Plastic surgery numbers rise, but only a tiny slice of the population opts in

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons disclosed a 7% rise in surgical cosmetic procedures from 2024 to 2025, highlighted by a 13% jump in face-lifts and a 29% increase in forehead and brow lifts. Despite these gains, the absolute number of people undergoing surgeries remains very low, with liposuction, breast augmentation and tummy tucks each affecting under 0.1% of the U.S. population. Minimally invasive treatments, including Botox, fillers and laser procedures, surged to more than 28 million in 2024—about eight percent of the populace—though many individuals receive several treatments over time.

Board-certified surgeon C. Bob Basu suggests the pandemic’s shift to video calls spurred self-scrutiny, while surgeon Umbareen Mahmood notes patients seek a “restored” version of themselves rather than a completely new look. The trend mirrors global post-pandemic growth in aesthetic demand, yet the overall impact remains confined to a niche segment of society.