Breasts, face and eyes named key areas of concern in new surgery stats

A record 51,000 Brits underwent surgery in 2015, with breasts, face and eyes the key areas of concern, according to new data from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS).

The number of cosmetic operations increased 13% between 2014 and 2015, with the majority of procedures experiencing double-digit growth, and BAAPS believes it's celebrities openly admitting to undertaking surgical procedures that has helped boost procedure popularity.

Breast augmentation was the most popular procedure with a 12.5% growth and more women were ditching the ‘glamour model’ look for a more natural looking appearance. Face/neck lifts saw a healthy 16% increase, eyelid surgery was up by 12% and liposuction rose overall by 20%.

This news is likely to mean an uptake in demand for non-surgical treatments designed to have a similar effect, such as radiofrequency skin tightening and lifting treatments focused on the eye area.

There was also a 9% increase in men undergoing surgery, which resulted in a 14% increase in face and neck lifts, 15.5% growth in brow lifts and 15% increase in eyelid surgery for this demographic.

The 10 most popular procedures in the UK in 2015 were:

1. Breast augmentation – up 12%
2. Eyelid surgery – up 12%
3. Face and neck lifts – up 16%
4. Breast reductions – up 13%
5. Liposuction – up 20%
6. Nose jobs – up 14%
7. Fat-transfer operations – up 3%
8. Tummy tucks – up 8%
9. Brow lifts – up 7%
10. Ear corrections – up 14%

Consultant plastic surgeon and former BAAPS President Rajiv Grover, who collected the audit data, said: “The audit has shown that demand for cosmetic surgery continues to increase following the quieter period in 2014 which mirrored the British economy. The double-digit rise in surgical procedures suggests that the public are choosing to spend on treatments with a proven track record, such as facelifts and liposuction, which remain as the gold standard for facial rejuvenation and body contouring.”