Holiday Cosmetic Surgery Surge

Tis the season for family, friends, celebrating, and cosmetic surgery. The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS), reports that the holiday season is the time to make a tweak. It's also the busiest time of year for cosmetic treatments. Treatments and surgeries increase by about 25 percent from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve, typically among people who want to look great for the party circuit or get ready to face the New Year. “During this time of year, everyone is more social and are seeing friends and family who they may not see often,” says facial plastic surgeon Edwin Williams, M.D., president of the AAFPRS. “There is more pressure to look your best, which is where less invasive procedures fit in.”

Even gifting plastic surgery and aesthetic treatments is becoming a huge trend. Facial plastic surgeons report a rise in people shopping for gift certificates for facial rejuvenation treatments for a spouse, parent, sister or friend. 

What's on the wish list?

According to Williams, the most popular cosmetic procedures being gifted this year include rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery, and injectables like Botox and hyaluronic acid fillers. “For many people, the holidays offer the only time that they can take off from work or school to heal,” says Williams. “We are seeing a lot of high school and college students who come in for a rhinoplasty because they have a few weeks at home for the swelling to resolve.”

Other sought-after gifts are minimally invasive treatments like non-surgical fat reduction under the chin, skin resurfacing with lasers and peels, and lip, chin and cheek enhancement with fillers and fat. 

Many facial plastic surgeons see their waiting rooms filled with people who want a quick fix to give them a boost at what can be a hectic and stressful time of year. Says Williams, "With modern techniques and less invasive options, recovery is quicker and easier with fewer telltale signs, which accounts for the uptick in procedures facial plastic surgeons are doing through the holiday season.”