Chicago — An American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS) survey says interest in cosmetic surgery is on the rise as technological advancements make procedures more accessible, more affordable and safer than ever.
According AACS, based here, more than 17 million cosmetic surgery procedures were performed in the United States in 2009, more than has ever been reported before — and especially significant considering the economic downturn.
The rise in cosmetic surgeries is primarily due to the baby boomer generation’s desire to preserve their youth and to elective cosmetic surgery financing being more available than ever, according to the academy.
The survey notes that the invasive procedures that have increased in number the most over the past five years are blepharoplasty, abdominoplasty and rhinoplasty. Among less-invasive procedures, laser resurfacing, chemical peels and filler procedures have increased the most.
For AACS members, rhinoplasty surgeries jumped from 12,460 in 2008 to 21,730 in 2009, a 74 percent increase. Facelifts were also up this year, from 20,478 in 2008 to 34,455 in 2009, a 44 percent spike.
