Aesthetic Surgery Market Expected to Double by 2017

The cosmetics industry is growing, but by just how much? According to iData Research, a Vancouver-based pharmaceutical market research firm, the market for facial aesthetics, lasers and cosmetic surgery is expected to double—exceeding $3 billion by 2017.

The U.S. market for facial injectables is currently worth almost $860 million. The expected introduction of new injectables—such as Mentor’s PurTox and Merz's Xeomin—as well as their increasing therapeutic uses will contribute to market growth.

“A growing number of doctors are looking at the therapeutic potential of botulinum A. There are more cosmetic procedures performed using botulinum A than therapeutic; however, therapeutic procedures use higher doses of the drug, therefore these two markets are similar in value,” says Kamran Zamanian, Ph.D., iData CEO.

The iData report predicts that the value of the botulinum toxin A market segment alone will reach $543 million within seven years. Cosmetic Surgery Times also cited laser skin resurfacing, hair removal and lipolysis as the fastest-growing market segments.

Perhaps the FDA approval of new devices, such as Zeltiq, (and hopefully Ultrashape and Liposonix) will help the market meet or even exceed these predictions. I supposed we will have to wait seven years to see!

In UK, Regaining Pre-Baby Body Is A Priority

Immediately following childbirth, it is hard for a woman to regain her pre-baby body. Child bearing can lead to sagging skin, stretch marks, weight gain, cellulite and drooping breast. A new survey conducted by British TV show My Face My Body reveals that 39% of UK women would consider a ‘mommy makeover’ procedure after having children.

The researchers interviewed 326 women and found the top body concerns for women post-pregnancy to be:

Weight-34%
Stretch Marks-24%
Loose Skin-21%
Cellulite-14%
Sagging Breasts-7%


An overwhelming 93% of women admitted that reclaiming their pre-baby body was a priority to them, regardless of whether or not their partner shared their concerns. Of the men interviewed, 71% said they didn’t care about their partner gaining weight after childbirth. On the contrary, 67% of women feared their partners would not find them attractive post-baby.

"While most women enjoy being pregnant and the changes it brings to their bodies, many are concerned about these changes, such as weight gain and stretch marks, becoming permanent,” said My Face My Body presenter Stephen Handisides.

The survey also found that 57% of women would undergo a cosmetic procedure while they were still in the hospital following labor. For a mother who is considering plastic surgery, I urge you to wait at least six months following childbirth to allow the body to heal properly.

For women who are considering plastic surgery as a way to regain their body following pregnancy, the ‘mommy makeover’ is a popular option. The ‘mommy makeover’ can be any combination of procedures including liposuction, abdominoplasty, breast lift, reduction or augmentation.

In our Florida office we see many 'mommy makeovers', with breast surgery, especially breast lifts with implants, being the most popular. The difference in the popularity of aesthetic breast surgery in the U.S. and U.K. may be due to national trends, or even regional trends for South Florida.

Survey Shows Growing Desire for Plastic Surgery in U.S.

According to a survey done on RealSelf.com, consumer interest in plastic surgery is increasing despite the recession. The survey, which was developed by Harris Interactive®, interviewed 2,148 U.S. adults aged 18 years and older. While the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported earlier this year that the 2009 numbers were down, the American desire to be more attractive has renewed. Harris Interactive® surveyed 2,148 adults online and 69 percent said they would choose to have cosmetic work done if money wasn't an issue. This is a 15 point ( 54%) jump from November 2009, when the survey was taken.

Of those surveyed who would get cosmetic work done, 29 percent would choose a tummy tuck, 23 percent would select liposuction, and 13 percent would opt for a face lift. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), the top five surgical procedures in 2009 were: liposuction, breast augmentation, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, and abdominoplasty. The data from both sources suggests that the desire for plastic surgery procedures is based on people preferring more sizable changes over minor nips and tucks.

The survey also reported that the three most popular cosmetic treatments desired by women are the same procedures often associated with the “Mommy Makeover”. Forty-six percent of women aged 35-44 would have an abdominoplasty if money weren't an issue. Of women aged 18-34, 34 percent would undergo a tummy tuck. Another 34% of women aged 35-44 would undergo a breast lift, and 28 percent would choose liposuction. With cosmetic surgery among men growing in popularity, 29 percent of men surveyed would undergo liposuction. The survey also recorded the cosmetic procedures people planned to undergo within the next 12 months in order to gauge future trends in plastic surgery. Of the people surveyed, 23% plan a hair removal procedure, 11% seek dermal fillers, while only 3 percent noted they will have Botox® injections in the coming year. As far as surgical cosmetic procedures, here is the top 5 lineup: blepharoplasty (27%), hair replacement (18%), face lift (13%), abdominoplasty (12%), and breast lift (12%).

