Survey: 53% of Americans Would Sacrifice Everyday Spending for Aesthetic Treatments

More than half of Americans say they would sacrifice everyday spending to afford non-surgical aesthetic procedures, according to a new national survey commissioned by LaserAway and conducted by Morning Consult among 2,202 US adults in February 2026. The findings highlight shifting consumer attitudes toward aesthetic medicine, suggesting that many individuals increasingly view treatments such as laser hair removal, injectables, and skin rejuvenation as routine components of personal care rather than discretionary luxury services.

The survey found that 53% of respondents would give up other expenses if cost were the only barrier to obtaining a desired non-surgical treatment. Among the specific trade-offs reported, 20% said they would stop ordering takeout, 17% would forgo dining out, and 15% would cancel at least one streaming service for a year. Additionally, 18% said they would take on extra work to pay for treatment.

Demographic trends in the survey also suggest changing attitudes toward aesthetic care. Two-thirds of Gen Z adults reported openness to aesthetic treatments, while 62% of Millennials expressed openness, with 36% reporting that they had considered treatment within the past year. Men are also increasingly represented among aesthetic patients. According to LaserAway, male treatments across its clinics increased by nearly 40% year over year, and men now account for approximately one in 10 patient visits. In the survey, men were 60% more likely than women to consider undergoing a non-surgical aesthetic procedure prior to a first date, and 29% of men said they hope such treatments become as common for men as they are for women within 5 years.

The survey further suggests growing interest in maintenance-based aesthetic care. Approximately 19% of respondents said they already view aesthetic treatments as part of routine self-care, while 26% said they would like these procedures to feel as routine as getting a manicure and 21% said they would like them to become as common as regular medical checkups.

Interest in technology-enabled personalization is also emerging. One in five respondents said they would like artificial intelligence–driven personalized treatment plans within the next five years, increasing to 26% among Gen Z.

Despite this growing demand, the survey identified a knowledge gap related to provider credentials. While 58% of respondents reported prioritizing medically qualified professionals over cost when seeking aesthetic treatments, 45% said they would not know how to verify a provider’s credentials.

The survey was conducted by Morning Consult in February 2026 using a nationally representative sample of US adults weighted across age, gender, race and ethnicity, education, and geographic region.