Plastic Surgery Sees Steady Growth Amidst Economic Uncertainty, American Society of Plastic Surgeons 2023 Procedural Statistics Report Finds
World's largest plastic surgery organization navigates new normal in aesthetic health as post-pandemic boom settles

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL – Despite high interest rates and tighter budgets, Americans seemed to prioritize cosmetic procedures in their self-care routines in 2023. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons® (ASPS) has released the 2023 ASPS Procedural Statistics, which showed a 5 percent rise in plastic surgeries and a 7 percent rise in minimally invasive procedures compared to the previous year. The report, which was released with ASPS-endorsed partner CosmetAssure®, looks at the trends driving the growth or decline in procedures.

"While the data suggests that the drastic growth of plastic surgery during the immediate post-pandemic period has stabilized, the demand for aesthetic procedures remains comparatively robust," said ASPS President Steven Williams, MD. "As patients increasingly prioritize their aesthetic health, it remains imperative that they also prioritize education and safety by seeking out board-certified plastic surgeons. This becomes even more important as patients increasingly try to differentiate quality care and truth among the messages they receive in social media and paid advertisements."

Top Overall Cosmetic and Reconstructive Procedures

Of the nearly 1.6 million cosmetic surgical procedures performed in 2023, the top 5 were:

• Liposuction: 347,782 procedures, up 7 percent from 2022
• Breast augmentation: 304,181 procedures, up 2 percent from 2022
• Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty): 170,110 procedures, up 5 percent from 2022
• Breast lift: 153,600, up 7 percent from 2022
• Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty): 120,747 procedures, up 5 percent from 2022

Of the nearly 25.4 million cosmetic minimally invasive procedures performed in 2023, the top 5 were:

• Neuromodulator injections (e.g., Botox® , Dysport®, Xeomin®, Jeuveau®, Daxxify®): 9,480,949 procedures, up 9 percent from 2022
• Hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers: 5,294,603 procedures, up 8 percent from 2022
• Skin resurfacing (e.g., dermabrasion, chemical peel, lasers - ablative/non-ablative, microdermabrasion): 3,501,696 procedures, up 5 percent from 2022
• Skin treatment (e.g., laser hair removal, IPL treatment, laser tattoo removal, laser treatment of leg veins): 3,101,772 procedures, up 6 percent from 2022
• Lip augmentation (with injectable materials: 1,439,291 procedures, up 4 percent from 2022

Of the nearly 1.02 million reconstructive procedures performed in 2023, the top 5 were:

• Tumor removal (including skin cancer): 351,591 procedures, up 2 percent from 2022
• Hand surgery (i.e., Carpal tunnel, arthritis, trigger finger): 207,887 procedures, up 2 percent from 2022
• Breast reconstruction: 157,740 procedures, up 4 percent from 2022
• Maxillofacial surgery: 52,868 procedures, up 1 percent from 2022
• Scar revision: 52,000 procedures, up 2 percent from 2022

Minimally Invasive Procedures Remain Popular

Minimally invasive procedures grew 7 percent in 2023, surpassing surgical procedures by 2 percent. Neuromodulator injections and hyaluronic acid fillers continued to grow, with more than 9 million and 5 million treatments, respectively. The continued interest is driven by advancements in technology and patients' prioritization of budget-friendly procedures, subtle results and minimal recovery time.

Neuromodulator injections remained the most sought-after procedure, rising 9 percent in 2023. While ages 40-54 accounted for over 56 percent of all neuromodulator injections, age groups 20-29 and 30-39 both saw more than an 8 percent increase, which tracks against the trend of younger patients getting preventative Botox. Male patients saw 5 percent growth. Hyaluronic acid fillers and non-hyaluronic acid fillers also both saw an 8 percent increase.

Chemical peels remained a popular choice for skin rejuvenation, with more than 1 million treatments conducted, representing an 8 percent increase. Additionally, laser hair removal procedures rose to more than 800,000, a 9 percent increase, indicating a growing preference for long-term hair reduction solutions. Laser skin resurfacing also gained traction, with more than 1 million procedures performed, marking a 4 percent rise from the previous year.

Face and Neck at the Forefront

Patients looking to enhance their appearance often begin with what they spend the most time looking at daily: the face and neck. Facelifts increased 8 percent year over year in 2023, which outpaces the previous 8 percent growth rate that took place over a 3-year time frame from 2019 to 2022. Neck lifts saw a 2 percent year-over-year growth, despite the procedure dipping 2 percent from 2019 to 2022, and forehead lifts also grew 2 percent despite a 5 percent drop from 2019 to 2022. Likewise, submental (chin) liposuction, aimed at refining the jawline, saw a 6 percent rise. This growth could be due to complications from the overuse of hyaluronic acid fillers, as fillers add volume but do not tighten the skin.

Other facial procedures, such as eyelid surgery and nose reshaping, continued to be increasingly sought after, with a 5 percent and 6 percent increase, respectively. The continued interest in eyelid surgeries may reflect the trend toward less invasive procedures performed under local anesthesia, while the growth in rhinoplasty may be driven by the growing interest in ethnic rhinoplasty, an offering by many plastic surgeons that maintains the patient's cultural identity.

"Ballet Body" Emerges Through Breast and Body Procedures

Procedures focused on the body remain highly popular, and 2023 saw continued movement toward a more natural and athletic physique. Dubbed the "ballet body," this figure is known for its emphasis on a harmonious, proportionate and elegantly contoured body shape. A combination of surgical and nonsurgical procedures can contribute to this physique, including liposuction and body contouring, breast augmentation and minimally invasive treatments like noninvasive fat reduction (cryolipolysis), laser skin tightening and injectable fillers.

Liposuction remained the most in-demand plastic surgery procedure in 2023, with almost 350,000 procedures performed, a 7 percent rise from 2022. Breast enhancement also continued to hold its place as a perennial favorite in the aesthetic field. Year over year, breast augmentation saw a 2 percent rise and breast lifts grew 7 percent. Breast implant removals increased by 9 percent, which could be attributed to innovations in fat grafting for the chest versus implant-based breast augmentation, as well as women opting to replace larger-volume implants with smaller ones to fit their physique and lifestyle. Breast reductions, which saw 7 percent growth, were most sought-after among women ages 40-54 but those ages 20-29 saw a 10 percent increase among procedures. This could be attributed to that generation's prioritization of bodily autonomy, comfort and eliminating back pain, as well as the transparency online as more women share their experiences on social media.

Surgical and Noninvasive Treatments Combine for a Holistic Approach

The rise in body-lift procedures indicates that while patients sought to refine and contour, tightening lax skin was also on their radar. Exercise and diet, while crucial, often fall short of restoring skin elasticity, particularly after significant weight loss or aging. Minimally invasive techniques, such as noninvasive fat sculpting and noninvasive skin tightening, rose 9 and 7 percent, respectively. Surgical interventions, such as upper arm, thigh and buttock lifts, rose 8, 2 and 6 percent, respectively. These types of procedures provide finishing touches, serving a harmonious blend of muscle tone and skin tautness that exercise and diet alone cannot achieve.

"Whether through surgical toning or noninvasive treatments, it's clear that patients are more interested in a holistic, well-rounded approach to body enhancement," said Dr. Williams. "As health and wellness continue to be priorities, there are certain areas that only these types of procedures can address, which is a trend widely seen within the 2023 Procedural Statistics report."

Millennials have especially embraced this approach, implementing cosmetic procedures as part of their self-care routine. While this generation prioritizes movement, diet and overall wellness, they have popularized the concept of using cosmetic procedures to address issues that diet and exercise alone cannot fix, such as loose or sagging skin from weight fluctuations, addressing stubborn fat and adjusting their silhouettes to fit them. Their receptiveness and transparency have shifted cultural dynamics to normalize plastic surgery as a component of overall health and confidence, influencing older and younger generations in the process.