Maybe people need a distraction from the bleak economic headlines of the day, or maybe its America's obsession with youth. Either way, business is booming in the business of nips, tucks, and lifts.

Cosmetic plastic surgery procedures rose two percent to 1.6 million in 2010, according to a recent study by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), which represents 7,000 board-certified plastic surgeons.

"Consumers are willing to spend on themselves again and confidence is up," says Dr. Phil Haeck, president of the ASPS.

Although 91 percent of all cosmetic procedures were performed on women, statistics show that more men are going under the knife. Overall cosmetic plastic surgery procedures for men were 2 percent higher in 2010 than the previous year.

"The men out there are worrying about how they look compared to the competition, which is much younger," says Haeck.

So what are Americans looking to improve? Click ahead to see the most popular cosmetic procedures and the average cost. (Fees do not include anesthesia, operating room facilities, or other related expenses.)

By Jessica Naziri
Posted 12 September 2011

No. of surgeries performed: 296,203 (up 2 percent)
Surgeon fee: $3,351

Breast augmentation, or augmentation mammaplasty, has been the most popular cosmetic procedure since 2006.

No. of surgeries performed :252,261
Surgeon fee: $4,306 (down 1 percent)

Commonly called a nose job, rhinoplasty is the reshaping of the nose to make it bigger or smaller, to narrow the span of the nostrils, or to change the angle between the nose and upper lip.

No. of surgeries performed: 208,764
Surgeon fee: $2,828 (up 3 percent)

In eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, drooping upper eyelids and bags below the eyes are corrected by removing extra fat, muscle, and skin.

No. of surgeries performed: 203,106
Surgeon fee: $2,828 (up 2 percent)

Liposuction, technically known as suction lipoplasty, is the removal of fat deposits using a vacuum-like device. The procedure is often performed on the abdomen, buttocks, hips, thighs, and upper arms.

No. of surgeries performed: 116,000
Surgeon fee: $2,828 (up 1 percent)

The tummy tuck is a common cosmetic procedure used to tighten overly stretched abdominal muscles and skin.

No. of surgeries performed: 116,000
Surgeon fee: $6,231 (up 9 percent)

Many factors including exposure to the sun, fluctuations in weight, genetics, and smoking take a toll on the appearance of the human face. A face lift, also known as rhytidectomy, attempts to correct the damage by firming and tightening the skin of the face.

In 2010, the number of men undergoing rhytidectomy increased by 14 percent.

No. of surgeries performed: 89,931
Surgeon fee: $4,207 (up 3 percent)

Many women have sought out breast lifts, or mastopexy, to reduce sagging and to achieve firmer and shapelier breasts. The procedure is frequently done in conjunction with breast augmentation and breast reduction.

No. of surgeries performed: 68,636
Surgeon fee: $4,207 (up 8 percent)

Surgeons use dermabrasion for the treatment of scarring related to acne, rosacea, tattoos, chicken pox, scars, skin growths, multiple pigmented birthmarks, blotchy brown or liver spots, keloids, and sun-damaged skin. It produces smoother skin by removing the epidermis, or outer layer of skin, so that new tissue grows back to replace the old.

No. of surgeries performed: 42,433
Surgeon fee: $3,161 (up 1 percent)

This procedure designed to rejuvenate one's appearance by reducing or eliminating lines and creases in the skin on the upper portion of the face.

No. of surgeries performed: 21,714
Surgeon fee: $2,288 (up 9 percent)

Some women who have their breasts surgically enlarged later decide to have the implants removed. This, of course, requires another surgery. Breast implant removal is generally less costly than it is to have the implants inserted.