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Small Plastic Surgery Procedures Yield Big Results
April 19, 2002
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - - - Nearly 6 million people chose non-surgical
cosmetic procedures last year with an increasing number of patients
visiting board-certified plastic surgeons for the procedures,
reports the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) in announcing
its 2001 procedural statistics.
The number of patients visiting plastic surgeons certified by
The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) for non-surgical
procedures increased 44 percent from 2000 to 2001.*
"Patients are looking to create a skin-care regimen for
life," says ASPS President Edward Luce, MD. "This regimen
begins with establishing a relationship with a qualified plastic
surgeon certified by the ABPS who understands the complexities
of the face and all areas of the body. The breadth of treatment
options these surgeons are trained to perform span the non-surgical
- such as lasers and peels - to the surgical - such as nose reshaping,
liposuction, breast and eyelid surgery."
ASPS 2001 expanded statistics represent patients having procedures
performed by member plastic surgeons certified by the ABPS as
well as other physicians certified by the American Board of Medical
Specialties-recognized boards.
"More and younger patients consult an ABPS-certified plastic
surgeon to develop a plan that may include microdermabrasion or
Botox® injections to maintain their youthful appearance
now, while deferring more invasive procedures for years down the
road," reports Dr. Luce.
A visit to a plastic surgeon's office begins with a thorough
review of treatment options. Plastic surgeons agree that exercise
and a balanced diet are essential to looking and feeling young
before and after plastic surgery.
Overall, 5,852,441 people elected to have non-surgical cosmetic
procedures in 2001. Chemical peel and microdermabrasion were the
most popular non-surgical procedures in 2001 with more than 1
million patients opting for each with 1,338,419 and 1,035,769
performed, respectively. Chemical peel involves the application
of a chemical solution to the face to remove outer layers of skin,
allowing a new healthier layer to emerge. Microdermabrasion is
a skin revitalizing method that uses exfoliation to smooth lines,
scars and wrinkles.
Botox® injection, recently approved by the FDA for
cosmetic use, smooths and eliminates forehead lines, frown lines,
crows feet and neck bands was the third most popular non-surgical
procedure with 855,846 patients. The number of patients who visited
a board-certified plastic surgeon for Botox® injections
increased more than 60 percent from the previous year. Other possible
uses Botox® has shown effectiveness for are relieving
migraine headaches by relaxing overworked muscles and treating
hyperhydrosis, a serious and sometimes embarrassing excessive
sweating disorder of the underarms, hands, and feet.
Collagen injections, used to fill deep facial wrinkles, scars,
creases and furrows, with 796,526 patients and laser hair removal
with 687,721 patients were the fourth and fifth most popular non-surgical
procedures.
In addition to its 2001 expanded statistics, ASPS is the only
source for a decade of cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery
statistics representing ABPS-certified plastic surgeons. In depth
statistics are available through the National Clearinghouse of
Plastic Surgery Statistics in the Media Center of the ASPS Web
site, www.plasticsurgery.org.
* Total of six procedures reported in both 2000 and 2001 by ABPS-certified
plastic surgeons.
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