Plastic surgery unaffected by the recession

What recession? Plastic surgery procedures increased nearly 10 percent from 2009 to 2010, according to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

There were more than 9.3 million surgical and non-surgical procedures in 2010, at a cost of almost $11 billion, according to a study conducted by the group.

Close to half the patients were aged 35-50.

"In my own practice, I've seen a major increase in demand by men -- the study showed an increase overall of 88 percent since 1997 -- breast lifts and generally a bigger caseload proving that beauty is recession proof," said Dr. Grant Stevens, chairman of the media relations committee of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

He said requests for liposuction, eyelid surgery and tummy tucks were the most requested surgical procedures. Botox was the most requested non-surgical procedure. Getting more popular are laser procedures, including laser hair removal, and chemical peels and breast reduction.

About 19 percent of the patients were ethnic minorities, he said. Normally plastic surgery is the domain of white women.

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McClatchy Tribune photo of a Botox procedure