There was a time when few people would openly admit that they had undergone or were considering a cosmetic procedure. Even some celebrities prefer to keep quiet about procedures they have had in fear of being judged by the public, as well as friends and associates. However, those fears are beginning to change, according to a new study.

The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS) has just released results of a consumer survey about current attitudes and the perceptions surrounding cosmetic surgery. The focus of the survey was on how “accepted” it is in the mainstream to have had work done.

The results aren’t too surprising: 71 percent of respondents think society is now less judgmental about plastic surgery than it was even five years ago. 62 percent of those surveyed feel that this less judgmental outlook has made them personally more comfortable when thinking about getting a procedure.

Dr. Mark Berman, AACS President-Elect, says the data only confirms what many patients and plastic surgeons have felt for a long time – that cosmetic surgery has become mainstream.

“A variety of factors have contributed to the normalization of our industry, but the bottom line is that people are not afraid to talk openly about cosmetic surgery anymore,” he said in a press statement.

The most accepted surgical procedures were breast augmentation, face lifts, and tummy tucks while the most accepted non surgical procedures were Botox and laser hair removal.

Younger respondents embraced the notion of a nip and tuck more so than their older counterparts, with twice as many people under age 40 saying they would consider a procedure in the future than those over age 40. And, although the overall consensus is that cosmetic surgery is more acceptable, only 52 percent of survey respondents said they would tell family if they were going under the knife.

The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery will soon release a new magazine called New You, devoted to public education about the latest developments in plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures. The magazine will launch this month, and unlike many forums that focus on plastic surgery, it won’t have much to do with the glamorous celebrity angle, if anything at all.

Instead, New You is set to focus on informing regular people about the costs, results and safety risks of procedures that are either common or cutting edge.

The academy’s president, Patrick McMenamin, is also the new magazine’s editor. He explained that the magazine will be about “real doctors, performing real procedures,” with an emphasis on giving potential patients a set of realistic expectations about plastic surgery. Stressing patient safety will be a high priority.

The first issue will be available in bookstores and newsstands, but also spas and resorts. The magazine’s editorial content will be under regular review by qualified plastic surgeons for relevance and accuracy.

This same study we discussed earlier, conducted by ASAPS, showed a decline in the demand for cosmetic procedures of 12%.

The demand for cosmetic procedures is still strong, however, and it’s still up significantly from 10 years ago, although the down economy is causing people to be more selective about what they’re spending money on.

ASAPS President Alan Gold, MD said, “It’s clearly the economy, and people’s concerns about their future income, their time off from work to have a procedure, and recovery from that,” as reasons for the slowdown in demand.  He also states that he expects a rise in cosmetic procedures as the economy recovers.

The upside in this down economy is that there is a rise in the demand for cosmetic laser technology procedures, which are known for shorter recovery periods.

In its annual Procedural Survey conducted by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery the shift towards non-invasive laser treatments was the most noticeable find with a significant increase of both male and females patients choosing laser resurfacing.  Laser hair removal moved to the number two position, below Botox injections, for most popular non-invasive cosmetic procedures.

The cosmetic surgery industry should continue to see a steady demand for these laser procedures because they are effective and affordable.

Patients be warned however.  It is important to remain cautious when shopping for cosmetic procedures and never let price be the driving factor for choosing a particular doctor, no matter how bad the economy.  It is always wise for patients to select a board-certified plastic surgeon who has a particular interest in aesthetic plastic surgery.

For more information on the ASAPS Survey and where other procedures ranked, you can visit their website at www.surgery.org.