February 26, 2026 — Use of cosmetic surgery by patients of underrepresented racial/ethnic minority patientsgroups has increased substantially in recent years – well beyond their relative increase in the US population , reports a study in the March issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery® , the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer .
"Our study provides new evidence on the changing demographics of patients undergoing cosmetic surgery in the United States," comments ASPS Member Surgeon Alvin Kwok, MD, MPH, of the University of Utah, senior author of the new study. "Plastic surgeons should be aware of the rising demand for cosmetic procedures among underrepresented groups, as well as the financial and cultural factors that may be driving this trend."
Updated look at cosmetic surgery rates by race/ethnicity
Using a national surgery database, the researchers analyzed trends in cosmetic plastic surgery among patients of different racial/ethnic groups from 2010 to 2023. The analysis focused on five common cosmetic procedures : liposuction, breast augmentation, abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), mastopexy (breast lift), and blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery).
The analysis included nearly 38,000 patients undergoing cosmetic surgery. Trends among White patients versus underrepresented groups were analyzed, including comparison with national shifts in demographic characteristics.
"From 2010 to 2023, the racial and ethnic composition of cosmetic surgery patients shifted substantially," Dr. Kwok and colleagues write. Representation of underrepresented racial/ethnic groups nearly doubled, from 17% to 33.5%; while the proportion of White patients decreased, from 83% to 66.5%.
Percentage increases in representation differed among underrepresented groups: by about 83% for Black or African American patients, 55% for White Hispanic patients, 548% for Hispanic patients of other backgrounds, and 92% for Asian patients.
Implications for cosmetic surgery in an increasingly diverse population
The percentage of patients from underrepresented groups increased for all five procedures analyzed. For example, Black patients had greater increases in breast augmentation, abdominoplasty, and liposuction, while White Hispanic patients had the largest increase in mastopexy.
The racial/ethnic trends in cosmetic surgery exceeded demographic shifts in the US population. Representation of underrepresented patients in cosmetic surgery increased by an average of 10% per year, compared to the 2% annual growth in the US population: a difference of 8% per year. In contrast, the proportion of White patients undergoing cosmetic surgery declined by an average of 7% per year, relative to the population. The trend was consistent across all five procedures.
Historically, White patients have accounted for a large majority of those undergoing cosmetic surgery. Overall rates of cosmetic surgery have increased dramatically in recent years. While previous studies have reported rising rates of cosmetic surgery use by patients from underrepresented groups, the new analysis is the first to compare these changes with population trends.
"As the cosmetic surgery population is becoming more diverse, it is becoming increasingly important for surgeons to be cognizant of cultural and socioeconomic factors that may impact surgical decision-making, patient satisfaction, and surgical outcomes," Dr. Kwok and colleagues conclude. They also reinforce the need for "continued efforts to diversify our plastic surgery workforce."
