Millennials and injectables are shaping the future of aesthetics, says AAFPRS

The results of the annual American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) survey have shown that millennials and injectables are driving the market and that the top motivations for cosmetic procedures are the desire to remain competitive in the workforce and the impact of social media.

The number of patients under 30 seeking cosmetic tweaks continues to grow. 51% of AAFPRS members agree that more patients now emphasise early maintenance, with increasing numbers of men and women in their 20s and 30s opting for preventative measures to forestall bigger procedures and surgery. In fact, more than half (56%) of facial plastic surgeons saw an increase in 2016 in cosmetic surgery or injectables with patients under age 30.

In terms of motivations for treatment, 49% of surgeons reported patients wanting to stay relevant and vital at work, while social media remains a huge incentive to have some work done with even more surgeons (42%) than last year reporting patients seeking cosmetic procedures to look better in selfies, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook Live and other social channels. Nearly all AAFPRS members (99%) agree that celebrity influence still plays a big role.

Botulinum toxin remained the most popular minimally invasive procedure for both women and men, followed by hyaluronic acid fillers. As for surgical trends, rhinoplasty led the way, followed by revision surgery, blepharoplasty and facelifts.

This year’s member survey also revealed that combination therapies are king, with 66% of facial plastic surgeons combining multiple nonsurgical procedures in the same patient as the top trend in their practice. “It’s an exciting time for facial plastic surgery, with more and more noninvasive therapies becoming available to us,” said Dr Fred G Fedok, president of the AAFPRS.

“By combining injectables, lasers, ultrasound and radiofrequency, we are able to offer highly individualised therapies to a much wider range of patients. We can also use these non-invasive options to enhance surgical results and speed recovery time for optimal outcomes.”