The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) members performed nearly 12 million medically necessary and cosmetic procedures in 2017 – over 10 percent more than 2016 and doubling since 2012.

For the sixth year in a row, the 2017 ASDS Survey on Dermatologic Procedures revealed skin cancer treatments ranked as the most-performed procedure (more than 3.5 million) by ASDS member dermatologists, reinforcing both their skin expertise and the increasing rate of the disease.

Members also performed more than eight million cosmetic treatments in 2017, a 19 percent increase over 2016 results. With a 21 percent increase, injectable soft-tissue fillers saw the largest year-to-year growth, while laser / light / energy-based procedures grew 17 percent and body sculpting increased by 12 percent.

“We are heartened that patients continue to put their trust in ASDS members for medical and cosmetic treatments,” says ASDS President Lisa Donofrio, MD in a news release. “The findings of our annual procedures survey substantiates the public’s understanding of our members’ expertise, level of care and reflects the growth of consumer demand for effective procedures to treat the health and beauty of the skin.”

Skin Cancer Tops Procedure List

More than 3.5 million skin cancer procedure were performed by ASDS members in 2017 – a 33 percent increase since 2012. Over the last six years, treatments for melanoma have grown by 30 percent. For the first year, sun damage took the top spot for the condition treated with energy-based devices. This reinforces the ongoing need for sun protection education, especially for younger patients. Developing sun-safe behaviors in youth will lead to healthier habits for life. The SUNucate model legislation created by ASDSA has taken hold and currently 14 states have passed laws allowing children to use over-the-counter sunscreen at school and camps.

“These increasing stats reinforce the ASDS mission to take a comprehensive approach for promoting sun-safe behaviors, encouraging skin cancer screenings and providing leading cost-effective treatment options to ensure the best quality outcomes,” says Dr. Donofrio. “Being part of the treatment and healing process for millions of patients motivates our mission for prevention and early detection efforts.”

Cosmetic Procedures Continue to Rise

The top cosmetic treatments in 2017 were:

• 3.2 million procedures using laser, light and energy-based devices 
• 2.1 million neuromodulators
• 1.6 million soft-tissue fillers 
• 485,000 chemical peels 
• 434,000 body sculpting treatments 

The continual increase in cosmetic procedures reflects the public’s desire to feel more confident, more attractive and look as young as they feel, as discovered in the 2017 ASDS Consumer Survey on Cosmetic Dermatologic Procedures. Injectable treatments addressing signs of aging continue sustained growth with rising neuromodulators (seven percent) and soft-tissue fillers (21 percent) since 2012. In the last six years, energy-based treatments grew 63 percent with facial redness (86 percent), surgical scars (76 percent), and acne scars (72 percent) being the top three conditions for which patients most often sought treatment.

Body sculpting procedures maintain mounting popularity, growing three times since 2012. Pioneering treatments like Kybella rose 23 percent in this year’s survey. Cryolipolysis grew 77 percent in just one year. Laser lipolysis, was performed six times more this year than in 2016.

Other ground-breaking treatments performed by ASDS members and new to the 2017 survey, include a microneedling and platelet-rich-plasma (PRP).

Male interest in cosmetic procedures shows a nine percent growth rate in wrinkle-relaxers and a 25 percent growth rate in the use of soft-tissue fillers since 2012. The under-30 age bracket is becoming more proactive by choosing preventative skin care treatments. The percent of millennials using neuromodulators and fillers has almost doubled in the last six years.