Plastic surgery patient profile ‘changing’

The demographic of those undertaking cosmetic plastic surgery operations in the US is changing, according to a new study.

American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) research indicates that 173 per cent more Hispanics had this surgery in 2007 compared to 2000, while this figure rose by 129 per cent for the African American population during the same time period.

"The majority of patients remain Caucasian women, but it is noteworthy that cosmetic plastic surgery procedures were performed on almost as many Hispanic patients as male patients," said ASPS president Richard D’Amico.

Year-on-year, cosmetic plastic surgery procedures were up eight per cent among both the Hispanic and African American communities, while they increased by 26 per cent among Asian Americans.

March’s Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the ASPS, claimed that African Americans show facial aging in the outer corner of their eyes earlier than Caucasians.