No Surprise: Breast Augmentation Tops 2017 List of Cosmetic Surgeries

It’s official: Once again, the most popular cosmetic surgical procedure in the United States is breast augmentation. Missouri‘s West County Plastic Surgeons of Washington University in St. Louis welcomed the early March report from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, which compiles data each year after surveying member doctors across the country. Demographic data from these surgeons is then combined with more medical information to assemble a portrait of modern surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic trends.

It comes as no surprise to anyone familiar with the industry and trends of recent years, including Dr. Terry Myckatyn and Dr. Marissa Tenenbaum, that breast augmentation topped the list of the most commonly performed cosmetic surgical procedures of 2017. The surgery has sat comfortably in that position for years now and shows no signs of being unseated soon.

Enjoying a three percent increase from 2016 to 2017, breast augmentation has overall enjoyed a 41 percent jump in popularity since 2000. The total estimated number of augmentations performed around the country in 2017 was 300,378. The next highest procedure on the list, liposuction, was at 246,354.

The report doesn’t include a demographic breakdown of the types of breast augmentation performed. Typically, augmentation patients choose either implants—which can be filled with saline or a form of silicone to add volume and mimic natural breast tissue—or fat transfer, which involves removing fat cells from one area of the body where they can be found in abundance, processing them, and injecting them with precision into a breast to be increased in size.

The report does, however, separate reconstructive procedures into their own section. Breast reconstruction, which involves repairing or creating a new mound after trauma, disease, or surgery causes the damage or loss of one or both breasts, tallied 106,295 instances in 2017.

To learn more about options for breast augmentation in Missouri, contact the St. Louis-based team at West County Plastic Surgeons of Washington University by calling (314) 996-8800 or sending a message via the contact page online.