How the economic downturn has affected cosmetic surgery procedures in America
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It seems that the recession is continuing to hit the cosmetic surgery industry in the United States, according to new data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons on plastic surgery carried out in the US last year.

Figures for 2008 showed a fall of 9% in cosmetic procedures, and while the drop has levelled off, this year has seen a further reduction of 1%. Despite this, the US is still way ahead of the UK in terms of treatments carried out.

Several surgical treatments have bucked the trend, including lip surgery, upper arm lifts and calf augmentation, which is increasingly popular among women. Pectoral implants meanwhile saw a massive 83% fall in 2009. This might be due to the recession, but cosmetic surgery among men has only seen a 2% drop year on year. Maybe the ideal American male body shape is changing?

Check out the table below for the total number of cosmetic procedures carried out in 2009, or download the spreadsheet to see the figures broken down by gender, as well as figures for reconstructive procedures. Data by age and on costs will be added later in the day.

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• DATA: Plastic surgery in the US in 2009
• DATA: Plastic surgery in the US in 2008
• DATA: Plastic surgery in the UK

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