It is interesting to see if this survey, taken from a small sample of subjects, will accurately predict the upcoming trends in cosmetic surgery. Will laser hair removal throw Botox® off its throne? Will breast augmentation be ousted by the tummy tuck? We will have to wait and see!

*Chart and data courtesy of MedSpaRX.com

The future of plastic surgery and dermatology: why we bank stem cells

A Scientific American article on a recent study published by the Proceedings for the National Academy of Sciences found that it is possible to use fat, usually obtained via liposuction, to obtain pluripotent fat cells.

In English: the traditional way of getting stem cells is to scrape skin cells, mess with their internal clocks for a few weeks, and then get some of them to be usable. If you're using liposuctioned fat, you have stem cells that are ready to go.

Stem cells have many exciting possibly future applications in cosmetic surgery. More research is required for them to be reliably used, but some of our patients are already banking their stem cells from liposuction by freezing them at a facility, so if they need them someday, they are ready to go.

Dr. Jason Pozner
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca Raton
Sanctuary Plastic Surgery, Boca Raton

Dr. David J. Goldberg
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca Raton
Skin Laser Surgery Specialists of NY/NJ

Daily Links 3/25: WSJ, Allure, Smart Lipo at a Boca Mall

This is a new daily feature: we will share the most interesting cosmetic surgery stories and blog posts we come across every day.

1. Downturn Adds a Wrinkle to Cosmetic Procedures [WSJ Blog]
Naureeen S. Malik with a write-up of the 2009 ASPS statistics.
"Women accounted for 91% last year’s cosmetic procedures of all types, with growth seen across age groups above 30 years old. In women ages 20 to 29, surgical procedures fell 9% last year, according to ASPC.

Cosmetic procedures rose 11% among Hispanics, African Americans and Asians to nearly 26% of last year’s total, while procedures among Caucasians fell 2%."

2. The Botox of Tomorrow: Five Cutting-Edge Skin Treatments [Allure]
Lindsy Van Gelder looks into the future of Reloxin, Latisse, Fractional CO2, LED for collagen, and Evolence.
"Evolence, a new injectable, was recently approved by the FDA to plump lips and lines. Some dermatologists believe it will replace injectable collagen, as it doesn't cause allergic reactions."


3. Liposuction at the Mall: Spa at Town Center in Boca Raton offers procedure [Palm Beach Post]
From our own backyard, Allison Ross reports on Smart Lipo (which we offer at our practice) being performed at the Town Center in Boca Raton.
""The convenience that this is in a mall is one thing, but convenience and safety are two separate issues," said Dr. Stephan Baker, a spokesman for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. "It's not like buying a Gucci bag. You can't just say, 'This looks cute. I'll have some of that.' "


Dr. David Goldberg
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center
Skin Laser Surgery Specialists of NY/NJ

Dr. Jason Pozner
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center

Where'd the fat go? There's still liposuction in Boca Raton.

The American Society for Plastic Surgery stats from 2008 showed liposuction moved to the #2 surgical procedure from its #1 spot in 2007, being passed by breast augmentation.

The number of procedures performed went from 456k to 341k. Are we taking out less fat? Is this due to economic factors?

I don't think so: the methodology of ASAPS stats is they surveyed over 16,000 board-certified physicians - 6,000 dermatologists, 4,000 plastic surgeons and 6,000 ear/nose/throat docs.

Response rate was a total of 894, and therefore was extrapolated. Since methodology has not really changed from year to year, we can discount the low response rate.

But what about everyone else doing liposuction other than core specialists? I believe that the advent of laser liposuction and the advertising assosciated with it has driven many liposuction procedures to non-core docs - including OBGYN, general practitioners, etc., and that these numbers are not represented in ASAPS statistics.

My belief is the lipo numbers are far greater than in previous years - many are just not in the hands of the docs best trained to do these procedures.

Dr. Jason Pozner
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center

Dr. David J. Goldberg
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center
Skin Laser Surgery Specialists of NY/NJ