6 Most Common Cosmetic Surgeries

Doctor William C Lloyd Healthgrades Medical Reviewer
Medically Reviewed By William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS
Written By Beth W. Orenstein on October 18, 2023

Cosmetic surgical procedures like facelifts and tummy tucks are more popular than ever in the United States. After a dip in volume due to the pandemic, cosmetic procedures spiked in 2021, and appeared to begin to settle in 2022.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Americans had more than 1.5 million surgical cosmetic procedures to improve the way they look. Consider these popular choices.

  • woman-measuring-body-fat
    Liposuction
    Liposuction is the most popular procedure for both men and women. Men and women had more than 325,000 liposuction procedures in 2022. This procedure sucks out fat deposits from under the skin, but it’s not a weight-loss procedure. Liposuction reshapes body areas that don’t respond well to diet and exercise. The hips, abdomen, thighs and flanks are the body areas most often treated. Men and women also use liposuction to reduce their breasts. Experts say liposuction is one of the safest cosmetic procedures.
  • Examinating a silicone breast implant
    Breast Augmentation
    Breast augmentation is still a popular procedure. Almost 300,000 women had breast augmentation surgery to increase or restore their breast size in 2022. Doctors use silicone gel or saline implants to make breast bigger. Or, sometimes they transfer fat from other areas of the body.
  • Close-up of unseen woman holding belly fat under T-shirt
    Tummy Tuck
    A tummy tuck flattens the stomach and tightens the abdominal wall. The surgeon removes loose, excess fat and skin from the abdomen. Women sometimes choose a tummy tuck after pregnancy. The surgery is also useful in removing excess skin after a very big weight loss. Doctors performed nearly over 161,000 tummy tucks in 2022. Abdominoplasty is another name for this surgery.
  • breast cancer infographic promo
    Breast Lift
    A breast lift (mastoplexy) is a procedure that lifts, or repositions sagging or loose breasts. The procedure can also improve the shape and size of the breasts. A breast lift can address concerns over sagging or uneven breasts, drooping nipples, stretched areolas, and may restore a more youthful appearance to the breasts. In 2022, more than 143,000 Americans chose breast lift surgery.
  • Woman preparing for face lift
    Eyelid Surgery
    Eyelid surgery is the fith most popular procedure. Eyelift and blepharoplasty are two other names for this procedure. The goal is to get rid of puffiness and bags under the eyes or excess skin above the eyelids. Most people have eyelid surgery to look more rested and youthful. The surgery also can fix vision problems caused by droopy eyelids.

    While insurance doesn’t usually cover the cost of cosmetic procedures, many insurance companies will cover eyelid surgery if it corrects a vision problem. Doctors did 115,000 eyelifts in 2022.
  • Facelift
    Facelift
    A facelift is the surgical correction and improvement of the signs of aging on the face and neck. There are several techniques to doing facelifts, some of which are minimally invasive and others which involve more traditional surgical methods.

    In 2022, more than 72,000 facelifts were performed.
6 Most Common Cosmetic Surgeries
  1. 2022 ASPS Procedural Statistics Release. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/documents/News/Statistics/2022/plastic-surgery-statistics-report-2022.pdf
  2. Cosmetic Surgery National Data Bank Statistics 2021. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. https://cdn.theaestheticsociety.org/media/statistics/2021-TheAestheticSocietyStatistics.pdf
  3. Plastic Surgery Statistics. American Society of Plastic Surgeons  https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/plastic-surgery-statistics
  4. Liposuction. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. http://www.smartbeautyguide.com/procedures/body/liposuction
  5. Breast Augmentation. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. http://www.smartbeautyguide.com/procedures/breast/breast-augmentation
  6. Eyelid Surgery. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. http://www.smartbeautyguide.com/procedures/head-face/eyelid-surgery
  7. Tummy Tuck. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. http://www.smartbeautyguide.com/procedures/body/tummy-tuck
  8. Breast Lift. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. https://www.theaestheticsociety.org/procedures/breast/breast-lift
  9. Breast Revision. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. https://www.theaestheticsociety.org/procedures/breast/breast-revision
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Last Review Date: 2020 Nov 11
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