Cosmetic surgery operations on the rise, with breast enlargement most popular procedure
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A record number of adults in the UK underwent cosmetic surgery last year, new figures have shown.
The data released by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) revealed that there was a 13 per cent spike in the number of procedures carried out in 2015, at 51,140 in total.
The spike follows a slump for the industry blamed on the recession and the PIP implant scandal.
Women underwent 46,526 of the total procedures, with breast enlargement, eyelid surgery, face and neck operations, and breast reductions being the most popular.
Men however are most likely to choose eyelid surgery, followed by nose jobs, breast reduction, and liposuction and pinning back ears. And while men make up 9 per cent of operations in the UK, the figure has almost doubled in the past decade from 2,440 in 2005 to 4,614 in 2015.
While demand for all procedures has risen, breast enlargement continues to be the most popular with 9,652 procedures in 2015, representing a 12 per cent rise since 2014.
However, apparent trends in cosmetic surgery have changed as women are now more likely to choose “natural” looking breasts, according to BAAPS doctors.
Eyelid surgery was the next most popular operation in the UK, rising by 12 per cent to hit 8,689 in 2015, while 7,419 face or neck lifts were carried out – a 16 per cent climb.
Some 6,246 breast reduction operations were performed, up by 13 per cent.
However, liposuction operations saw the biggest jump in popularity, climbing by a fifth since 2014 to 5,551.
Nose jobs, fat transfers, tummy tucks and brow lifts were also frequently requested.
The top 10 procedures in 2015:
Breast augmentation up 12% to 9,652
Eyelid surgery up 12% to 8,689
Face and neck lifts up 16% to 7,419
Breast reductions up 13% to 6,246
Liposuction up 20% to 5,551
Nose jobs up 14% to 4,205
Fat transfer operations up 3% to 3,261
Tummy tucks up 8% to 2,933
Browlifts up 7% to 2,110
Ear corrections up 14% to 1,074
Consultant plastic surgeon and former BAAPS president, Rajiv Grover, said: “The audit has shown that demand for cosmetic surgery continues to increase following the quieter period in 2014 which mirrored the British economy.
"There is a danger however that this presents the image of cosmetic surgery as a commodity, so the public must always be warned that an operation is not something that can simply be returned to the shop if you don't like it."
Consultant plastic surgeon and Baaps council member Ash Mosahebi told BBC News that the rise may be down to people spending more on luxury items and the pressures of social media.said many reasons were contributing to the increase.
"And I would say the Botox generation who got older using Botox and fillers, those things are not working any more for those age groups so they're taking the next step up and that is surgical options."
Additional reporting by PA
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments