Last year nearly 15 million surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures were performed in the U.S. These numbers are so extraordinarily high because the vast majority of them (over 80%) were non-surgical. The top five non-surgical cosmetic procedures were neuromuscular injections (Botox and Dysport), injectable fillers, laser hair removal, microdermabrasion and laser resurfacing. This represents a nearly 1000% increase in these number of procedures since 2000. While one of the reasons for this spectacular increases in treatments has been the expanded repertoire of available products but that alone is not enough. It takes a large number of providers as well. Core cosmetic physicians include plastic surgeons and dermatologists which, at one time, accounted for over three-quarters of aesthetic treatments provided. Non-core physicians (family practitioners, internists, Ob-Gyns etc) providing cosmetic treatments have grown consideranly and today are approaching nearly 40% of the providers. More treatment options, new and additional products and more doctors doing collectively accounts for the growing non-surgical cosmetic market.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana