The U.S. is not the most “Nip and Tucked” Nation after all!

We often get a bad reputation for being a culture obsessed with youth and beauty, driven to stay competitive while at work and out and about. The U.S. is certainly the largest market for both surgical and non surgical cosmetic procedures. However, according to a recent survey by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ISAPS), the United States comes in a distant sixth in our quest to look the very best. An unscientific survey was circulated to ISAPS members, about 20,000 in all, and 698 responses were returned. The winner is: South Korea! Yes, the U.S. has been thoroughly out done by South Korea, where it is estimated that one out of every five women has had cosmetic surgery. The most popular procedures listed were liposuction, nasal reshaping, and double eyelid surgery to reduce and Asian influence and produce a more western lid shape. The second place finish goes to: Greece! Despite all the economic turmoil and austerity measures, Greece has drawn a line on looking good at all cost and it seems that breast augmentation has captured the hearts and minds of the Greek women who refuse to sacrifice cosmetic surgery as the economy struggles for a rebound. The third place country, Italy, is also a bit of a surprise, but the interest here appeared to be Botox treatments for a more subtle and conservative approach to cosmetic enhancements. Brazil is a country known for the importance of good looks, and there was a bit of contention as to why Brazil did not come in higher on the survey list. Remember, the poll was not scientific. Brazil takes its cosmetic surgery so seriously that the government allows tax deductions for those who invest in their looks. Beauty is a benefit to Brazilian culture and society, and their overall economy as well. And speaking of the economy of cosmetic surgery, Columbia, number five, has become a magnet for ‘medical tourism’, within reach of many seeking cosmetic procedures at an affordable cost, and a pleasant locale to recover. Is the U.S.A. really number six on the list of nations in the pursuit of beauty? We are, after all, the largest market and probably outspend the top five combined, but we are not as unique in our culture and interests as we might think. And just consider China, an emerging economy that did not even appear in the recent survey. Well, they just may be next poised to take number one spot away from everyone else.