Report assesses out of state cosmetic surgery travel in the USA

A new report by RealSelf, an online resource on cosmetic procedures says that 45% of RealSelf.com users during the first half of 2019 searched for a provider located outside their home state. The top destinations for people seeking out-of-state cosmetic treatment providers are Florida, California and New York.

The RealSelf Cosmetic Treatment Travel Report, is based on a sample of 1.75 million RealSelf users who used the Find a Doctor search function in the USA.

Florida hold the top spot, with 150,000 out-of-state residents searching for a provider in the state during the first half of 2019. California is the second most popular destination with 125,000 out-of-state residents searching. New York is third with 70,000, Texas fourth with 50,000 incoming searches, and Georgia rounds out the top five with 33,000 searches.

RealSelf says that saving money on a cosmetic procedure can be a motivation for travel, particularly among those travelling to Florida.

RealSelf Cosmetic Treatment Travel Report: Top 10 Destination States By Total Incoming Searches
Rank Destination State Net Inflow

(H1 2019)

Searches From Users Outside Destination State Searches From Users Inside Destination 
State Top Origin State Top Origin

State %

1 Florida 156,555 56.9% 43.1% New York 13.1%
2 California 126,677 40.8% 59.2% New York 13.2%
3 New York 69,624 42.7% 57.3% New Jersey 18.7%
4 Texas 49,032 33.2% 66.8% California 16.3%
5 Georgia 33,265 50.5% 49.5% California 10.4%
6 New Jersey 31,148 52.7% 47.3% New York 38.7%
7 Maryland 26,625 65.2% 34.8% District of Columbia 23.2%
8 North Carolina 22,454 46.9% 53.1% California 20.4%
9 Illinois 22,119 38.2% 61.8% California 13.4%
10 Washington 19,929 41.9% 58.1% California 27.3%
Source: RealSelf.com; Analysis is based on sample of 1.75 million RealSelf users

Searches in Michigan, Texas and Arizona are significantly more likely to come from in-state residents than out-of-state residents. Michigan holds the top with 70% of the total searches from local residents. Texas follows closely with 67% and Arizona rounds out the top three with 63%.

RealSelf Cosmetic Treatment Travel Report: Top 10 States By Percent of In-State User Searches
Rank Destination State Net Inflow

(H1 2019)

Searches From Users Outside Destination State Searches From Users Inside Destination State Top Origin State Top Origin State %
1 Michigan 9,047 30.0% 70.0% Ohio 11.4%
2 Texas 49,032 33.2% 66.8% California 16.3%
3 Arizona 13,140 36.9% 63.1% California 23.8%
4 Wisconsin 4,321 37.6% 62.4% Illinois 33.6%
5 Illinois 22,119 38.2% 61.8% California 13.4%
6 Hawaii 2,487 38.4% 61.6% California 28.3%
7 Colorado 9,903 38.9% 61.1% California 14.5%
8 Tennessee 10,626 39.3% 60.7% Georgia 8.8%
9 Oklahoma 3,510 40.6% 59.4% Texas 44.4%
10 Massachusetts 15,804 40.8% 59.2% New York 14.3%
Source: RealSelf.com; Analysis is based on sample of 1.75 million RealSelf users