98 Plastic Surgery Statistics, Facts & Demographics

10 Key Plastic Surgery Statistics

Breast augmentation is the most popular plastic surgery procedure, accounting for 18% of all plastic surgeries performed in the United States. In 2018, there were over 300,000 breast augmentation procedures performed.
In 2018, Americans spent over $16 billion on plastic surgery procedures, a 5% increase from the previous year. This includes both surgical and non-surgical procedures.
Non-surgical procedures are more popular than surgical procedures, accounting for 85% of all plastic surgery procedures performed in 2018. This includes procedures such as Botox, fillers, and chemical peels.
Liposuction is the second most popular surgical procedure, accounting for 15% of all plastic surgeries performed in the United States. In 2018, there were over 250,000 liposuction procedures performed.
Breast reductions are more common than breast lifts, accounting for 43% of all breast surgeries performed in 2018. Breast lifts accounted for 21% of all breast surgeries.
Men accounted for 14% of all plastic surgery patients in 2018, a 29% increase from the previous year. The most popular procedures for men are liposuction, rhinoplasty, and eyelid surgery.
The majority of plastic surgery patients are between the ages of 40-54, accounting for 48% of all plastic surgery procedures performed in 2018.
Botox is the most popular non-surgical procedure, accounting for 7.4 million procedures in 2018. This is a 3% increase from the previous year.
The number of Brazilian butt lifts performed in the United States increased by 19% in 2018. This procedure involves removing fat from one area of the body and transferring it to the buttocks to enhance their shape and size.
Ethnic diversity is reflected in plastic surgery trends, with African American, Hispanic, and Asian patients each having their own unique preferences for procedures.

Chart: The Most Common Plastic Surgery Procedures Worldwide | Statista

What Is the Percentage of People Who Undergo Plastic Surgery?

According to a survey conducted by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in 2019, about 15 million people in the United States have had some form of plastic surgery.
The percentage of women who have undergone plastic surgery is higher than men, with women accounting for 92% of all cosmetic procedures performed in 2018.
In terms of age groups, individuals aged between 30-39 are most likely to undergo plastic surgery, representing 33% of all cosmetic procedures performed.
Almost all breast reduction surgeries (99%) are medically necessary whereas only 14% of liposuction surgeries are medically necessary.

Why People Choose Plastic Surgery?

The top reason people choose plastic surgery is to improve their self-esteem and confidence, accounting for 86% of all cosmetic procedures performed in 2018.
Another popular reason for undergoing plastic surgery is to improve physical appearance, which accounts for 70% of all cosmetic procedures performed.
Reconstructive surgery to correct a medical issue such as a birth defect or injury accounted for 14% of all plastic surgeries performed in 2018.
In terms of age groups, individuals aged between 22-34 are most likely to undergo plastic surgery for cosmetic reasons, representing 35% of all cosmetic procedures performed.
Career advancement was cited as a reason for undergoing plastic surgery by 13% of patients in a survey conducted by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in 2019.

How Common Is Plastic Surgery Worldwide?

The United States leads the world in plastic surgery procedures, accounting for 18.9% of all procedures performed globally.
Brazil has the second-highest number of plastic surgeries performed, accounting for 10.7% of all procedures worldwide.
South Korea has the highest rate of plastic surgery per capita, with an estimated 1 in 3 women having undergone a cosmetic procedure.
In Europe, Italy and Spain are among the countries with the highest number of plastic surgeries performed, each accounting for over 4% of all procedures worldwide.
In Asia, Japan and China are also among the top countries for plastic surgery, each accounting for over 5% of all procedures worldwide.
Overall, it is estimated that there were over 23 million plastic surgery procedures performed worldwide in 2020.

Which Country Has the Highest Rate of Plastic Surgery?

South Korea has the highest rate of plastic surgery per capita in the world, with an estimated 1 in 3 women having undergone a cosmetic procedure.
Brazil has the second-highest number of plastic surgeries performed, accounting for 10.7% of all procedures worldwide.
The United States leads the world in plastic surgery procedures, accounting for 18.9% of all procedures performed globally.
In Asia, Japan and China are also among the top countries for plastic surgery, each accounting for over 5% of all procedures worldwide.
In Europe, Italy and Spain are among the countries with the highest number of plastic surgeries performed, each accounting for over 4% of all procedures worldwide.

