ASDS: Nearly 10.5 Million Treatments Performed in 2016

Dermatologic surgeons performed nearly 10.5 million medically necessary and cosmetic procedures in 2016 – five percent more than 2015 and up 31 percent since 2012, according to the 2016 American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) Survey on Dermatologic Procedures.

For the fifth year in a row, skin cancer treatments ranked as the most-performed procedure (3.5 million) by ASDS members, confirming both the growing incidence of the disease as well as demand for ASDS member expertise of its treatment. Since 2012, skin cancer treatments have risen 35 percent. Of all of the skin cancer procedures performed by ASDS members in 2016, 227,000 were for melanoma — a four percent increase from 2015. Treatments for non-melanoma skin cancers also increased 10 percent over last year.

ASDS members also performed more than seven million cosmetic treatments in 2016 — with the largest year-to-year growth seen in body sculpting (68 percent) and injectable neuromodulators (10 percent).

“The results of our annual procedures survey validate the level of expertise and care that ASDS members provide their patients,” says ASDS President Thomas Rohrer, MD, in a news release.  “Whether their need is medical or cosmetic, patients trust the expertise of their ASDS dermatologic surgeons to employ the most effective solution to treat their condition. The data further indicates the growing acceptance of minimally and non-invasive cosmetic procedures to maintain or restore an appearance that helps patients to look and feel their best,” says Dr. Rohrer, who is a dermatologist in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

The top cosmetic treatments in 2016 were:

• 2.8 million procedures using laser, light and energy-based devices
• 1.7 million neuromodulators
• 1.35 million soft-tissue fillers
• 425,000 chemical peels
• 387,000 body sculpting treatments

In the last five years, the number of body contouring procedures has grown two and a half times. Respondents to the 2016 ASDS Consumer Survey on Cosmetic Dermatologic Procedures indicated for the fourth year in a row that excess weight is their top cosmetic concern. Body sculpting treatments including cryolipolysis –– rose over 76 percent just this year. Additionally, new procedures offer even more minimally invasive treatment options, such as Kybella, popular for fat below the chin, and microfocused ultrasound used for skin tightening.

The male and millennial demographics’ interest in cosmetic procedures also continues to rise. In the last five years, men receiving wrinkle-relaxers has increased nine percent, and men using soft-tissue fillers grew from two to nine percent. Additionally, patients under 30 years old are seeking more cosmetic treatments. Millennials’ use of wrinkle-relaxers increased 20 percent from 2015 and 50 percent since 2012. The use of soft-tissue fillers for those under 30 years old doubled in 2016. This growth reflects the expanding interest in men wanting to look their best and younger consumers taking a proactive anti-aging approach to the health and beauty of their skin.