Medical: Value of Vanity

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, over 10 million cosmetic procedures were performed in the U.S. in 2008. Surgical treatments account for 17 percent of cosmetic procedures. The most popular surgical procedures are breast augmentation, liposuction, eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty (nose reshaping) and abdominoplasty (tummy tuck). Nonsurgical options account for 83 percent of COSMETIC procedures. The leading ones are Botox injections, laser hair removal, hyaluronic acid (a type of filler) injections, chemical peels and microdermabrasion.

In 2007, Americans spent nearly $11.8 million on cosmetic procedures. Roughly nine out of every ten patients are women. Nearly half of the patients (45 percent) are between 35 and 50.

Over the past ten years, the number of cosmetic procedures performed in the U.S. has increased 162 percent. Demand for nonsurgical procedures increased by over 233 percent, and researchers expect that trend to continue into the next decade.

Nationally, the average cost of a face lift is more than $6,700 and recovery can take two weeks or longer. On the other hand, nonsurgical options are typically less invasive and require little or no recovery time. Here are some popular options:

Fillers are used to “fill in” depressions made by fine lines and wrinkles. Some products are derived from collagen (a natural protein) or autologous fat (fat sources taken from elsewhere on the body). Several fillers are made with hyaluronic acid, a natural substance found between skin cells that binds moisture to promote volume and fullness. Other fillers include hydroxylapatite, a compound found in teeth and bones, Poly-L-lactic acid, a synthetic material similar to that used in absorbable sutures and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), tiny microspheres suspended in collagen gel. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery estimates cosmetic fillers will continue to dominate the cosmetic procedure market and become even more popular as newer products are approved for use. Depending upon the type of filler used, costs range from about $400 to $1300 per treatment.

Botox, or botulinum toxin, is an injectable product that temporarily paralyzes a target muscle. Some types of wrinkles, like frown lines and crow’s feet may be caused by over-activation of the muscles, pulling on the overlying skin and forming a depressed line on the face. When Botox is injected, the muscle relaxes and skin appears smoother. The average cost of a Botox injection is $443.

Skin resurfacing. Skin resurfacing is the removal of the top layer(s) of skin. The old cells are replaced by new, healthier cells, given the skin a younger appearance. Some types of skin resurfacing techniques include microdermabrasion, chemical peeling, and laser skin resurfacing. Nationally, microdermabrasion costs about $139. Chemical peels are about $700 and laser skin resurfacing ranges from $1145 to $2100.