Norman Waterhouse Comments on the BAAPS Cosmetic Surgery Statistics for 2014

The audit figures for this year’s BAAPS activity has thrown up some interesting questions.  For the first time there has been a significant decline in the numbers of cosmetic surgery procedures being performed.  In particular it seems that breast augmentation and rhinoplasty are down very significantly.  A number of reasons have been put forward for this including the possibility that patients have been put off breast surgery by the recent PIP scandal and more historic concerns around silicone.  The other possibility is that the popularity of certain television programmes is having an effect in discouraging women from undergoing any forms of cosmetic surgery.

Last year the figures were very much higher and this has been put down to a post austerity boom with the easing of available credit.
On the one hand I am very surprised by the suggestion that breast enlargement and rhinoplasty numbers have decreased. However there are many Ear, Nose and Throat surgeons now carrying out rhinoplasty and it may be that this is why plastic surgeons are carrying out less.

It would be very concerning if the reason for the decline was that women continue to seek out breast augmentation purely on the basis of price and are driven to travel abroad and/or to seek out very cheap deals of questionable standards here in the UK.  At My Breast we have not seen a decrease in breast augmentation over the past few years.  Indeed with a established legacy of providing high quality care by exceptionally well trained surgeons and using the highest standard of implants one might argue that now was a very good time to have a breast augmentation.  Better implants, better silicone safety and a much more tailored approach to improving breast shape rather than just increasing size should result in excellent outcomes for most women seeking improvements of this type.  Next year’s figures will be very interesting indeed!