The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reported that Americans spent over US$13.5 billion on non-surgical and surgical cosmetic procedures in one year.

From 2014 to 2015, the totals reflect a US$1.5 billion increase in spending for both surgical and non-surgical procedures.

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, alongside an independent research company, collected the 19-year national data (from 1997-2015) for surgical and non-surgical procedures administrated, making up the most comprehensive data collection available in the United States.

Although there is no definitive data about cosmetic surgery trends in Australia, we typically follow American statistics to provide an insight into emerging and changing trends on our shores.

Surgical procedures collected 58 percent of the entire sales in 2015, exceeding the US$8 billion mark for the first time in history. That same year, non-surgical procedures accounted for 42 percent of the total sales.

Non-surgical procedures have increased by 22 percent, with 10,879,909 procedures performed; surgical procedures were up seven percent, with 1,912,468 procedures administrated.

Cosmetic procedures have increased by 39 percent over the past five years with surgical procedures up 17 percent and non-surgical procedures up 44 percent.

One of the top cosmetic clinics in Sydney, Dr Saras & Co also reported an increasing trend of non-surgical cosmetic procedures. With a significant development of cosmetic technology, each year more treatments are administered in a non-surgical way.

For the first time this year, fat grafting statistical data has been collected for to the buttocks, face and breasts. There were 18,487 procedures to the buttocks, 48,059 to the face and 18,135 fat grafting procedures on the breast. Fat transfers to the face were the 9th most popular surgical procedure.

From 2014 to 2015, the procedures with the highest increase were non-surgical skin tightening (up 58 percent); microdermabrasion (up 34 percent); tattoo removal (up 39 percent); male breast reduction for treatment of gynaecomastia (up 26 percent) and buttock lifts (up 32 percent).

Long-time traditional procedures, such as breast augmentation and liposuction, also increased in 2015 as the two most popular surgical procedures and accounted for 40 percent of all administered surgical procedures.

The industry’s growth is extensive, but not at all surprising. It echoes a robust and healthy economy where many people can afford, and want to spend money on enhancing their looks. More people now consider aesthetic procedures and enhancements as essential.