Americans spend $13 billion on cosmetic surgery

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Los Angeles: Cosmetic surgery is gaining increasing popularity amongst American men, although women are still in the majority having nine out of ten procedures, according to the latest figures from the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS).

US men who mostly chose Botox and liposuction, underwent 17 percent more cosmetic procedures in 2007 – more than1 million treatments.

ASAPS said that 10.6 million procedures had been carried out on women in 2007, the most popular of which were Botox and breast implants.

The biggest increase during the year was in buttock implants, called the “Brazilian butt” which originated in the South American country.

The five most common surgical procedures for men were liposuction, eyelid surgery, nose jobs, male breast reduction and hair transplants. Among women, the most popular were breast augmentation, liposuction, eyelid surgery, stomach surgery and breast reduction. Among non-surgical procedures, Botox, soft tissue fillers, laser hair removal and skin treatments were the most common in both groups.

Botox injections cost an average of $380, while breast implants were $4,000, buttock lifts were $5,000, liposuction was about $3,000 and nose jobs were $4,400. In all, Americans spent more than $13 billion on cosmetic surgery and less-invasive procedures last year, according to the report.

BioForm Medical Inc.’s Radiesse, a soft-tissue filler, increased more than 50 percent during 2007. The use of rival substances, including collagen and hyaluronic acid products such as Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp.’s Restylane, fell.

The number of cheek implants also dropped, by more than 50 percent, as doctors and treatment providers used fillers instead, said Pozner, who serves on the advisory board for San Mateo, California-based BioForm Medical.

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery has as members some 2,400 certified plastic surgeons who work to educate the public and advance medical research. The group’s annual report surveyed 12,000 plastic surgeons, dermatologists and ear, nose and throat specialists. The society is based in Los Alamitos, California