March 28 (iVillage Total Health) -- From face lifts to tummy tucks to hair implants, approval of cosmetic procedures and surgery is high among Americans, according to a recent study conducted by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS).

In a survey of 1,000 people 18 and older, researchers found that two-thirds of them favored cosmetic surgery -- an 8 percent increase from the 2006 survey results. According to ASAPS, it marks the highest approval rating in the survey's history.

Women are 16 percent more likely to consider plastic surgery than men, according to the study. Women led men nearly 10 to 1 in undergoing surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures in 2006. An estimated 10 million procedures were conducted on women (92 percent) versus only about 1 million on men (8 percent).

People 18 to 24 years old were the most likely of any age group to approve of procedures, according to the survey. People over 65 were 11 percent more likely to approve of cosmetic surgery in 2007 than were older people in 2006.

Cosmetic surgery involves a variety of procedures that reshape normal facial and body structures to improve their appearance. Some of the most common cosmetic surgical procedures include:

• Liposuction. Procedure where a surgical tube is used to remove excess fat from various areas of the body.

• Rhinoplasty. Surgery to resize or change the shape of the nose. It may be merely cosmetic or may improve the function of the nose for breathing.

• Blepharoplasty. Surgery on the eyelids to correct sagging lids or remove fatty deposits, although it does not affect "crow's feet" wrinkles on the temples. Blepharoplasty may be performed with other facial procedures, including a facelift or browlift.

• Facelift (rhytidectomy). Surgery to lessen wrinkles and minimize some signs of aging. A surgeon makes incisions near the hairline to pull back the skin, remove fat and tighten facial muscles. Facelifts are frequently performed with other facial surgeries.

• Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck). Procedure to tighten muscles and remove skin from the abdomen.

• Browlift (forehead lift). Surgery to remove forehead lines and elevate the eyebrows. An incision is made near the hairline to lift the skin of the forehead and either remove tissue or move muscles that cause forehead furrows. The eyebrows may also be elevated on the forehead and any excess skin is trimmed. Forehead lifts are frequently performed with other procedures, including hair transplants or facelifts.

• Hair restoration. Surgery to fill balding areas with a patient's own hair. Several procedures are used. They include reducing the size of the bald portion of the scalp or moving sections with hair from the back or sides of the head to the top. Some hair restorations surgeries may be permanent, although they may require additional grafts to blend the areas with hair.

• Otoplasty. Surgery to reshape or reduce the prominence of the ears. Cartilage inside the ear may be removed or reshaped to keep the ears closer to the head. The ears stop growing before adulthood, so this procedure may be safely performed on both children and adults. Most otoplasties are performed on children younger than 14.

• Facial implants. Materials such as silicone or soft tissues may be implanted to reshape the lips, chin or cheeks.

Copyright 2007 iVillage Total Health.