Date: Thu, 20 Jul 2000 11:56:21 EDT

American Society of Plastic Surgeons Reports Most Popular Cosmetic SurgeryProcedures Just Became More Popular Top Three Cosmetic Surgery Procedures Jump More than 25 Percent in One Year

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill., July 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Liposuction, breast augmentation and improvement of the eyelids are the most frequently requested cosmetic surgery procedures. New figures released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) show that these procedures increased on average more than 25 percent in one year.

In 1999, a total of 540,216 of these top three procedures were performed, up from 424,458 in 1998. These ASPS statistics represent procedures performed by ASPS member plastic surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

"We have been tracking plastic surgery procedures through the ASPS National Clearinghouse of Plastic Surgery Statistics since 1992," says ASPS President C. Lin Puckett, MD. "It's the only source that can provide plastic surgery trends over nearly a decade."

Liposuction, up 34 percent since 1998, is once again the most commonly performed cosmetic procedure in the United States. In 1999, 230,865 liposuction procedures were performed. The second most common procedure, breast augmentation increased 26 percent in 1999 at 167,318 procedures. Eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty increased 18 percent since 1998 with 142,033 procedures performed in 1999.

Increase in Top Three Cosmetic Surgery Procedures 1992 1998 1999 % Change % Change 1998 vs. 1992 vs. 1999 1999

Liposuction 47,212 172,079 230,865 34% 389%

Breast Augmentation 32,607 132,378 167,318 26% 413%

Eyelid Surgery 59,461 120,001 142,033 18% 139%

Since 1992, cosmetic surgery procedures have risen a dramatic 175 percent. In addition to this increase in cosmetic procedures, reconstructive procedures by board-certified physicians increased by six percent in the past year. Since 1992, there has been a 10 percent increase in the number of reconstructive procedures performed.

Reconstructive procedures totaled 1,244,791 in 1999, up from 1,169,434 in 1998. The three most frequently performed reconstructive procedures remain tumor removal, hand surgery and breast reconstruction with 521,678, 171,510 and 82,975 procedures performed, respectively.

In-depth information including graphics on these and all aspects of plastic surgery procedures and statistics can be found at the ASPS web site at www.plasticsurgery.org in the Media Center.

Founded in 1931, ASPS is the largest plastic surgery organization in the world. To find an ABPS-certified plastic surgeon in your area or to learn more about cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, call the Plastic Surgery Information Service at (888) 4-PLASTIC (475-2784.)

SOURCE American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons

CO: American Society of Plastic Surgery

ST: Illinois

IN: HEA