New York, NY (December 21, 2004) - The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), the leading national organization of board-certified plastic surgeons who specialize in cosmetic surgery, offers its predictions for cosmetic surgery in 2005. Predictions are based on interviews with leading plastic surgeons around the country.

• National attention to issues of patient safety will result, in some states, in more stringent requirements for physician credentials to perform cosmetic surgery. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) will be among the leaders of this patient safety movement in 2005.
• Endoscopic (arthroscopic) facial rejuvenation procedures may become more popular. Suture suspension techniques, promising facial rejuvenation with minimal downtime, may also increase in popularity; however, many patients will opt for traditional facelifts or endoscopic procedures with more predictable and long-lasting results.
• Experimental techniques for non-invasive fat removal, as a future alternative to liposuction (lipoplasty) surgery, will be tested in clinical trials.
• The number of patients seeking plastic surgery for body contouring after dramatic weight loss will rise by at least 20 percent in 2005, reflecting growing public awareness of significant long-term health benefits of weight loss for the morbidly obese.
• Cosmetic surgery for racial and ethnic minorities in the United States will continue increasing, most likely exceeding 20 percent of the total procedures performed.
• Hyaluronic acid (Restylane, Hylaform) will surpass collagen as the most popular soft tissue filler for lines and wrinkles. Additional hyaluronic acid products developed specifically for facial volume enhancement and for improvement of depressed scars will be introduced.
• Fashion and beauty in 2005 will emphasize nostalgia and elegance as embodied by Hollywood icons Lauren Bacall and Grace Kelly, and modern stars such as Nicole Kidman. In cosmetic surgery, more patients will express a preference for classical facial features, and a growing number of women will opt for smaller-size breast implants.
• More plastic surgeons will offer lifestyle assessment and counseling to their cosmetic surgery patients. The focus will be on "wellness" basics, with support from nutritionists and weight management specialists.
• In 2005, a new generation of breast implant fillers and coatings; advanced lasers that rejuvenate the skin from the inside out; new products for scar management and prevention of keloids; and permanent injectable treatments for facial lines and wrinkles may be the biggest "buzz" in cosmetic plastic surgery.
• The proliferation of "Reality" TV programs featuring plastic surgery may lose their public appeal. The long term psychological effect of undergoing a dramatic change in appearance from simultaneous multiple-procedures, as is common for participants of reality shows, may surface in 2005.