The field of plastic surgery is continuously evolving with many new and innovative surgical advances as well as pioneering non-surgical procedures. Once a luxury reserved for only the extremely wealthy, plastic surgery today has become mainstream allowing the general public to access and experience the benefits of cosmetic enhancement.
2015 figures from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) show that the number of cosmetic operations grew 13% overall since 2014¹. All cosmetic surgery procedures saw an increase in demand.
There are thought to be many drivers to this rise in the number of cosmetic surgery procedures being performed. The new trend in celebrities openly talking about their cosmetic surgery treatments may support an increase in acceptance and de-stigmatisation of aesthetic enhancement. Selfies and social media may be another reason for the popularity growth of plastic surgery as appearance is focussed on more and people to want to look good and younger. Also there are now people who grew up with non-surgical cosmetic options and as they age they feel that surgery will better suit their needs.
The trend has also mirrored the British economy. People and the media are talking about plastic surgery more than ever before. Prospective patients have access to more information and are better educated about the potential risks and benefits of cosmetic surgery allowing them to make an informed decision.
Overall some of the most dramatic rises in the 2015 statistics were for face and neck lifts (up by 16%) and liposuction (up by 20%)¹. It’s understandable that these procedures have grown in popularity. It’s inevitable that you see your face and neck more than other areas of your body. For example, every time you look in the mirror or when you take a selfie. The face and neck is susceptible to ageing and people may not be happy with their facial features. The rise in liposuction also comes as no surprise as the nation becomes more overweight. Liposuction can help remove this unwanted body fat and help achieve a more attractive body contour.
2015 data from BAAPs shows women’s cosmetic surgery rose 12.5% from 2014¹. Breast augmentation continues to be the most popular procedure for women (up 12% from 2014). However, women are now opting for a smaller, more natural and proportionate enhancement rather than the oversized and artificial look that was previously trending.
Mummy makeovers are gaining in popularity to help restore a Mummy’s body after having children. This can include: a tummy tuck to lessen the apron effect, a breast augmentation and/or breast uplift to restore lost breast volume and lift sagging breasts, liposuction to remove excess fat and vaginal rejuvenation for functional and aesthetic reasons.
Although male cosmetic surgery accounts for only 9% of the total number of cosmetic surgery operations in the UK, there has been a substantial rise over the last decade with numbers almost doubling (2,440 procedures in 2005 to 4,614 in 2015¹). Men are also choosing more facial procedures including face and neck lifts (up by 14%), brow lifts (up by 15.5%), eyelid surgery (up by 15%), and rhinoplasty (up by 14%). Liposuction (up by 20%) and breast reduction (up 13%) are gaining in demand.
Non-surgical cosmetic procedures are on the rise too. There aren’t accurate non-surgical procedure statistics for the UK market but if we look at the US, the non-surgical market is up by 22%, with 10,879,909 procedures performed in 2015². Botulinum Toxin remained the most popular treatment, followed by hyaluronic acid, hair removal, chemical peel and microdermabrasion.