- Volume removal (5.2 million procedures)
- Rupture repair (386,710 procedures)
- Scar revision (263,643 procedures)
- Maxillofacial surgery (256,085 procedures)
- Surgical surgery (206,928 procedures)
“While many reconstructive surgeries took priority as COVID-19 restrictions eased across the country, I am encouraged that Society members were able to fast-track patients in need of these surgeries – from burn and trauma care to migraine to pediatric craniofacial procedures – to improve their quality of life,” says ASPS President Joseph E. LoseeMD, FACS, FAAP.
Although not in the top five, breast reconstruction (137,808 procedures) saw a significant increase of 29 percent year-over-year, a larger increase than any of the top five reconstructive procedures.
“A major concern at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic was the continuity of care for recovering patients,” said Dr. Losi. “Despite the year’s challenges, not only were patients and care teams able to move forward with procedure plans when they felt it was safe to do so, but, when it comes to breast reconstruction, more women than ever are benefiting from today’s technologies and treatments.”
Visit plastic surgery.org/connect for patient safety tips, procedure information, to find a surgeon and book a visit.
About ASPS
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is the world’s largest organization of certified plastic surgeons. Represents 8,000 member surgeons in the United States and Canada, the Company is recognized as a leading authority and source of information on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. The ASPS comprises more than 93 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons the United States. Founded in 1931, the Society represents physicians certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. ASPS promotes quality care for plastic surgery patients by encouraging high standards of education, ethics, medical practice and research in plastic surgery.
Please credit American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) when we quote statistics.
About Equation Research, LLC
Equation Research is a full-service strategic research firm that works with an extensive list of Fortune 1000 clients, including brands, agencies and media companies. Equation offers a unique blend of strategic thinking and innovative technology to make research fast, flexible, intelligent and more useful.
SOURCE American Society of Plastic Surgeons
