In 2012 alone, 14.6 million plastic surgery procedures happened in the United States. That was a 5% increase from 2011 figures.
According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), in 2015, Americans spent more than $ 13 billion on nonsurgical and surgical aesthetic procedures. This makes the plastic surgery industry one of the most lucrative industries in the USA. In fact, plastic surgeons are some of the best-paid professionals in the world.
Countries with the Highest Cosmetic Surgeries
1. South Korea
One in five South Korean women has undergone plastic surgery in the past. In South Korea, the most popular cosmetic procedure is double eyelid surgery. In 2010, there were over 40,000 eyelid surgeries in S. Korea.
In Asia, many people want to have Western-looking eyes. That is why eyelid surgery is quite popular in S. Korea, China, Japan, and other East Asian countries.
South Koreans are usually very conscious of their appearance. The biggest market for cosmetic products is South Korea. The most highly demanded cosmetic procedures in this country are nose jobs, double eyelid surgery, and liposuction.
2. Greece
Greece has been in the midst of an economic downfall for years. The European Union (EU) has bailed out this country many times. Therefore, it is still surprising that the Greeks still have money to spend on cosmetic surgery. In Greece, breast augmentation is the most popular procedure.
3. Italy
Italians like to look good. Although Italy has some of the most beautiful women in the world, they still feel the need to improve their appearance using plastic surgery. Cosmetic procedures are not the preserve of women. Many Italian men have undergone plastic surgery. Botox and liposuction are quite popular in Italy.
4. Brazil
The government of Brazil offers tax deductions on cosmetic surgery. Most Brazilians have no problem with plastic surgery procedures. Actually, in Brazil, cosmetic surgery is a status symbol.
5. United States
In the United States, the popularity of cosmetic surgery has grown rapidly since 1997. From 1997 to 2011, there has been an increase of over 190% in cosmetic procedures.
• In 1997, there were only 2.1 million cosmetic procedures in the US. In 2011, there were over 9 million procedures.
• Top surgical procedures in the US are liposuction, breast augmentation, eyelid surgery and breast lift.
• Top nonsurgical procedures include Botox, IPL laser treatment, and laser hair removal.
The Bottom-Line
Americans are big spenders on cosmetic surgery. Other big spenders include Koreans, Italians, Greeks, and Brazilians.
In 2011, Americans spent more than $360 million on nonsurgical procedures, $1.6 billion on skin rejuvenation procedures, and around $1.7 billion on injectable procedures. In the same year, Americans spent over $6 billion on surgical procedures.