Before the beach, more get liposuction

WASHINGTON, April 18 (UPI) -- As Americans prepare for beach season some head for the gym and some head for a plastic surgeon's office, a U.S. expert says.

Liposuction is a highly sought out procedure at the beginning of April each year, the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery said in a statement.

"Spring is definitely the peak activity for liposuction," said Steven Hopping, president of the organization. "Patients know it takes weeks and months for the swelling to resolve and plan their procedures accordingly."

Women are not alone in seeking cosmetic surgery in the spring. Men are opting to get sclerotherapy, or the removal of spider veins, to show off their summer legs, said Dr. Dee Anna Glaser, a trustee of the academy.

Male sclerotherapy has increased by 226 percent since 2002, proving that men are becoming just as aware as women of how they look in a swimsuit, Glaser said.

"Especially before the summer months, sclerotherapy is a popular procedure for men and women," Glaser said. "Laser hair removal is also something people want done before the summer tan season."