Statistics compiled by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) show that for those in the 51-64 age range, the number of facelifts dropped from over 75,000 in 2008 to just under 55,000 in 2009. On the other hand, for this same age group, the number of Botox procedures jumped from 672,840 in 2008 to 734,751 in 2009.

“If you are a woman who has to come back to work full-time or a man who isn’t going to be able to retire any time soon, you’ve got to look like you can compete,” says Wendy Lewis, a New York–based plastic surgery and skin care consultant. “And if you are working in a field like media where everyone is really young, you don’t just want to look good for your age, you want to look good, period.”

Overall stats from ASAPS showed that the number of facelifts in the U.S. dropped 29 percent from 2008 and eyelid surgeries declined 23 percent during the same time frame. On the other hand, Botox and Dysport injections rose 3.8 percent from 2008 to 2009, with 2.6 million injections performed last year.

Less invasive procedures not only have less recovery time compared to surgery, but they also generally cost less than cosmetic surgical procedures. However, Lewis does point out that minimally-invasive treatments can be overdone. “There is a point at which you are going to have a better result and spend less money if you just have a facelift,” she says. In addition, there are some problems that can only be fixed by surgery, such as sagging jowls. A cosmetic surgeon can help select the best procedures to address a patient’s concerns.

Advanced Cosmetic Surgery offers a number of non-surgical procedures, including Juvederm, Radiesse, and CO2 Laser Resurfacing.

The survey, which was conducted differently than in previous years, posted numbers higher than ever seen before.  To gather data for the survey, the Academy polled AACS members and random physicians across the United States.

AACS members have seen an 8% increase in cosmetic procedures during the past two years, despite the economic recession.

During the past five years, these are the procedures the Academy says have increased markedly:

• Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery)
• Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck)
• Rhinoplasty
• Chemical peel
• Wrinkle fillers

“As the economy recovers slowly but surely, we are seeing patients come back and feel better about doing some things for themselves that maybe they’d been putting off for a while, said AACS president Mark Berman MD.