They say that beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, but in today’s world, the concept of beauty is evolving as individuals take control of how they wish to appear, following their own standards of beauty and allure.
The surge in cosmetic surgeries reinforces this shift, as the medical industry reports a consistent rise in cosmetic procedures, particularly among females, year after year. Cosmetic surgery involves individuals opting for surgical or invasive medical interventions to enhance their physical appearance for aesthetic reasons, rather than medical necessity.
Image Credit: CBS News
Data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the world’s largest organization dedicated to plastic surgery, reveals that in 2022, there were 26.2 million surgical and minimally invasive cosmetic and reconstructive procedures conducted in the United States. Specifically, the statistics show a remarkable 19% surge in cosmetic surgery procedures since 2019. ASPS President Gregory Greco (DO, FACS) stated in an interview that there is a growing trend of individuals seeking to enhance their appearance and overall well-being.
ASPS also outlined the top five cosmetic and reconstructive procedures for women, with nearly 1.5 million cosmetic surgical procedures performed in 2022:
- Liposuction: 325,669 procedures, a 23% increase from 2019.
- Breast Augmentation: 298,568 procedures, up by 4% from 2019.
- Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck): 161,948 procedures, showing a remarkable 37% rise from 2019.
- Breast Lift: 143,364 procedures, with a 30% increase from 2019.
- Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty): 115,261 procedures, up by 13% from 2019.
In addition, breast reduction procedures witnessed a substantial 54% increase since 2019, with a total of 71,364 procedures performed.
In 2022, as reported by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), the UK witnessed a substantial increase in cosmetic surgeries, with a 102% rise in procedures compared to the previous year, totaling 31,057. Women accounted for 93% of these procedures, marking a 101% increase from 2021. The most sought-after surgeries among female patients were breast augmentation, breast reduction, abdominoplasty, liposuction, and blepharoplasty.
Annual number of cosmetic surgery procedures performed in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2003 to 2022
Source: Statista
Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation, also referred to as augmentation mammoplasty, is a surgical procedure designed to enhance the size of the breasts. This entails the placement of breast implants either beneath the breast tissue or beneath the chest muscles. It stands as one of the most sought-after cosmetic surgeries worldwide, with more than 300,000 women undergoing this transformative procedure every year.
Liposuction
Liposuction, commonly known as “Lipo,” is a surgical procedure that removes fat from specific body areas while shaping and contouring them. It saw a significant 23% increase in surgeries from 2019 to 2022, becoming the most-performed surgical procedure, with around 325,000 cases out of 1.5 million cosmetic surgeries in 2022 according to ASPS report. It’s important to understand that liposuction isn’t a weight loss method, individuals should have a stable body weight before considering it to remove excess fat.
Abdominoplasty
Abdominoplasty, often known as a “tummy tuck,” is a surgical procedure aimed at eliminating surplus skin and fat from the abdominal area while reinforcing the abdominal muscle structure. This procedure is commonly sought by individuals who have undergone significant weight loss or as a complementary option to it. In 2022, the United Kingdom witnessed a significant rise in abdominoplasty procedures, totaling 3,241 cases, marking a remarkable 130% increase compared to the previous year.
Breast Reduction
Breast Reduction, also known as reduction mammoplasty, is a surgical procedure designed to reduce breast size by removing excess breast fat, glandular tissue, and skin. The goal of this surgery is to create breasts that are proportionate to the patient’s body, alleviating discomfort associated with overly large breasts. It is often sought by women who experience health and emotional issues due to the size of their breasts, including physical discomfort like back, neck, and shoulder pain, as well as skin irritation beneath the breast crease. In 2022, the UK saw a significant increase in breast reduction procedures, with approximately 5,270 performed, marking a 120% rise from the previous year.
Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)
Blepharoplasty is a sought-after procedure among patients of all age groups, with significant popularity among individuals aged 40 to 69. This surge in interest can be attributed to the natural aging process, which often results in droopy eyelids. Many people, especially women, seek to combat these effects when they interfere with their vision. Blepharoplasty offers a solution by lifting drooping eyelids and addressing puffiness. In 2022, the UK witnessed a notable increase in blepharoplasty procedures, with approximately 2,439 cases recorded, marking a remarkable 70% rise compared to the previous year.
Cosmetic Surgery Market Trends
The cosmetic surgery market has been on the rise, driven by factors such as the increasing demand for cosmetic procedures, a rise in dermatological conditions, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a consequence of the pandemic, the number of plastic surgery procedures, which stood at 18.4 million in the 2019 report, decreased by 15% to 15.6 million post-pandemic.
According to Fortune Business Insights, the global cosmetic surgery market was valued at $55.68 billion in 2022. It is anticipated to further increase from $57.67 billion in 2023 to $75.20 billion by 2030, demonstrating a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.9% during the forecast period.
