Cosmetic procedures, whether surgical or not, are becoming increasingly popular among Americans. From cheek contouring and liposuction to height-enhancing leg lengthening procedures, new trends emerge every day and inspire consumers to undergo treatments. As reported in the Aesthetic Society National Bank of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery 2022 report, Americans spent over $11.8 billion on cosmetic procedures, a 2% increase from 2021. BeautyMatter presents key statistics from the report:
- The total number of cosmetic procedures increased by 14% in 2022 compared to the previous year.
- Cosmetic surgery will decrease by 12% in 2022 and non-surgical procedures will increase by 23%.
- While surgical procedures accounted for only 20% of procedures overall, they accounted for 70% of the cosmetic market’s revenue.
- Non-surgical procedures saw an increase due to demand for infusions, skin treatments, body contouring and neurotoxins.
- All of the most popular surgical procedures decreased in 2022. Body procedures decreased by 13% and breast procedures decreased by 11%.
- While 2022 showed a 12% drop in total surgeries, it compares to a particularly strong year in 2021.
- Surgeries began to soar in the second half of 2020 and peaked in the spring of 2021. 2021 eclipsed pre-pandemic surgeries by 55%.
- Liposuction has seen more growth than the other most popular surgical procedures during the pandemic, increasing by 85% over 2019 levels (compared to a 74% increase for abdominoplasty and 39% for breast augmentation). While down 12% from 2021, the process was still 63% above the pre-pandemic level.
- Although surgeries decreased in 2022 compared to 2021, surgeries remained 37% above 2019 readings. The increase was fueled by huge gains in body procedures such as liposuction (+63%) and abdominoplasty (+55%).
- Non-surgical treatments were slower to recover from the pandemic drop, but saw a significant increase in spring 2021 and are projected to peak in spring 2022.
- Around 55% of all surgeries have taken place in the first half of the year, with April and June being the busiest months. This pattern is largely consistent between body and breast procedures as well as the other surgeries.
- The average plastic surgeon performed 252 surgeries in 2022, compared to 289 in 2021 (13% fewer procedures per surgeon). However, the number of surgeries remained 27% above the pre-pandemic level of 198 in 2019.
- On average, the cost of a surgical procedure increased by 12% in 2022 and the cost of a non-surgical procedure decreased by 10%. Before 2022, surgeons’ fees remained largely unchanged in recent years.
- Women accounted for 95% of all surgeries in 2022.
- The most popular age group for surgery was ages 51 to 70, accounting for 36% of surgeries. The 36-50 age group accounted for 30%, followed by 17 to 35-year-olds at 27%. Patients over 70 accounted for 8% of surgeries.
“The aesthetic plastic surgery landscape is undergoing a transformation, as revealed by The Aesthetic Society’s 2022 report”. says Melinda Haws, MD, President of The Aesthetic Society. “With non-surgical procedures on the rise and surgical procedures still accounting for 70% of revenue, the industry is moving into a future defined by dynamic trends. This demonstrates our industry’s ability to embrace innovation and respond to evolving patient preferences. As we move forward, The Aesthetic Society is committed to supporting our patients through top-tier member training.”
Although the demand for cosmetic surgery is still high, non-surgical treatments have taken the limelight in 2022. It can be argued that this increase can be attributed to the lesser possibility of side effects and complications with non-surgical treatments compared to surgical treatments. treatments. As many non-surgical treatments often require maintenance and can be somewhat reversible, many consumers, especially younger generations, see these processes as the norm. In addition, social media provides constant exposure to the idea of the “perfect body” and information on how to achieve this through beauty services, with 48.5% of female university students said they were satisfied with such apps that influenced their decision to seek treatment. While the younger generation is seeking cosmetic procedures now more than ever, the number of older consumers undergoing these procedures is still significant, suggesting that society sees cosmetic alterations as something for everyone regardless of age. As we continue further into 2023, it will be interesting to see what trends emerge and the metrics that accompany them—for now, it’s clear that estheticians will continue to reap the benefits if these numbers continue to follow the pattern shown elements of the report.
