Have you ever wondered which cosmetic procedures are rising in popularity, and which are falling out of favour? The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) recently released a summary of their 2013 cosmetic surgery statistics, revealing some interesting data about which cosmetic procedures are becoming more popular.
In the U.K., more than 50,000 cosmetic surgeries were performed over the past year, a rise of 17% over the previous year. The study found a double-digit rise in nearly all categories of cosmetic procedures, from dermal filler injections to liposuction to facelifts.
Breast augmentation and liposuction surgeries both experienced a surge in popularity over the past year and maintained their number one popularity position. According to BAAPS surgeons, the continued rise of tried-and-true cosmetic procedures like facelifts shows that patients are sticking with time-honoured surgical techniquesrather than quick fixes that may fail to deliver on their promises.
Blepharoplasty, or eyelid lifts, were the second most popular cosmetic procedure in the U.K. last year, for men as well as for women. This technique is used to relieve heavy under-eye bags and remove sagging skin from the upper eyelids. It was chosen by more than 6,000 people in the U.K. last year, and more than 700,000 around the world. Approximately 10 percent of all cosmetic surgeries focus on the eyelid area.
This was followed by facelifts in third place, and neck lifts in fourth place. These are consistently among the most popular forms of facial plastic surgery, since they can have such a dramatic effect on the patient’s appearance. During face or neck lift surgeries, sagging skin is lifted and tightened, providing facial rejuvenation. Last year, more than 5,000 people underwent a face or neck lift in the U.K. alone; worldwide, that number is estimated to top 600,000.
Rhinoplasty, or nose reshaping, rounds out the top ten most popular facial surgery procedures.3,800 British patients and nearly 500,000 people around the world had nose jobs. Because the nose is such a central facial feature, even subtle changes in its shape can dramatically affect appearance. For this reason, many facial plastic surgeries focus on the nose.
Surgeons are also reporting increasing popularity of cosmetic treatments among men. Last year, men made up 9.5% of all cosmetic surgery patients. For male patients, rhinoplasty was the most popular surgical technique, followed by eyelid surgery.