ASPS Report Shows Second Year of Consecutive Growth in Plastic Surgery Market

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons released their annual statistics report last week, and it shows that Americans chose 1.6 million procedures last year.

When combined with minimally invasive procedures like Botox or Laser Treatment, the total comes to a much greater 13.8 million procedures.

Based on the latest statistics, the society is reporting a 5 percent increase in procedures for 2011.

For males affected by gynecomastia, male breast reduction improves quality-of-life, according to a recent study by plastic surgeons in Siena and Pisa, Italy.

Men who have gynecomastia have excess breast tissue. The problem can develop during adolescence or adulthood. Gynecomastia can negatively affect a man’s self-image, harming his quality of life for years.

Male breast reduction is common solution to the problem. A surgeon can remove glandular tissue and fat, sculpting the chest into a more masculine shape.

Research on Male Breast Reduction

The Italian study evaluated 126 cases of gynecomastia during a six-year period. The average patient was a 28 year old male. Most patients had symptoms of gynecomastia on both sides of the chest, while a smaller number (11.9 percent) had the condition on one side.

During procedures, the surgeons employed different techniques as necessary. They frequently performed “adenomammectomy with periareolar inferior or inverted Omega incision,” while another alternative was “circumareolar or vertical scar incision and liposuction.”

The surgery effectively removed the excess glandular tissue and fat from the patient’s chest.

Effectiveness of The Procedure

Before and after their male breast reduction surgery, patients filled out questionnaires for their experiences. They answered questions like:

  • Why did you choose to undergo male breast reduction?
  • How satisfied are you with your results?
  • Has the quality of your life improved after surgery?

According to the study, patients had high satisfacton: “all patients reported an improvement in their quality of life with an average satisfaction score of 8.2 out of 10.” The complication rate was reportedly 17.72 percent.

“We suggest to the patients affected by gynecomastia to undergo surgery always and as soon as possible,” the authors conclude.

Video: Plastic Surgery for Men

With consumer confidence rising across the board, the demand for plastic surgery is rising as well.

“Consumer confidence was up and auto sales rose 10 percent,” said ASPS President Malcom Roth, “so it is not surprising that we would also see increased demand for plastic surgery procedures,” he concluded.

Procedures in cosmetic surgery increased 2 percent. For the first time since 2004, facelift surgery is among the top five cosmetic surgeries.

The number of tummy tucks decreased during 2011, while chin augmentation nearly doubled. Here are the top 5 for 2011:

  • 307,000 Breast augmentation procedures
  • 244,000 Rhinoplasty procedures
  • 205,000 Liposuction procedures
  • 196,000 Eyelid surgery procedures
  • 119,000 Facelift procedures

Surgeons also reported a sharp increase in lip augmentation procedures; at more than 25,000 procedures performed, they were up 49 percent from 2010.

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