Cosmetic Enhancement Grows with the Economy, Plastic Surgeon Says

    ALBANY, NY, June 15, 2014 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Dr. Douglas Hargrave, (www.drdouglashargrave.com) a plastic surgeon in Albany, says an improving economy and increased use of social media are the main reasons more people are getting cosmetic enhancement procedures, a trend confirmed by recently released plastic surgery industry statistics.

Americans spent more than $12 billion in 2013 on surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures, the most since the Great Recession began in 2008, according to statistics compiled by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). The number of procedures increased 12% from the previous year.

"Those numbers reflect what we've seen at our practice," Dr. Hargrave says. "The increase is across the board, with more people coming in for procedures ranging from minimally invasive treatments such as dermal fillers to facelifts and breast augmentation."

In Albany, Dr. Hargrave practices at The Plastic Surgery Group, where he specializes in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. The combination of a better economic climate and more people using social media in both their personal and professional lives is driving the cosmetic enhancement market, he says.

"Our patients connect with friends and colleagues on sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn and want to put their best face forward," Dr. Hargrave says. "That's one of the reasons minimally invasive, non-surgical procedures are seeing significant growth."

Surgical procedures for the face, such as eyelid surgery and rhinoplasty grew in 2013, according to the ASAPS statistics, but a study published this month in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery concluded that minimally invasive procedures are seeing the most rapid growth. The research suggested those treatments are poised to dominate aesthetic practices in the future.

That's a trend anticipated in Albany by the plastic surgeons practicing at The Plastic Surgery Group. They've recently opened Spa One, a medical spa with a menu of advanced skincare therapies and other non-surgical aesthetic treatments, to serve this growing demand.

"Injectables, such as BOTOX Cosmetic and anti-aging fillers are extremely popular," Dr. Hargrave says. "We're seeing both women and men come in for these kinds of treatments because they require little or no downtime and are relatively discreet."

Dr. Douglas Hargrave (www.drdouglashargrave.com) is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Albany, New York, at The Plastic Surgery Group. A graduate of East Tennessee State University Medical School, Dr. Hargrave completed his surgical residency at Millard Fillmore Hospital in Buffalo, New York. He did his plastic surgery residency at the University of Missouri in Kansas City and then completed advanced fellowship training in reconstructive plastic surgery at Harvard University's Brigham and Women's Hospital. A renowned breast surgeon, Dr. Hargrave is certified by both the American Board of Surgery and American Board of Plastic Surgery. He is an active member of several professional organizations, including the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and the American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery. He performs a range of aesthetic procedures for the face, breasts, and body at his Albany practice, which features a team of board-certified plastic surgeons and a medical spa offering non-surgical procedures.

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