In recent years, many wallets have grown lighter due to the weakened economy. As it begins to recover, however, more people are finding themselves with a larger disposable income. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) reveals that this may have led to an uptick in the number of minimally invasive cosmetic surgery procedures that took place in 2010, Internal Medicine News reports.
Last year, about 13.1 million such procedures were performed in the U.S. Physicians reported that Botox injections led the pack, with nearly 5.4 million patients seeking this type of treatment. Other popular remedies included soft-tissue fillers, chemical peels, laser hair removal and microdermabrasion.
“There’s some pent-up demand for cosmetic surgical procedures,” said ASPS president Phillip Haeck. “People have waited a couple of years to have procedures, until their finances were
somewhat back in order. But all indications are that more consumers are again willing to spend more to look better.”
The desire to maintain a youthful appearance has increased with the growing population of baby boomers, Greenville Online reports. Many are choosing to retire later on and are still leading active lives. As a result, Botox injections and other procedures may help give them the fresh-faced vitality to match their busy lifestyles.