All I Want for Christmas is Rhinoplasty

December 12, 2001 - 'Tis the season for a few nips and tucks , says the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS). While retailers may be occupied with the hustle and bustle of weary holiday shoppers, facial plastic surgeons report being just as active performing cosmetic procedures before the start of the new year.

Last year, nearly 80 percent of facial plastic surgeons indicated December as their busiest month, with rhinoplasty (nose surgery) being performed most often for the month and the year , according to the AAFPRS June 2001 Membership Survey.

"The holiday season is always a busy time for facial plastic surgeons primarily because many patients see their holiday break as an opportunity to have cosmetic surgery with time to recuperate before going back to work or school," says Dr. Shan Baker , AAFPRS president.

While AAFPRS surgeons say numerous patients undergo more nose surgeries and eye lid surgeries (elective procedures) during this time, they also say that their offices are booked with patients requesting procedures such as Botox, chemical peels and filler injections. As people tend to be more appearance conscious when the new year rolls around, many patients decide to undergo these non-surgical procedures because they have shorter recovery times. The quick-fix procedures will help rejuvenate an aging appearance and have patients looking their best just in time for that big New Year's Eve bash.

Overall, facial plastic and reconstructive procedures increased by 24 percent since 1997. Last year, the AAFPRS reported performing more than 80 thousand rhinoplasty procedures in total.*

* = A survey conducted by International Communications Research (ICR) on behalf of the AAFPRS, June 2001. Projections should be used with caution - the survey respondents were based on a non-random, pre-selected basis. Based on 2,000 active AAFPRS members.