February 2, 2010 -- CosmeticSurgeryGuru point to the annual report of The American Society for Aesthetic Cosmetic Surgery (ASAPS), which found over 10 million surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures performed in the United States in 2008.
Almost $12 billion was spent in the US on surgical and nonsurgical procedures in 2008 - figures for 2009 are due in March and are expected to be higher.
In the UK, interest in cosmetic surgery has followed a similar trajectory, with sales increasing five-fold in the first decade of the century. Britain's number one cosmetic surgery group, Transform, has now cared for in excess of 260, 000 customers.
Trajectory set to continue towards 2020
CosmeticSurgeryGruru expects demand for cosmetic surgery will continue into the second decade of the 21st century, particularly now as the recession has abated.
"It's driven by public demand," says David Soutar, a consultant cosmetic surgeon at Glasgow University and a past president of the British Association of Cosmetic Surgeons.
A report by the Guardian newspaper pondered whether, by 2020 cosmetic surgery would be the "tool of those who want a new look for their Saturday night out, an adjunct to the make-up compact."
Scar-free healing available in 2020
CosmeticSurgeryGuru notes that the major restraint on cosmetic surgery in recent years has been scarring. Since the mid eighties, the science of wound healing and scar formation has been extensively researched.
The drugs that have been developed to prevent scarring after healing will be available by 2020. CosmeticSurgeryGuru predicts that this will huge impact on the use of surgery.
Society obsessed by looks
CosmeticSurgeryGuru refers to the widely held belief that celebrity culture, the media and various other factors are causing people to conform to certain versions of beauty. The spate of reality television shows featuring ordinary people undergoing surgery to resemble celebrities is a case in point.
"We are a society obsessed by looks," observes David Soutar. "Don't expect that to change, and expect our own desires to fuel the development of technologies that might make some beautiful."
Reputable clinics will be even more important
As the trend continues towards 2020, more and more clinics advertising cosmetic surgery in the UK will arrive to meet the growing demand, but strongly advises that customers visit a reputable clinic.
CosmeticSureryGuru recommends Britain's number one cosmetic surgery group, Transform, which offers comprehensive consultations before the procedure and aftercare up to a year after the operation.
Mike Brains
CosmeticSurgeryGuru
admin@cosmeticsurgeryguru.com
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