Survey Indicates Growth of Cosmetic Surgery in Minority Groups

A recent survey by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery indicates that cosmetic surgery is growing among minority groups in the U.S. More than half of the respondents in the survey said they thought the popularity of cosmetic surgery was increasing among members of their racial group.

“Feeling better about yourself and making improvements to your looks is thankfully not limited to a specific race or culture,” comments AACS President Mark Berman MD.

According to the results, the top cosmetic surgical procedures among specific racial groups include facelift surgery for patients of Asian descent, liposuction for patients of African descent and abdominoplasty for Hispanic patients.  Interestingly, more than 30 percent of the respondents said they when seeking a procedure, they would seek out a cosmetic surgeon of the same racial group as themselves, although many believed this would be a difficult task.

Most cosmetic surgeons are cognizant of the special needs of patients of varying racial groups.  For most surgical procedures, ethnic characteristics are not a significant factor for the doctor to consider.  However, in procedures like rhinoplasty (nose reshaping) or eyelid surgery, the surgeon must take these characteristics into account.  Most patients want to improve their appearance but few want to erase the distinct markers or traits that signify membership within a certain group.