Gastric Bypass Surgery Popularity Leads to Jump in Plastic Surgery Procedures, According to ASPS Statistics

3/10/2004

From: Theresa Hill, LaSandra Cooper or Brian Hugins, 847-228-9900 or media@plasticsurgery.org, all of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill., March 10 -- With the growing popularity of gastric bypass surgery to treat morbid obesity, plastic surgeons saw an influx of patients in 2003 who had plastic surgery procedures to contour their body after massive weight loss and expect the trend to continue, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). In fact, more than 52,000 body-contouring procedures were performed for massive weight loss patients in 2003.

ASPS, a non-profit organization, supports members in their efforts to provide the highest quality patient care through education, research and advocacy. As the longest established plastic surgery organization, founded in 1931, it is the only organization with more than a decade of plastic surgery statistics.

In just the past year ASPS saw the number of patients receiving buttock lifts rise 74 percent, upper arm lifts increased 66 percent, thigh lifts grew 33 percent and lower body lifts went up 14 percent. Over the past three years, upper arm lifts jumped 1,938 percent and lower body lifts increased 2,400 percent. Almost 70 percent of the total number of upper arm lifts and thigh lifts in 2003 were performed on post-bariatric patients, according ASPS statistics. Other procedures commonly performed on patients after bariatric surgery include tummy tucks, breast lifts and breast reductions. "Massive weight loss over time can leave the patient with excess, baggy skin," said Rod Rohrich, MD, ASPS president. "As the number of people having gastric bypass surgery grows, it is only natural that the number of patients needing plastic surgery to contour their smaller bodies will increase as well. Post-bariatric surgery usually occurs one year after the procedure or when weight loss has plateaued for three to six months."

The ASPS projects body contouring operations performed for post-bariatric patients will increase at least 36 percent in 2004. This estimate is based on the American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASBS) projection that more than 144,000 patients will have bariatric surgery in 2004. In 2003, more than 103,000 people underwent gastric bypass surgery in 2003, compared with 67,000 patients who had the surgery in 2002, according to ASBS. More than 60 percent of Americans aged 20 years and older are overweight.

"As patients seek help in contouring their body after gastric bypass surgery, it is important for them to keep in mind the expertise board-certified plastic surgeons bring to the procedures," added Dr. Rohrich. "ASPS members are trained to not only address the extra skin and place scars in unobtrusive areas, but to make sure the patient has a safe surgery and a pleasing result."

ASPS offers the most comprehensive, reliable statistics on plastic surgery procedures. In 2003, statistics were collected through the first online national database for plastic surgery procedures called Tracking Operations and Outcomes for Plastic Surgeons (TOPS). This data, combined with the annual survey sent to more than 17,000 boarded physicians in specialties most likely to perform plastic surgery procedures, resulted in the most authoritative report on plastic surgery procedures.

ASPS is the largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world and the foremost authority on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. With nearly 5,000 members, ASPS is the definitive voice of the plastic surgery specialty. Viewed throughout the world as the pinnacle of information for new techniques, advances and plastic surgery trends, the society represents 94 percent of all the board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Ninety-four percent of all ASPS members perform cosmetic plastic surgery and 89 percent of all ASPS members perform reconstructive plastic surgery.