Nearly $16.7 billion was spent on cosmetic procedures in the United States in 2020, according to statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
The poll also revealed that 11% of women surveyed said they’re more interested in cosmetic procedures now than before the pandemic, and the figure is even higher for those who have already had a surgery or procedure before 2020.
For those seeking a minimally invasive approach, however, the growing popularity of “tweakments” has undoubtedly changed the cosmetic surgery industry.
From the reasons behind the popularity to the fads worth looking out for, here’s what you should consider if you’re looking into such a procedure yourself.
The Popularity of “tweakments”
While cosmetic procedures have been referred to as “going under the knife” for so long due to the invasive nature of many procedures, those that are minimally invasive have become much more popular, likely thanks to their several benefits.
“Tweakments,” which Modern Aesthetics defines as being “low-commitment, minor, and sometimes temporary treatments that are minimally invasive and deliver more natural looking results with little to no downtime,” are particularly popular (with examples including botox or fillers).
Modern Aesthetics goes on to further explain that one of the major reasons for the rising popularity of these “tweakments” in recent years is due largely in part to the change in which consumers view the medical aesthetics industry, with many preferring to seek solutions that not only address their issues but do so with more natural solutions at more economical price points.
Understanding why
15.9 million minimally invasive procedures were performed in 2018 according to Healthline, with botox, fillers, and laser hair removal all among the most popular.
When looking at the recent rise in popularity of minimally invasive cosmetic trends, there’s no question that a variety of factors are at play behind the ‘why.’
“Most patients seek [cosmetic] procedures to feel like the best version of themselves,” says Dr. Lara Devgan, MPH, FACS, and chief medical officer at the informational site RealSelf.
Healthline further underlines the reasons why many choose to undergo minimally invasive procedures, and cites several of which include more screen time (social media), more acceptance of such procedures, more affordability, and more technological advances — in addition to more health benefits (for example, it’s noted that botox has been shown to help with chronic migraines).
With a number of factors at play behind the reason why so many are seeking cosmetic procedures, it’s important to keep in mind that other reasons may also be a driving force behind wanting certain procedures.
For example, because variables like childbirth, age, genetics, and various medical conditions can cause vaginal laxity, seeking reconstructive vaginoplasty can present a worthy option in effectively tightening the vagina, as well as the soft tissue and surrounding muscles.
In turn, modern vaginoplasty surgical techniques can help greatly in improving vaginal sensation as well as function.
Awareness of fad cosmetic trends
While minimally invasive cosmetic procedures such as botox may seem risk-free and even beneficial, it’s essential to keep in mind that each procedure has its own risks associated with it.
This can be particularly true with those that are described as fads such as the fox eye trend. The Aesthetic Guide notes that while many achieve the look via makeup, others are seeking cosmetic procedures to do so.
“Instead of using makeup, you can use polydioxanone (PDO) threads to pull the eyes for so-called ‘fox eyes,’” notes dermatologist Shino Bay Aguilera, DO, of Shino Bay Cosmetic Dermatology in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. “That will last maybe three months.”
However, it’s worth mentioning that doing this isn’t necessarily recommended — The Aesthetic Guide explains that the thinness of the skin around the eyes can become a problem for those long after they’ve had the procedure, as the skin is known to naturally have less elasticity as we age.
“I think that by putting this tension on the skin, the 40-year-old versions of these girls that are getting fox eyes will be sorry that they did it. They are going to need that upper blepharoplasty a lot earlier,” says Dr. Aguilera.
With minimally invasive cosmetic procedures getting more and more popular, understanding the factors that drive their popularity gives great insight as to how the plastic surgery industry is continually transforming.
And, if you’re considering such a procedure yourself, being aware of the fads can aid in preventing having more work done later on.