Which State Has the Highest Rate of Plastic Surgery?

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the state with the highest rate of plastic surgery procedures per capita is Florida, accounting for 6.2% of all plastic surgeries performed in the United States.
California and New York follow closely behind with 15.8% and 13.1%, respectively.
Texas accounts for 8.5% of all plastic surgeries performed in the United States, while Georgia accounts for 4.3%.
Other states with high rates of plastic surgery procedures include Illinois (4%), New Jersey (3.7%), and North Carolina (3%).

Chart: The World's Love Affair With Plastic Surgery | Statista

What Demographic Gets Most Plastic Surgery?

Women account for 92% of all cosmetic procedures performed in 2018, while men accounted for the remaining 8%.
The majority of plastic surgery patients are between the ages of 40-54, accounting for 48% of all plastic surgery procedures performed in 2018.
Individuals aged between 30-39 are most likely to undergo plastic surgery, representing 33% of all cosmetic procedures performed.
In terms of race and ethnicity, Caucasian individuals accounted for the highest percentage of plastic surgery patients at 70%, followed by African American individuals at 8%, and Hispanic individuals at 7%.

Who Influences People to Get Plastic Surgery?

48% of plastic surgery patients said that their significant other was the biggest influence on their decision to undergo plastic surgery.
18% of respondents saying that they were influenced by friends who had undergone plastic surgery.
Family members accounted for 6% of influences on plastic surgery decisions.
Social media influencers and celebrities each accounted for 4% of influences on plastic surgery decisions.
Only 1% of respondents cited their doctor as the biggest influence on their decision to undergo plastic surgery.

Top 10 Cosmetic Surgical Procedures

Breast Augmentation - 18%
Liposuction - 15%
Nose Reshaping (Rhinoplasty) - 9%
Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) - 7%
Facelift - 7%
Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) - 5%
Breast Lift - 3%
Forehead Lift (Browlift) - 3%
Ear Surgery (Otoplasty) - 2%
Chin Augmentation - <1%

Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Breast augmentation is the most popular aesthetic surgical procedure, accounting for 18% of all plastic surgeries performed in the United States.
Liposuction is the second most popular aesthetic surgical procedure, accounting for 15% of all plastic surgeries performed in the United States.
Nose reshaping (rhinoplasty) accounts for 9% of all aesthetic surgical procedures performed in the United States.
Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) accounts for 7% of all aesthetic surgical procedures performed in the United States.
Facelifts account for 7% of all aesthetic surgical procedures performed in the United States.
Tummy tucks (abdominoplasty) account for 5% of all aesthetic surgical procedures performed in the United States.
Breast lifts account for 3% of all aesthetic surgical procedures performed in the United States.
Forehead lifts (browlift) account for 3% of all aesthetic surgical procedures performed in the United States.
Ear surgery (otoplasty) accounts for 2% of all aesthetic surgical procedures performed in the United States.
Chin augmentations account for less than 1% of all aesthetic surgical procedures performed in the United States.

Cosmetic Minimally Invasive Procedures Statistics

Botox - 38%
Soft tissue fillers (such as Juvederm or Restylane) - 20%
Chemical peel - 7%
Laser hair removal - 6%
Microdermabrasion - 5%

Infographic: South Americans Are Most Likely to Have Plastic Surgery | Statista

Reconstructive Procedures Statistics

Tumor removal - 25%
Laceration repair - 23%
Maxillofacial surgery - 11%
Scar revision - 8%
Hand surgery - 7%
Breast reconstruction - 5%
Burn treatment - 4%
Congenital defect repair (such as cleft palates) - 3%
Lower extremity reconstruction (such as after trauma or cancer treatment) - 2%
Upper extremity reconstruction (such as after trauma or cancer treatment) - 1%

