ASPS predicts post-pandemic plastic surgery trends for 2020

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), has published a report predicting new industry trends amidst COVID-19 re-openings and revealing what it believes will be the most-sought-after post-pandemic procedures.

ASPS, which is the world's largest plastic surgery association, recently conducted a member survey to understand what procedures were top of mind among patients to gauge whether the public's mindset on preferred treatments has shifted.

While practices were closed, plastic surgeons continued to stay in touch with patients via virtual visits. ASPS measured the performance of telemedicine and found that most members sought technology to connect with clients.

  • 64% of respondents had seen an increase in their telemedicine consultations since before COVID-19 began
  • 68% of respondents started seeing patients virtually because of COVID-19.

ASPS member surgeons formulated the following early predictions on top 2020 procedure trends as in-office visits safely resume for patients, doctors and staff. Insights were gathered from more than 350 members and were based on what members learned from patients via telemedicine appointments.

Injectables were the most asked-for treatments, followed by more invasive procedures.

  1. Botulinum Toxin Type A - 65%
  2. Breast Augmentation - 44%
  3. Soft Tissue Fillers - 37%
  4. Liposuction - 30%
  5. Abdominoplasty - 24%

Results show patients continue to be interested in pursuing major surgeries and that the general interest has not changed in the type of procedures and operations from the society's pre-pandemic statistics.

While ASPS anticipates a decrease in total number of cosmetic procedures in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the society forecasts a strong demand for treatments as practices reopen for in-office procedures. The number of cosmetic surgical procedures remained steady in 2019 vs. 2018 with 1.8 million surgical procedures performed, and six of the top 10 procedures focused from the neck down.

Queries relating to “rhinoplasty” were the most popular cosmetic surgery search term in Europe in the last 12 months, according to a report by money.co.uk.