According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, there were 12.5 million cosmetic procedures done in the United States in 2009 for a total cost of $10 billion. 91% of these procedures were done on women, and almost half were done on women who were 40 to 54 years of age. That really says a lot about the time, money, and effort we’re willing to spend to be gorgeous, doesn’t it? Some procedures are done to repair damage from an accident, disease, or birth defect, but the overwhelming majority are done strictly for beauty. What are we women spending so much money on? In 2009, there were a lot of procedures that were very popular, and here’s a list of them, and what they actually mean.
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In 2006, breast augmentation became the most popular cosmetic procedure, and its popularity has been increasing since then. A small silicone envelope is filled with saline solution and an incision is made either around the nipple or in the navel to allow the sac to be placed under the skin.
Nose reshaping, or rhinoplasty, is declining in popularity, but is still among the top 5 most popular cosmetic surgeries. The nose, or a portion of the nose, is broken, then reshaped and set. When it heals, the nose is shaped and sized as desired.
Like nose reshaping, eyelid surgeries are declining in popularity, but are still among the most requested cosmetic surgeries. This is very popular among older women, in conjunction with or instead of a face list.
This is incredibly popular among women who have recently lost weight, but still have one problem area. It’s also declining in popularity, but a lot of women still see it as a valuable option. A small incision is made, and a tiny vacuum is used to remove fat cells. A new option doesn’t require an incision or a vacuum — it uses a laser to target and destroy the fat cells as well.
This cosmetic surgery is increasing in popularity, up 84% from 2000. Women who have lost a lot of weight, or have had many children, may be unhappy with the loose skin on their stomachs, so they opt for a tummy tuck, which is exactly what the name implies. The skin is gathered then removed, leaving a firmer, more supple figure.
This minimally-invasive product is wildly popular, down 4% from 2008 but up 509% from the year 2000. An injection of Botulinum Toxin Type A is made very carefully in the wrinkle-prone area, which freezes the muscles and prevents the wrinkle.
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This is popular for women who want smoother skin, or to remove sun damage or acne damage. A chemical mask is applied, which causes the top layers of skin to slough off, revealing the younger, smoother, newer skin underneath.
Microdermabrasion is basically a mega-powered exfoliant, gently sloughing off rough, dead, old skin cells to reveal the newer cells beneath. It’s not as harsh as a chemical peel, and doesn’t leave the same damage, so it’s a great option for women with little sun damage or wrinkles.
This was the tenth most popular cosmetic procedure overall in 2009, up 21% from 2000. It’s also the most popular cosmetic procedure among teens. A laser is used to target dark hairs, so it won’t work on light hair. The hair will grow back, but it will be much lighter and finer, and with more treatments, will be almost invisible, if it grows back at all.
These are the most popular cosmetic procedures as of 2009, according to a report by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. I wonder what the new top procedures will be, or if these will still top the list for 2010? Which of these procedures have you considered, and why? Or is there another cosmetic surgery you’d like to have?
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