The 10 most popular cosmetic procedures in the US reveal our obsession with breast implants and Botox

In 2018, there were a total of 313,735 breast augmentations performed, making the procedure the number one surgical cosmetic procedure of the year. Breast augmentation procedures increased by 4% year over year, according to ASPS.

Commonly referred to as a "boob job," a breast augmentation is performed by transferring fat from one part of the body to the breast, or with artificial implants. Most artificial breast implants are filled with either silicone or saline solution, according to ASPS.

Read more: Getting Botox could make sex less enjoyable because your face isn't as expressive

Liposuction, which involves removing excess fat from areas of the body to make it look more contoured, was the second most popular surgical procedure on the list in 2018, with 258,558 procedures performed.

The surgical procedure can be done on various areas of the body including the hips, thighs, butt, abdomen, cheeks, chin, back, and ankles, according to ASPS. The procedure cannot remove cellulite or act as a solution for obesity, but people seek it out to achieve a slimmer and more contoured body appearance.

Nose reshaping, also called a rhinoplasty or nose job, was the third most popular cosmetic surgery of 2018. 

Someone who gets nose reshaping can change the size and proportions of their nose. In some cases, it can also help people with breathing problems by fixing "structural defects" in the nose, according to ASPS.

Read more: People are seeking plastic surgery to look like their edited selfies in real life — here's why doctors think the trend is 'alarming'

Blepharoplasty (or eyelid surgery) was the fourth most popular cosmetic surgery of 2018, with 206,529 procedures occurring. The procedure can be done on the upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both, according to ASPS, and can treat loose or saggy skin, puffiness, or drooping in the area.

Tummy tucks were just as popular in 2018 as they were in 2017, with 130,081 procedures this past year.

Also known as an abdominoplasty, a tummy tuck involves removing loose skin from the abdomen area to create a firmer and slimmer look. Like liposuction, a tummy tuck is not a weight loss or obesity treatment but is best suited for people with excess midsection fat due genetics, weight fluctuations, or from pregnancy, according to ASPS.

Read more: A woman went on 'Botched' after horrific breast implant complications: 'You didn't go to a surgeon, you went to an assassin'

Unlike cosmetic surgeries, minimally invasive or non-invasive procedures can also modify  skin, hair, lips, or other body parts without the pain or downtime surgeries might involve, according to New York Group for Plastic Surgery. 

Botulinum toxin type A was the most common non-invasive cosmetic procedure of 2018, with 7.4 million procedures taking place — a 3% increase from 2017. Botox is the most popular brand, but other brands like Dysport and Xeomin are also used. 

Botox and similar products are injected into the body with a syringe, usually around wrinkles in the face or neck. The substance blocks nerve signals in the area it is injected, freezing the muscle in place to prevent movement that could cause wrinkles.

Read more: Doctors are growing a new ear for a woman inside her arm because we now live in the future

Soft tissue or dermal fillers, like Botox, can change the appearance of the face and neck area. Unlike Botox, dermal fillers do not "freeze" the face, but rather restore volume to the area in which they are injected.

Fillers typically contain hyaluronic acid, a substance that naturally occurs in the body and is thought to mke the skin look plump and youthful, biochemist Alison Telfer, PhD, told Marie Claire. As the body ages, though, it loses its hyaluronic acid supply and the skin can get looser and thinner.

Dermal fillers allow people to artificially inject the substance into their bodies to create the look of fuller cheeks and lips and to lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, according to ASPS.

Chemical peels are another popular non-invasive procedure, with 1.38 million of them completed in 2018. That's a 1% increase from 2017.

Chemical peels are usually done on the face and require applying the peel, which contain different acids like glycolic acid, retinoic acid, and salicylic acid, to the area. According to ASPS, chemical peels can also be done on the neck and hands.

Read more: 11 people who have taken plastic surgery to the extreme

Peels help to exfoliate the skin and remove dead skin cells in order to reduce scarring, acne, and discoloration of the skin. There are different strengths available depending on a patient's needs.

Laser hair removal uses laser lights in a person's hair follicles to damage the follicles and prevent future hair growth, according to ASPS. In 2018 alone, 1.1 million laser hair removal procedures were completed.

The treatment typically takes multiple sessions in order to be effective, since it can only work on existing hair follicles.

The fifth most popular minimally invasive procedure of 2018 was microdermabrasion, with 709,413 procedures completed. The procedure uses what ASPS calls a "very fine sand blaster" tool with a diamond tip to exfoliate the top layer of the skin, usually on the face. 

The wand suctions to the skin to remove dead skin cells and can feel like mild scratching, according to ASPS. The procedure takes only about 30 minutes and can help treat light scarring, discoloration, and sun damage.

• Read more:
• A plastic surgery group is warning doctors to stop performing potentially deadly Brazilian butt lifts — here's why they can be so dangerous
• Jane Fonda 'hates' that she got plastic surgery to feel better about aging: 'I wish I was braver'
• 4 of the most dangerous plastic surgeries — and what can happen if they go wrong