When the American Academy of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) published its annual survey, the Costhetics team were all over it like a platypus on yabby.
The AAFPRS is a terrific resource we turn to frequently to help us suss out what’s hot and what’s not.
Now, Team Costhetics isn’t just all about face, of course. We’re interested in total body beauty. That’s why the AAFPRS press release prompted us to go full tilt stickybeak and look past the chin to identify other aesthetic enhancement treatments that are trending in 2020. You may be surprised at what we uncovered…
Coming Out Party: Breast Implants
Team Costhetics knew the era of gigantic “bubble boobies” had come to an end when boobalicious bathing beauty Pamela Anderson had her implants removed. “Just having these large breasts…didn’t feel right anymore,” she said on Entertainment Tonight. “I just didn’t feel like it looked very good. I was really kind of self-conscious of it.” The global trend is following Anderson’s lead.
Women today are seeking more natural curves for their silhouette, which has, in turn, decreased the worldwide demand for breast implant surgery. Women who do choose the surgery are asking for smaller implants, and those who have had the surgery with large implants are opting to have them removed or replaced with smaller ones.
Here in ‘Straya, one clinic has reported an increase of almost 30% in breast implant removal requests, following the July announcement that the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) was proposing to ban several types of textured breast implants. (The ban went into effect in October 2019).
The Anti-Boob Job: Stoked for Breast Reduction Surgery
The breast enhancement surgery trend that is waxing while implants are waning is breast reduction surgery. “In cosmetic surgery the natural, less-is-more look is definitely on the rise as patients opt to be ‘tweaked’ rather than ‘tucked’,” Rajiv Grover, former president of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastics Surgeons (BAAPS) told the Telegraph.
Breast reduction surgery has the highest satisfaction rate among surgical procedures reports the Los Angeles Times and has seen a 183% increase since 1997.
Breast reduction surgery helps women feel more comfortable in their own bodies and in clothing, too. That’s terrific. However, beyond the aesthetics and enhanced body image, breast reduction surgery also:
- Relieves neck and back pain
- Reduces skin irritation
- Improves ability to exercise
Korean Tattoo Artist: Microneedling Takes a Second Job
People who say “no” to body tattoos are saying yes to using the same technique to create better lash lines, more shapely brows, and voluptuous lips. Now Korean make-up artists are offering a new kind of tattoo that covers the entire face in a form of semi-permanent make-up. “What we are doing is we are literally microneedling organic makeup into [skin],” an NYC dermatologist told Allure Magazine. “If patients …have problems with their makeup or problems with their skin from putting it on and washing it off, we can actually create a flawless complexion that lasts weeks.”
Beware, say sceptics. There is no clinical evidence to support the manufacturer’s claims, though patients are enthusiastic. Doctors say it would be a poor choice for people with inflammatory skin conditions including active acne or eczema, as well as for women who are pregnant or breast-feeding. The final nail in the don’t-do-it coffin, say knockers, is the questionable origin of skin-coloured pigments and the lack of regulation around them. “There are many unknowns about how these inks and particles will interact with the skin,” said another board-certified dermatologist to Allure.
Prejuvenation: Why Wait ‘Til It’s Too Late?
Prejuvenation refers to treatments designed to keep skin looking younger longer, particularly facial skin. The term was coined by the AAFPRS in 2016 and has resonated, particularly with millennials. Their focus on the face can be ascribed, in part, to the digital world where a perfect online profile pic can spell the difference between success and failure at work, at play, and in love.
- 74% of AAFPRS members report a 32% increase in requests for minimally invasive treatments in patients under 30.
“Clearly social media remains a huge incentive to have some work done with even more surgeons than last year reporting that patients are seeking cosmetic procedures to look better in selfies, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook Live and other social channels,” says Dr Mary Lynn Moran, AAFPRS president.
3 Most-Requested Procedures in Facial Plastic Surgery
It’s a good time to be a facial plastic surgeon. Procedures increased 6% over the previous year and signs suggest interest in surgical facial rejuvenation will continue to grow. The most-performed procedures are:
- Rhinoplasty
- Facelifts
- Eyelid Surgery (blepharoplasty)
Ageing foreheads are getting more attention from patients, too:
- Forehead lifts performed rose from 13% of procedures to 19%.
An interesting side note to dreaded forehead wrinkles is their possible use as an indicator of heart disease. “Furrows in your brow are not a better method of evaluating cardiovascular risk than existing methods, such as blood pressure and lipid profiles,” says the European Society of Cardiology, “but they could raise a red flag earlier, at a simple glance.”
Less Cutting Generates Chockers More Enthusiasm
Here’s a statistic that knocked our socks off:
- 85% of the total number of procedures performed by AAFPRS members are composed of minimally invasive non-surgical treatments
The figure above represents a jump of 13% over the previous year, with patients eager to undergo
- Skin treatments (up 39%)
- Filler injections (up 13%)
- Wrinkle-relaxing injections (up 12%)
Anti-wrinkle injections have been topping the list of most-desired facial rejuvenation treatments for years. In fact, this category of aesthetic enhancement has seen a growing of 50% in less than a decade. Many factors contribute to the dominance of these knife-free rejuvenation procedures such as:
- Carry less risk
- Require less downtime
- Less expensive
- Can help delay need for surgical facial rejuvenation
Costhetics Predicts: The Sky’s the Limit for Aesthetic Enhancement in 2021
Costhetics can say one thing for certain: by the end of 2020, the world of facial rejuvenation and body contouring will be bigger and better than ever. We predict new achievements in technology and techniques, as well as scientific research and clinical studies that confirm benefits and safety. You can bet your crystal ball on it, mate.