Dermatologic surgeons performed more medical, cosmetic procedures in 2013

There were nearly 22% more medically necessary and cosmetic procedures performed by dermatologic surgeons in 2013 compared with 2012, according to survey results from the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

“We’re not surprised to see such a jump,” Mitchel P. Goldman, MD, ASDS president, said in a news release. “From medical procedures to treat skin cancers to cosmetic procedures, patients trust dermatologic surgeons. The survey shows patients also continue to specifically seek out dermatologic surgeons for treatments.”

Mitchel P. Goldman

The results were based on a survey sent to 3,926 ASDS members in January for data reported in 2013. Nine hundred forty-three physicians (24% response rate) reported results.

Increases were seen in all categories, with ASDS member performing 9.5 million treatments, up from nearly 8 million in 2012. Skin cancer procedures were most common, with 3.04 million treatments in 2013, a 13% increase from 2012.

There also were increases in cosmetic procedures, including 2.25 million laser/light/energy procedures, 1.8 million wrinkle-relaxing injections and 995,000 soft-tissue filler procedures, for 1-year increases of 34%, 20% and 8.6%, respectively. Specific laser/light/energy-based procedures with increases included laser resurfacing, surgical scar removal, tissue tightening and tattoo removal.

Vein treatment and sclerotherapy procedures increased 53%.

There was a nearly 22% increase in body sculpting, with cryolipolysis making up more than half of those procedures. Laserlipolysis increased 47% and laser hair removal increased 46%.

Skin cancer treatments included 190,000 procedures for melanoma, a 27% increase from 2012.

“People are increasingly aware of the need to have new or suspicious lesions checked out,” Goldman said.