From sculpting faces to show off cheek bones to removing excess skin above the eyelid, interest in a nip and tuck is up, an online survey of plastic surgeons reveals.
The findings are based on responses from a selected group of members of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS). In releasing the results, the academy said it wanted to showcase trends and correct disinformation about certain procedures.
“As people returned to the office and eased back into the routine of daily life without quarantine, interest for elective surgeries and non-invasive ‘tweakments’ remain high,” said Dr. Theda Kontis, a cosmetic surgeon in Baltimore who heads the academy.
“In 2022, our members continued to see the impact of the ‘Zoom Boom,’ with 79% of respondents pointing to the ‘Zoom Effect’ as a major contributing factor in patients’ desire to seek treatment,” Kontis said in an academy news release.
The next most significant motivation, at 60%, was an increase in disposable
income.
“Many patients reported spending money saved during the pandemic on cosmetic procedures,” Kontis said.
About 58% of the facial plastic surgeons reported an increase in bookings and treatments over the past year, according to the AAFPRS. More than three-quarters of them said patient demand had grown by more than 10%.
About 82% of procedures performed in 2022 were minimally invasive, including Botox, fillers and topicals, such as chemical peels. The other 18% were surgical procedures. The top three were facelifts, eyelid surgery (“blepharoplasty”) and nose jobs, according to the report.
“Upper blepharoplasty removes the excess skin above the eyelid, reducing that hooded appearance that can occur naturally with age, while lower blepharoplasty
targets the fat pads below the eye, restoring a smoother, more youthful look,” Kontis said. “Both are relatively minor procedures that lend themselves to tremendous patient satisfaction.”
Rhinoplasty, surgery to reshape the nose, was the most-requested procedure in patients under age 34.
In 16 of 18 procedures tracked, women outnumbered men. Predictably, hair transplantation was more popular with men. Otoplasty, which is surgery to make ears less prominent, had the highest gender equality, according to the survey.
Sharp, prominent cheekbones reminiscent of 1990s models are popular, though surgeons are a bit puzzled by a popular trend of removing buccal fat (the fat between your cheekbones and jaw bones). It creates a slimmer, sculpted face but is irreversible.
