5/02/06

According to statistics released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the number of ethnic patients who chose to enhance their appearance or minimize the signs of aging through plastic surgery took a substantial jump in 2005, with nearly 2.3 million procedures performed—an increase of 65% from 2004.

“The increase can be, in large part, attributed to greater exposure to the benefits of plastic surgery, a growing acceptance of the specialty, and increased economic power within these ethnic groups,” says ASPS President Bruce Cunningham, MD. “Ethnic patients are reading about plastic surgery in their favorite magazines or newspapers and watching the latest advances regularly on the nightly news—plastic surgery is now primetime.”

Hispanics continue to lead all ethnic groups with more than 921,000 aesthetic procedures performed in 2005, up 67% from 2004. The most requested procedures for Hispanics were nose reshaping, breast augmentation, and liposuction. African Americans were next with 769,000 procedures, up 67%. The most requested surgical procedures for African Americans were nose reshaping, breast reduction, and liposuction. Asians followed with 437,000 procedures, up 58%. The most commonly requested procedures for Asians were nose reshaping, eyelid surgery, and breast augmentation.

The most-requested minimally-invasive aesthetic procedures for all three ethnic groups were botulinum toxin Type A injections, injectable wrinkle fillers, and chemical peels.

[www.healthnewsdigest.com, May 1, 2006]