America's Vainest Cities
Quoting the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons: For many people, maintaining an attractive appearance can be a lot of work. Whether it involves getting Botox injections, dyeing the hair, applying makeup or more invasive cosmetic procedures such as liposuction, tummy tuck or breast augmentation, looking good can be time-consuming.
And now an analysis by Men's Health magazine revealed which areas of the U.S. are more likely to be called home by those who spend a lot of time and money on maintaining their appearance. The publication took several factors into account, including rates for cosmetic procedures, hair salon visits and spending on anti-aging goods and services. Additionally, the analysis tallied sales of at-home hair dyes, teeth whiteners and shapewear, as well as per-capita rates of cosmetic dentists, plastic surgeons and tanning salons, to reveal the nation's vainest cities.
America's vainest city, according to the publication is Tampa, Florida. Not surprisingly, other locales that ranked in the top ten include "Sin City" (Las Vegas); Atlanta, Georgia; Miami, Florida and San Francisco, California. Three Texas cities - Plano, Dallas and Houston - also were included, as were two northeastern cities that may come as a surprise to some - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Providence, Rhode Island.
On the other hand, the least vain areas of the country include Memphis, Tennessee; Toledo, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; Burlington, Vermont; Fort Wayne, Indiana; Kansas City, Missouri; Fargo, North Dakota; Sioux Falls, North Dakota; Lincoln, Nebraska and Des Moines, Iowa.
While some areas may have higher-than-average rates of cosmetic surgeries, the total number of these procedures has increased dramatically in recent years. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), the overall number of cosmetic procedures performed in the U.S. has increased 197 percent since 1997. While more and more Americans have turned to surgical and nonsurgical procedures to help them enhance their appearance, a recent study from ASAPS also found people are more open-minded than ever about plastic surgery.
The February 2011 study found that more than half (51 percent) of all Americans, regardless of income, approve of cosmetic plastic surgery, marking a 3 percent acceptance over 2009. In addition, the study found that 67 percent of Americans would not be embarrassed if their friends and family knew they had cosmetic surgery.
