The obsession of the rich and famous with plastic surgery is growing more and more every year. In 2016 alone, 300,000 Americans underwent breast augmentation, while no less than 7 million people opted for anti-wrinkle injections. But how much exactly does the world spend on the vanity of looks?
According to a report published by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), Americans spent more than ever before -- $16 billion -- on cosmetic plastic surgery and minimally-invasive procedures in 2016. That means that on average, every day, Americans spend a whopping $43 million on plastic surgery.
Costs vary greatly depending on location and surgeon experience, as well as potential insurance coverage (spoiler alert -- in the US, you're rarely covered for this type of intervention). This has pushed many patients to opt for shady, often unqualified clinics, something which ASPS strongly warns against. Plastic surgery can backfire heavily and can pose serious health hazards.
"The most important consideration for patients should be choosing a board-certified, ASPS-member surgeon," said ASPS President Debra Johnson, MD. "Before you undergo any procedure, make sure you're putting yourself in the hands of only the most qualified and highly trained plastic surgeons. The cost of any procedure is not nearly as important as doing your homework and selecting a surgeon whose primary focus is your safety."
The report also indicates that the average price of procedures is constantly going down, by 2.7 percent from 2015 to 2016. But how much does a surgery cost?
According to the report, these are the most popular cosmetic surgeries, along with their average price:
- Breast augmentation (290,467 procedures): national average cost of $3,719. Just over 28,000 people removed breast implants. Another 101,000 people had breast lift surgery.
- Liposuction (235,237 procedures): national average cost of $3,200
- Nose reshaping (223,018 procedures): national average cost of $5,046
- Tummy tuck (127,633 procedures): national average cost of $5,798
- Buttock augmentation (18,489 procedures) national average cost of $4,356
You can read the entire statistics here.
The report also made a similar list for minimally invasive procedures:
- Wrinkle treatment injections (botulinum toxin type-A, such as Botox®, Dysport®) (7 million procedures): national average cost of $385
- Hyaluronic acid fillers (2 million procedures): national average cost of $644
- Chemical peel (1.3 million procedures): national average cost of $673
- Microdermabrasion (775,014 procedures): national average cost of $138
- Laser treatments (Intense Pulsed Light) (656,781 procedures): national average cost of $433
This data only comes from procedures conducted by certified ASPS doctors as well as other physicians certified by
American Board of Medical Specialties -- the real figure considering unrecognized boards is likely much higher.