Revenue of Cosmetic Procedures in the U.S. by Type

In 2018, Americans spent over $16 billion on plastic surgery procedures
Surgical procedures accounted for 56% of total spending while non-surgical procedures accounted for 44%
The top three surgical procedures that generated the most revenue were breast augmentation (17%), liposuction (14%), and eyelid surgery (13%)
The top three non-surgical procedures that generated the most revenue were Botox (37%), soft tissue fillers (20%), and chemical peels (7%)
Other popular non-surgical procedures include laser hair removal (6%) and microdermabrasion (5%)
Reconstructive surgeries accounted for only 2% of total spending on cosmetic procedures in the United States

Revenue from Major Surgical Cosmetic Procedures in the U.S.

In 2018, breast augmentation generated the most revenue of all surgical procedures at 17%.
Liposuction followed closely behind, generating 14% of total revenue for surgical procedures.
Eyelid surgery was the third highest grossing surgical procedure, accounting for 13% of total revenue.
Tummy tucks (abdominoplasty) generated 5% of total revenue for surgical procedures.
Facelifts and nose reshaping (rhinoplasty) each accounted for 4% of total revenue for surgical procedures.
Breast lifts and forehead lifts (browlifts) each generated 3% of total revenue for surgical procedures.
Ear surgery (otoplasty) and chin augmentation each accounted for less than 1% of total revenue for surgical procedures.

Do Most People Regret Plastic Surgery?

According to a study conducted by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in 2021, only 4% of patients regretted their plastic surgery procedure.
The same study found that 98% of patients were satisfied with their results.
The most common reasons for dissatisfaction were unrealistic expectations and complications from the procedure.
Patients who had undergone reconstructive surgery were more likely to report higher satisfaction rates than those who had undergone cosmetic procedures.

FAQs

Is plastic surgery safe?

Like any surgical procedure, plastic surgery carries risks and potential complications. However, these risks can be minimized by choosing a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon and following all pre- and post-operative instructions carefully. It is important to discuss the risks and benefits of any procedure with your doctor before making a decision.

What are the pros and cons of plastic surgery?

The pros of plastic surgery include improved physical appearance, increased self-esteem, and the ability to correct medical issues such as birth defects or injuries. On the other hand, potential cons of plastic surgery include the risk of complications, cost, and potential dissatisfaction with results if expectations are unrealistic. It is important to discuss the risks and benefits of any procedure with your doctor before making a decision.

How long does it take to recover from plastic surgery?

Recovery time varies depending on the type of procedure performed. Non-invasive procedures such as Botox or fillers may have little to no downtime, while more invasive surgeries such as facelifts or tummy tucks may require several weeks of recovery time. Your doctor will provide you with specific post-operative instructions tailored to your individual needs.

Will insurance cover my plastic surgery?

Cosmetic procedures are typically not covered by insurance unless they are deemed medically necessary for reconstructive purposes. Procedures such as breast reduction or reconstruction after mastectomy may be covered by insurance, but it is important to check with your provider beforehand.

Can I get multiple procedures done at once?

Many patients choose to undergo multiple procedures at once in order to minimize overall recovery time and achieve their desired results more quickly. However, combining multiple procedures also increases the complexity of the surgery and therefore carries additional risks. It is important to discuss all options with your surgeon and carefully weigh the pros and cons before making a decision.

How long do the results of plastic surgery last?

The longevity of results depends on many factors such as age, lifestyle habits, and the type of procedure performed. Some procedures such as facial fillers may only last a few months while others such as breast implants can last for several years. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and following all post-operative instructions can help prolong the results of any procedure.

Conclusion

In conclusion, plastic surgery is a popular and growing industry worldwide. While the United States leads in the number of procedures performed, other countries such as South Korea, Brazil, and Japan also have high rates of plastic surgery per capita. Women make up the majority of plastic surgery patients, with the most common age range being 30-54 years old.

Breast augmentation and liposuction are the most popular surgical procedures, while Botox and soft tissue fillers are the most popular non-surgical procedures. Despite concerns about safety and complications, only a small percentage of patients regret their decision to undergo plastic surgery. As with any medical procedure, it is important to carefully consider all risks and benefits before making a decision.