Traditional Plastic Surgery Still on the Rise, Despite Injectable Popularity

With all the talk about non-invasive procedures (hi, injectables!) it would be easy to come to the conclusion that traditional plastic surgery procedures have fallen out of favor, with more patients opting for the needle over the knife. But according to a new report from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), surgical procedures are actually more popular than ever.

According to the findings (which include all the available data for 2017), plastic surgery procedures still account for 77 percent of all procedures performed by the physicians surveyed. That's a big piece of the aesthetic enhancement pie.

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"While injectables are exploding in popularity, surgical procedures are still the mainstay in my practice, and I'd imagine that to be true for the majority of board-certified plastic surgeons," Darren Smith, a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City, tells Allure. "While injectables can often achieve excellent results, there is no replacement for the power and precision of a surgical approach for most aesthetic problems."

Among the most popular surgical procedures, doctors reported a 14 percent rise in breast-lifts in the past year; a 26 percent bump in eyelid surgery; a 17 percent increase in liposuction procedures; and a 20 percent jump in upper arm-lifts.

There's no question that non-invasive procedures — such as Botox or fillers — are an awesome option if you're looking to dip your toe into the world of facial treatments or make a subtle change. But according to the ASAPS data, injectables haven't exactly dethroned the more invasive solutions that have been around for years. "Contrary to popular belief and what is depicted in mainstream media, the face-lift is by no means dead," W. Grant Stevens, president-elect of ASAPS, said in a press release. "In fact, the new data indicates that the number of face-lifts performed in the United States increased by 21.9 percent in the past year alone and by 21.8 percent over the past five years."

The face-lift is by no means dead.

There's two reasons why the findings may seem surprising. First, the way the ASAPS collected data for the survey is different from prior years. Rather than surveying surgeons in a variety of specialty areas, the report only includes data from docs certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). In other words, it doesn't include dermatologists who might perform non-invasive procedures in their offices.

Secondly, Stevens points to advances in surgical techniques — "including less-invasive techniques resulting in less post-operative downtime" — that make going under the knife a little less scary. "Surgery still promises the longest term, if not permanent results," he said.

That being said, if you're considering a surgical procedure, talk to an ABPS-certified doctor to discuss your options — both surgical and non-surgical.

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For more plastic surgery trends:

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Now, watch as a dermatologist explains lip injections: