BAAPS announces 2017 cosmetic surgery figures

Women shun face procedures in favour of achieving their dream bodies

The latest data released by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) highlights a growing gender divide when it comes to cosmetic surgery choices.

The research suggests women are forgoing facial procedures in favour of body treatments, whilst men are opting for the opposite.

The number of women undergoing breast augmentation has risen by six percent in the last year and remains the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure. Breast reduction procedures also saw a five percent increase. However, the number of women who opted for facelifts declined by 44 percent and Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) was down 20 percent.

In contrast, men eschewed almost all forms of body treatment, with procedures such as liposuction, tummy tucks and gynaecomastia (breast reduction) all down. However, facial procedures such as eyelid and brow lifts were up by 25 percent and 27 percent respectively, with facelifts also up 16 percent.

The divide between the sexes could be accountable to the rise in popularity of non-surgical and less invasive procedures aimed at women, such as botox, fillers, thread lifts, fat transfer breast augmentation and facelifts. For men, a driver of change could be attributed to a growing acceptance of ‘the dad bod’ over a refined athletic figure in the mass media.

Speaking to the Telegraph, BAAPS President and consultant plastic surgeon Simon Withey explained:

“The slight downwards shift in surgical procedures overall hopefully continues to demonstrate that at the very least, patients are realising that cosmetic surgery is not a ‘quick fix’ but a serious commitment,” he said.

“Although there may be some new non-surgical options for cosmetic treatments, it is important to remember that ‘non-surgical’ does not mean ‘non-medical’, and patients should be wary of anything touted which seems too good, or too cheap, to be true. The climate of lax regulation has yet to be addressed in a satisfactory manner to protect the public.”

The figures in full:

The top surgical procedures for men & women in 2017

Analysis of BAAPS Audit 2016-2017 (total 28,315, a fall of 7.9% from 2016)

In order of popularity:

Breast augmentation: 8,251 – up 6% from last 2016
Breast Reduction: 4,043– up 6%
Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery): 3,276 – down 16%
Abdominoplasty: 2,761 – Static
Rhinoplasty: 2,751 – up 2%
Liposuction: 2,309 – down 28%
Face/Neck Lift: 2,002 – down 42%
Fat Transfer: 1,468 – Static
Otoplasty (ear correction): 1,009 – up 2%
Browlift: 445 – down 27%

The top surgical procedures for women in 2017

(25,898 total, a fall of 8.6% from 2016). Women had 91% of all cosmetic procedures in 2017.

In order of popularity:

Breast augmentation: 8,238 – up 7% from 2016
Breast Reduction: 3,747– up 5%
Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery): 2,873 – down 20%
Abdominoplasty: 2,610 – up 1%
Rhinoplasty: 2,197 – up 1%
Liposuction: 2,039 – down 29%
Face/Neck Lift: 1,857 – down 44%
Fat Transfer: 1,359 – Static
Otoplasty (ear correction): 590 – up 4%
Browlift: 388 – down 31%

The top surgical procedures for men in 2017

(2,417 total. A rise of 0.3% from 2016). Men had 9% of all cosmetic procedures in 2017.

In order of popularity:

Rhinoplasty: 554 – up 5% from 2016
Otoplasty (ear correction): 419 – down 0.5%
Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery): 403 – up 25%
Breast Reduction: 296 – down 7%
Liposuction: 270 – down 20%
Abdominoplasty: 151 – down 12%
Face/Neck Lift: 145 – up 16%
Fat Transfer 109 – up 9%
Brow lifts 57 – up 27%
Breast augmentation: 13 – down 65%