The demand for facelift procedures rebounded in 2007 rebounded in 2007-reversing a gradual drop-off that began n 2000-whilke the number of cosmetic plastic surgery procedures continued its steady upward march, according to date gathered by the National Clearinghouse of Plastic Surgery Statistics.  Released last month, the statistics show that nearly 116,200 facelifts were performed on patients age 40 and older in 2007 ? an increase of roughly 14 percent over 2006.  There was also a 16 percent increase for men and a 14 percent increase for women last year.

The rise in facelift numbers may reflect older patients? increasing understanding that a youthful appearance is best gained by a two-pronged approach. ?With the advent of injectables such as botulinum toxin and hyaluronic acid fillers, many baby boomers through they could substitute fillers for a facelift,? says ASPS President Richard D?Amico, MD.  ?However, these statistics show that patients now know they get the best results when surgery and injectables are used together.

?Facelifts are critical in lifting and repositioning the skin and underlying tissues, while injectables are vital for plumping and restoring volume,? he says.

In addition, breast augmentation ? the most popular cosmetic surgical procedure in 2006 and 2007 ? rose 6 percent in 2007.

Overall, nearly 12 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures were performed in 2007 ? a 7 percent increase from 2006.

          The top five surgical procedures were:

• Breast augmentation (348,000, up 6 percent)

• Lipoplasty (302,000. unchanged)

• Rhinoplasty (285,000, up 3 percent)

• Bepharoplasty (241,000, up 3 percent)

• Abdominoplasty (148,000, up 1 percent)

High demand continues for less invasive and relatively less expensive procedures.  While there has not been an uptick in the number of cosmetic surgical procedures, noninvasive procedures continue to be the most popular alternatives.  There were nearly 10 million minimally invasive cosmetic plastic surgery procedures in 2007, a 9 percent increase over 2006.

          The top five minimally invasive procedures were:

• Botox® injections (4.6 million, up 13 percent from 2006)

• Hyaluronic acid filler injections (1.1 million, up 35 percent)

• Chemical peels (1 million, down 4 percent)

• Laser hair removal (906,000, up 2 percent)

• Microdermabrasion (897,000, up 10 percent)

?When it comes to the war on aging, Americans are clearly looking to injectables to help win the battle,? says ASPS Public Education Committee Chair James Wells, MD.

Laser resurfacing continues to grow in popularity ? notable with men ? increasing by 32 percent in 2007 and by 96 percent compared with 2000.

Ethnic Group procedures rise

Almost one-quarter (2,626,700) of all cosmetic plastic surgery procedures were performed on non-Caucasian patients in 2007, up 13 percent from 2006.  The groups mostly represented were of Hispanic, African-American and Asian-American ethnicity.

?One thing I?ve noticed in my practice is that as the job market becomes more competitive and youth-oriented, a growing number of women and men from various ethnic backgrounds are turning to cosmetic plastic surgery as a way to present a more youthful, aggressive image and to help boost their confidence,? says Dr. Wells.

Looking back to 2000, the increases in these demographic categories are particularly high. Cosmetic plastic surgery procedures increased 173 percent in Hispanics, 129 percent in Asian-American.

The increase in cosmetic plastic surgery procedures in 2007 for the following demographic categories are:

• 8 percent (1,011,000) for Hispanics

• 8 percent (847,800) for African-Americans

• 6 percent (767,806) for African-American

The most commonly requested surgical procedures for ethnic patients have remained consistent.  African-American patients requested nose reshaping, liposuction and breast reduction; Asian-American patients requested nose reshaping. Breast augmentation and eyelid surgery; Hispanic patients requested breast augmentation, nose reshaping and liposuction ? each following the general trends established since 2000.

Ethnic patients who have plastic surgery have similar motivations and goals as other patients, according to Dr. Wells: reduce the signs of aging, look refreshed and rejuvenated, or enlarge, reduce, refine or create balance and symmetry of their faces and /or bodies. ?But the majority of patients want to maintain their ethnic identity,? notes Dr. Wells. ?They do not want to lose important facial features that exhibit racial character.

Men and other trends

It?s no secret to plastic surgeons that women continue comprise the largest segment of their business.  But plastic surgery procedures of the face and chest were popular among both women and men in 2007, increasing at similar rates for similar procedures. Along with the double-digit percentage increases in facelifts for both men and women, breast augmentation for women increased 6 percent and pectoral implants for men increased 8 percent.  Further, reconstructive breast reduction for women increased 2 percent, which is a significant difference from the 9 percent decrease reported last year. Male breast reduction increased 7 percent. At 1.1 million procedures, men comprised 9 percent of plastic surgery patients.  Their numbers increased 1 percent in 2007 compared with 2006 ? and 9 percent since 2000.

Another notable trend involves patients seeking support systems as they prepare to have plastic surgery. Thirty-nine percent of ASPS Members Surgeons reported seeing an increase in couples of families having surgery together in the last three years.