Plastic surgeons are still performing a lot of breast implants, while other popular cosmetic operations are on the decline.

 

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the number of breast implants increased 39% in the past decade. Nearly 300,000 women had the surgery in 2010, with women in the Mountain and Pacific states most likely to seek breast enhancement.

 

Meanwhile, other plastic surgeries like nose jobs and liposuction have dropped in numbers. Since 2000, liposuction is down 43%, eyelid surgery 36%, nose jobs 35% and face-lifts 16%. Some of the more esoteric body enhancements have taken even bigger hits. For example, forehead lifts are down 65% and chin augmentations 55%.

 

On the other hand, tummy tucks have grown 86% in the last ten years and breast lifts 70%.

 

Despite a troubled economy, cosmetic surgery recipients, 91% of whom are women, spent $10.1 billion on procedures in 2010. Based on the average fee charged by a surgeon or other doctor, lower body lifts lead the pack at $7,247, followed by facelifts at $6,231 and tummy tucks at $5,130.

-David Wallechinsky, Noel Brinkerhoff

 

A Decade of Boosting Breast Size (by Tara Parker-Pope, New York Times)

2010 Plastic Surgery Statistics (American Society of Plastic Surgeons) (pdf)