Every year, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the Aesthetic Society of American Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) come out with a report that details the most popular plastic surgery trends for the year.

The results for 2018 indicate that non-invasive procedures such as Botox and Fillers are climbing exponentially in popularity. That doesn’t mean that plastic surgery is down – in fact more and more people are opting to go under the knife because the downtime for surgery is much less than it used to be.

As the years go by, technology for both invasive and non-invasive cosmetic procedures will only get better – resulting in more and more people opting to get a procedure done due to better results and less downtime.

Here are the Top Cosmetic Surgery Trends for 2018:

Non-Surgical Trends (minimally invasive)

Non-invasive procedures such as lip augmentation, Botox, and fillers have exploded in popularity. The American Society for Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) released a report in March of 2018 that listed the statistics for minimally invasive cosmetic procedures. In 2017 there were over 1.8 million cosmetic surgical procedures performed and that number is continuing to climb.

New technologies such as CoolSculpting offer a way to remove arm fat without getting surgery. The medical evidence that these technologies work well is starting to pile up and that’s causing more and more people to want to get them.

The Top 5 Non-Invasive Procedures are:

• Botox (Type A) – Used for both removing wrinkles and fine lines on the face. Botox is also showing great promise for people who suffer from certain dental issues. TMJ and gummy smiles can be corrected by the use of Botox.
• Soft tissue fillers – Soft tissue fillers are also known as “dermal fillers.” They can be used to plump up thin lips, soften facial wrinkles, improve the appearance of scars, and enhance shallow contours. Fillers are often used in conjunction with Botox to remove facial lines and wrinkles.
• Chemical peel – Long gone are the days of the painful chemical peel. New advances in technology make this procedure relatively pain-free. Chemical peels can transform the look and feel of your face.
• Laser hair removal – Laser hair removal is a non-invasive procedure that will continue to remain popular amongst both men and women. In today’s society, body hair is considered “icky” and a few laser hair removal appointments can get rid of it completely.
• Microdermabrasion – An abrasive instrument is used to gently remove dead, old skin and remove the thicker, outer layer of skin that has sun or age damage.

The amount of people getting non-invasive procedures is only expected to rise as the years go by. Non-invasive prolongs the need for many people to have to undergo the knife in order to achieve the cosmetic results that they desire.

Surgical Trends (invasive)

Surgical trends have actually increased for 2018 – despite the record amounts of people seeking non-invasive treatments. This is due in part to recent advances in surgical procedures which allow for a much shorter (and less painful) recovery time.

It can also be attributed in part to those who are initially seeking minimally-invasive procedures – only to realize these procedures can only do so much – and they will have to undergo surgery to fully achieve the look they want.

Sometimes a celebrity will also get a surgical procedure done and post before-and-after results on their social media. This in turn increases the popularity and demand of the procedure as everyone wants to look like their favorite celebrity.

Here are the Top Surgical Trends for 2018:

Vaginal rejuvenation – The stigma about vaginal rejuvenation is almost completely gone. More and more women are opting for this procedure. It can be done as a non-invasive procedure such as ThermaVa, which uses radiofrequency energy to help restore the vagina to a younger “pre-baby” stage. It can also be done as a surgical procedure such as a labiaplasty.

Breast implants – Breast implants are always going to be popular and at the top of this list. In 2017 alone, there were over 300,000 breast implant procedures performed in America. This is up 3 percent from 2016. The increase in popularity can be attributed in part to patients have less recovery time due to new surgical technologies and techniques.

Tummy Tucks – Tummy tucks are another plastic surgery staple. In 2017 there were almost 130,000 tummy tucks performed. There are many people who are unable to get rid of that last bit of belly fat – no matter how hard and long they work out. Tummy tucks offer a viable solution to this problem.

Liposuction – Liposuction is up 5 percent from 2016 as well. This could be due in part to the growing popularity of Brazilian Butt Lifts which require liposuction in order for the procedure to be successful. Many overweight people also tend to get liposuction as a way to give themselves a head start to getting that tight body they’ve always dreamed of.

Where Are the Trends Headed for 2019?

While it’s most likely that the trends will remain the same for many years to come, it’s entirely possible that new technology or a celebrity fad will cause a new procedure to increase in popularity. Kim Kardashian recently made the Vampire Facelift an overnight sensation when she posted pictures of her getting the procedure to her social media account.

