Plastic surgery and racial minorities

ASPS:

The number of ethnic patients who chose to enhance their appearance or minimize the signs of aging through cosmetic plastic surgery took a substantial jump in 2005, with nearly 2.3 million procedures performed – an increase of 65 percent from 2004, according to statistics released today by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Hispanics continue to lead all ethnic groups with more than 921,000 cosmetic procedures performed, up 67 percent from 2004; followed by African Americans with 769,000 procedures, up 67 percent; and Asians with 437,000 procedures, up 58 percent.

“We are seeing a significant increase in the number of cosmetic plastic surgery procedures across all ethnic groups,” said ASPS President Bruce Cunningham, MD. “The increase can be, in large part, attributed to greater exposure to the benefits of plastic surgery, a growing acceptance of the specialty, and increased economic power within these ethnic groups. Ethnic patients are reading about plastic surgery in their favorite magazines or newspapers and watching the latest advances regularly on the nightly news – plastic surgery is now primetime.”

Hispanics comprised 9 percent of the 10.2 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures in 2005. The most commonly requested surgical cosmetic procedures for Hispanics were nose reshaping, breast augmentation, and liposuction.

African Americans made up 8 percent of the total cosmetic plastic surgery procedures in 2005. The most commonly requested surgical procedures for African Americans were nose reshaping, breast reduction, and liposuction.

Asians made up 4 percent of the total cosmetic plastic surgery procedures in 2005. The most commonly requested surgical procedures for Asians were nose reshaping, eyelid surgery, and breast augmentation.

The most commonly requested minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures for all three ethnic groups were Botox®, injectable wrinkle fillers, and chemical peel.

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