One in three adults (37 percent) in the US are considering at least one cosmetic treatment in the next 12 months, with significantly more considering nonsurgical procedures (34 percent) than surgical ones (24 percent), according to the RealSelf Aesthetics Interest Survey.

Fully four in five (80 percent) report there is at least one part of their body they would like to change, most notably the midsection (abdomen or back) (47 percent) and teeth (33 percent); and close to a quarter (24 percent) report they have had at least one cosmetic treatment in the past, the survey showed.

Interest in cosmetic treatments transcends gender and age, although interest is highest among younger adults, who have yet to enter middle age. In fact, U.S. adults under 45 (49 percent) are nearly twice as likely as those 45 and older (28 percent) to be considering a surgical or nonsurgical treatment in the next 12 months. Interest in such treatments is equally distributed among women (37 percent) and men (38 percent).

"The rise of nonsurgical technologies and new treatment options have made aesthetics more accessible to a wider audience, and patients in their twenties and thirties are certainly helping fuel that trend," says Lara Devgan, MD, RealSelf Chief Medical Officer and New York City plastic surgeon, in a news release. "For millennials in particular, cosmetic treatments have become part of a larger self-care routine. Just as they are more aware of skin health and the importance of sunscreen, they too are open to exploring treatments that reverse signs of aging or optimize facial features."

"In many ways, younger adults are shifting the way society views cosmetic procedures—they are more open to the idea that beauty is individualized and customizable, and that cosmetic interventions represent their personal choices about their own bodies for their own confidence," adds Dr. Devgan.

Top Treatment Considerations Improve Smile, Fight Fat

Among those considering nonsurgical treatments, cosmetic dentistry (36 percent) and nonsurgical fat reduction (29 percent) topped the list, whereas the highest interest in surgical options were reported for tummy tuck (32 percent) and liposuction (26 percent).

Top 5 Nonsurgical Treatments BeingConsidered in Next 12 Months by Those Considering Treatments

1. Cosmetic dentistry (36 percent) (e.g., Invisalign, whitening, veneers)

2. Nonsurgical fat reduction (29 percent)(e.g., CoolSculpting, SculpSure)

3. Laser hair removal (27 percent)

4. Facial skin treatments (26 percent) (e.g., dermaplaning, microneedling)

5. Facial / Lip Fillers (24 percent)

Top 5 Surgical Treatments Being Considered in Next 12 Months by Those Considering Treatments

1. Tummy tuck (32 percent)

2. Liposuction (26 percent)

3. Eyelid surgery (21 percent)

4. Chin or Neck lift (20 percent)

5. Breast augmentation (16 percent), Facelift (16 percent)

Confidence/Self-Esteem are Top Motivators

Among those who have had cosmetic treatments or are considering them in the next 12 months, the top motivation was/is to improve self-esteem and confidence (43 percent). Other motivations are to look as good as one feels (34 percent) and to help with weight loss or fat removal (32 percent).

Main Motivations for Having/Considering Cosmetic Treatments/ Overallpercent

To improve my self-esteem / confidence: 43 percent

To look as good as I feel: 34 percent

Help with weight loss / fat removal: 32 percent

To look younger: 23 percent

Combat aging: 20 percent

Convenience and to save time/effort: 13 percent

Get my body back after having children: 11 percent

Work-Related Appearance and Other Key Events Driving Interest

Life events may also influence the decision to pursue cosmetic work with nearly 3 in 5 (58 percent) of those who have had a cosmetic treatment or are considering one in the next 12 months reporting a life event influenced their decision. This is significantly greater among men (71 percent) than women (46 percent). Work-related events were cited most often, with more than one in four (26 percent) influenced by the desire to appear youthful at work and/or looking for or starting a new job, followed by a milestone birthday (15 percent), and starting dating or a new relationship (14 percent).

Men are twice as likely (36 percent) as women (18 percent) to cite wanting to appear youthful at work or looking for / starting a new job as influencing their decision. Men are also three times more likely than women (7 percent)  to say entering the dating world or starting a new relationship influenced their decision, the survey showed.

Consideration Comes With Concerns, Most Notably Cost, Complications

Among those who would ever consider a cosmetic treatment, roughly nine in 10 (92 percent) admit having at least one concern related to the procedure, most notably paying for their procedure (52 percent) followed by fear of complications/bad results (48 percent).

Body Areas Most Cited for Change

Four in five adults in the U.S. (80 percent) say there is at least one area of their body they would like to change, with changes to the midsection (47 percent) and teeth (33 percent) topping the list, followed by hair (26 percent), legs and thighs (25 percent) and skin (24 percent). Women (85 percent) are significantly more likely than men (74 percent) to want to change their body in some way.

The survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of RealSelf from July 10-12, 2018 among 2,052 U.S. adults ages 18 and older, among whom 862 have had cosmetic treatments or are considering them in the next 12 months. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.