Non-surgical trends will also continue to grow in popularity as well. There will be new Botox-like products on the market that offer greater results that what’s able to be achieved currently.

Cosmetic Surgery in Dallas

If you’ve been putting off getting that cosmetic procedure you’ve always wanted, now is a great time to schedule an appointment with Dr. Adams. The technology for both invasive and non-invasive procedures has improved dramatically and the overall recovery time for most procedures has decreased from just a few short years ago.

In 2016, the number of facelifts performed in the U.K. fell to a staggering 40% of what they were just one year prior. Many newspapers picked upon the downward trend and people started to wonder if facelifts were a thing of the past. Considering how social media has grown in popularity, it would stand to reason that the number of facelifts performed should be on the upswing.

According to plastic surgeon Dr. Jason Pozner, the above decline is only for the U.K. Here in the U.S., the number of facelifts performed over the past 10 years has fluctuated by only 5% or so. He goes on to say that he’s performing more facelifts now than ever due to the non-surgical treatments such as Botox and fillers – which act as a sort of “gateway drug” to more invasive surgical procedures.

Societal trends and non-invasive surgery treatments are both contributing to the delay and/or decline in undergoing the knife. We’re going to look at several reasons that could explain this trend in an attempt to understand what’s going on with facelifts.

Social Media Stars

Anyone with a webcam, social media account, and pretty face can be a social media star. Just 15 short years ago, model and talent agencies would hire people who had to conform to a certain physical look that they had in mind. Nowadays, anyone with a popular Instagram or Twitter page can go onto fame and fortune.

The rise in social media celebrities who focus on beauty and beauty products is a contributing factor in the delay of many people getting a facelift. They tend to be more relatable than the big celebrities you see on T.V. This factor alone is why they are so popular with the average person. “If they can do it, so can I” is the mindset that many people have.

Due to their lack of wealth, they are always on the lookout for the latest and greatest non-surgical beauty treatments that won’t require thousands of dollars and longer healing times.

This trend has only served to increase the popularity of such minimally invasive techniques as Botox, Kybella, and dermal fillers. After all, it’s a lot easier (and less expensive) to walk into a dermatologist’s office and walk out 30 minutes later after getting Botox and filler injections.

Non-Invasive – Not for Everyone

Part of the reason why facelifts haven’t decreased dramatically in the U.S. is because non-invasive treatments aren’t for everyone and they can only help so much. Non-invasive treatments usually don’t last more than 6 months or so until their beneficial effects wear off. Getting Botox treatments bi-annually for just a few years can actually cost more than certain surgical procedures.

Botox and other non-invasive procedures are a fantastic way for people to get accustomed to how well plastic surgery works. Once they realize that Botox and fillers can only do so much, they start to get curious about how much better they would look if they had a facelift. While it hasn’t been studied in-depth, it’s reasonable to assume that non-invasive techniques can delay a person decided to go under the knife for at least a year or two.

There are also other people whom Botox and other injectables won’t help. Their aesthetic issues can only be solved by undergoing the knife. They usually come into the surgeon’s office for a consultation about Botox and wind up opting for surgery after they learn of the limitations of injectables.

Delay in Patients Getting Facelifts

When plastic surgeons see patients in their initial consultation, it’s mostly to let them know what they can fix and how it can be fixed. Every patient they see for facial rejuvenation usually starts off very conservatively with some type of Botox or filler treatment. As time goes by, the patient starts to realize that if they want permanent results, they’ll have to go under the knife.

One of the biggest delay factors in patients agreeing to get plastic surgery is the fear of the knife. Unless they need immediate surgery due to a medical issue or accident, most people tend to flirt with non-invasive techniques for a few months to a few years before finally deciding to get the surgical procedure done so they won’t have to deal with getting injected with needles every 6 months.

Conclusion

The demand for facelifts is slowing down, but not declining. Eventually those people who get Botox and other injectables done on a regular basis will grow tired of it, the continual expense, and limitations as to what it can do, and finally opt to undergo a facelift. While injectables work very well for many people, they only work so well and last for so long.

If Botox and injectables aren’t giving you the results that you desire, or you’re looking for something more permanent, schedule a consultation today. Dr. Adams and his staff will help answer any questions you might have, and their offices are conveniently located in the Dallas area.

It’s been said that the average person spends almost 2 hours per day on social media. From chatting with family members to posting pictures and sharing them with friends, social media is affecting people in ways we’re only just beginning to understand.

Social media is driving an increase in demand for plastic surgery. Many plastic surgeons are reporting that more and more people in their 20’s and 30’s are wanting work to be done than ever before. The prospective patients will come in with an Instagram photo of themselves where they feel that a certain aspect of their face is distorted, or they will bring in a picture of a celebrity whom they want to look more like.

Selfies and Self-Perception

A study was published in 2016 that found that people will often perceive themselves as more likeable and attractive than others do. These biases in self-perception can lead to a whole host of psychological issues which can ultimately manifest in lowered self-esteem or a trip to the plastic surgeon’s office to correct a perceived issue with their face or body.

The younger generations are being affected by this especially hard due to the prevalence of selfies and importance of social media in their peer groups. Psychologists state that most people view selfies as harmless “peacocking”, but there is a blurred line that exists that could lead to a downward cycle of self-doubt and misunderstanding.

For example, if someone is attempting to lose weight and they post a picture of themselves on Facebook and someone makes a negative comment or a joke, it can have a very strong and negative psychological impact. Especially if the person already suffers from low self-esteem and is using that Facebook post to seek affirmation for how hard they are working to lose that weight.

Social Media and Plastic Surgery Trends

Over the years the minimally invasive procedures such as Botox and fillers have gained a huge increase in popularity. This is due in part to how well they work, as well as the relative low cost as compared to getting a surgical cosmetic procedure done. People who are routinely active on social media view these procedures as a quick fix that can help them take better online pictures.

The American Association of Facial Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) sent out a survey to 753 board-certified plastic surgeons. The survey asked them to describe the trends they’re currently seeing in cosmetic surgery.

The AAFPRS members reported that the top two reasons people get cosmetic surgery are social media and the desire to look younger (and remain competitive) in the work place. 42% of plastic surgeons reported that their patients were seeking corrective work in order to look better in Instagram, Facebook, selfies, and other social media platforms. For those wanting cosmetic procedures due to work, the most popular procedure was making the eyelids look less tired.

A British think-tank called the Nuffield Council on Bioethics also released a report that found that Americans spent $13 billion dollars on plastic surgery in 2015 and that number increased to $16 billion in 2016. They concluded that social media is the number one driving factor in the increase in plastic surgery spending.

Social Media Downsides

Social media can be a breeding ground for negative comments about how people look. For example, Catherine Zeta Jones recently posted a picture of herself on Instagram. Over the course of a few days, she was hit with thousands of negative comments about her face. Most of the negative comments were accusing her of getting a botched plastic surgery procedure.

There is a stigma that some people have when it comes to plastic surgery. They feel that if you’re not born looking like a super model, then you shouldn’t get work done at all. This kind of rationale is absurd and can lead to lowered self-esteem issues – and in some cases, an increase in plastic surgery. If someone is ridiculed online for posting a photo of themselves, it could lead them to head back to the plastic surgeon’s office to correct whatever people are saying is wrong with them.

There is also an element of jealously involved. Considering how impersonal the internet can be, people will often be vicious towards complete strangers and all it takes is a keyboard and a quick click of the “Post” button.

There are many people out there on the social media sites that suffer from internal strife and they manifest it by taking their frustrations out on other people in the form of negative comments – by reacting negatively, and attempting to bring someone down to their level, these “haters” are seeking a form of self-fulfilling therapy.

Cosmetic Surgery in Dallas

There shouldn’t be any stigma when it comes to plastic surgery. After all, the intent of the person seeking work is to make themselves look and feel better. We don’t ridicule people when they exercise in an attempt to stay in shape, and the same line of reasoning should be applied to those who opt for plastic surgery. At the end of the day, it’s best to ignore the negative comments on social media by walking away and thinking to yourself: “Haters gonna hate.”

If you’re in the Dallas area and would like more information on plastic surgery or non-invasive procedures such as Botox and fillers, give our offices a call at (214) 965-9885 or schedule an appointment. Dr. Adams can help give you a new look and the confidence to post as many selfies on Instagram or Facebook as you can!