Today’s Facial Plastic Surgery Trends with Dr George Marcells

“It’s clear that patient interest in facial plastic surgery is continuing to grow,” says Dr George Marcells. He’s referring to a press release on top trends and popular procedures issued by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS). “A 6% increase in the number of procedures from the previous year suggests achieving facial rejuvenation through surgical means has not been eclipsed by non-surgical alternatives.”

Let’s look at some numbers…

The Big 3 of Facial Rejuvenation

Patients seeking the long-term benefits of facial plastic surgery most commonly choose:

• Blepharoplasty
• Full and partial facelifts (up 3% from the previous year)
• Rhinoplasty

“Nineteen percent of procedures performed addressed forehead enhancement,” reports Dr Marcells. “That represents an increase of six percent from 2019.” The driver for all these procedures continues to be digital photo sharing.

How Tinder, Snapchat & Instagram Created Procedure-Hungry Patients

“Our annual statistics continue to show significant increases related to the social media category,” says Dr Mary Lynn Moran, MD, current president of the AAFPRS. The organisation’s survey found:

• 74% of facial plastic surgeons reported an increase in non-surgical treatments for patients under 30.
• 15% increase in procedures reported for patients who want to look better in selfies for online platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook Live.
• 11% increase in procedures reported for patients who are unhappy with the image attached to their online profile.

“Individuals in their twenties and thirties have grown up in a culture of self-documentation,” observes Dr Marcells. “They are sensitive to the impact an online presence has on everything from their careers to their love lives,” says Dr Marcells. Millennials are especially keen on pre-juvenation, non-invasive and minimally invasive treatments and maintenance tweakments designed to slow the ageing process and delay the need for surgery.

Invasion of the Non-Invasive Facial Enhancement Procedures

The AAFPRS found that 85% of the procedures its members performed, a full 85% were minimally invasive. Muscle-relaxing injections continue top of the list of most-performed treatments. “Injectables to temporarily paralyse muscles are extremely sought after because of their ability to prevent active wrinkles from becoming static wrinkles that require surgical correction,” says Dr Marcells. This particular facial rejuvenation technique has seen the largest growth of all procedures, growing 50% since 2013.

Other non-invasive procedures continuing to move from trend to established practice are:

• Professional Skin Care Treatments including photo-rejuvenation and micro peels (up nearly 40%)
• Volume Augmentation (up 12%)

Star Struck: Men & Women Mimic Their Celebrity Faves

The me-too movement has a different meaning in the world of facial plastic surgery. Eighty-four percent of AAFPRS members participating in the survey reported they are seeing more and more patients requesting:

• Enhancement procedures to make them look like their favourite celebrities.
• Enhancement procedures used/recommended by A-listers and influencers.
• Brad Pitt and Bradley Cooper top the charts as most influential male celebrities, with Kylie Jenner and Kim Kardashian exerting the most influence on the decisions of women.

“The problem, of course, is that not every procedure is right for every individual,” cautions Dr Marcells. He recommends patients come to consultations with an open mind. “Individuals should be ready to adjust their goals based on what their surgeon tells them will be a positive outcome.

What exactly is a positive outcome?

• 29% of AAFPRS members say their patients fear “looking unnatural” after cosmetic enhancement.

Facial Rejuvenation with Masters of their Craft

At our practice, every patient consults with a Dr Marcells prior to any procedure. “This helps ensure that my patients understand the potential benefits, as well as risks,” explains Dr Marcells. “Armed with the facts, they can make the best decision about how to best improve their appearance.” If you’d like to consult with our on-staff experts, please contact us for a consultation.