ISSUES
: Body Confidence
Chapter 1: Body Image
20
‘Daddy makeovers’ and celeb
confessions: cosmetic surgery
procedures soar in Britain
A
record number of over
51,000 Britons underwent
cosmetic surgery in 2015,
demonstrating the public’s love
affair with surgical enhancement is
far from over, despite any previous
‘blips’ as the economy reshaped
itself.
New data from the British Association
of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (www.
baaps.org.uk), the only organisation
solely dedicated to safety and
education in cosmetic surgery, and
which represents the vast majority
of NHS-trained consultant plastic
surgeons in private practice, today
reveal that the number of cosmetic
ops last year grew 13% overall since
2014 – with ALL procedures seeing an
increase in demand.
Surgeons say that with the new
trend in A-list celebrities (such as
Sharon Stone, Jamie Lee Curtis,
Kelly Rowland, Jane Fonda and even
Modern Family
’s young starlet Ariel
Winter) openly confessing to the odd
nip or tuck, it’s possible that patients
are feeling encouraged by their
positive admissions and attractive
results. These new attitudes could
be one of the drivers for increased
acceptance and de-stigmatising of
aesthetic enhancement, seven out of
ten of the most popular procedures
seeing a double-digit increase.
Women’s cosmetic surgery rose
12.5% from 2014, and while breast
augmentation continues to remain the
most popular procedure for women
(up 12% from 2014), reportedly the
oversized ‘glamour model’ or artificial
look once associated with implants
has all but vanished, as surgeons
note patients now opting for smaller
sizes for a more natural, proportionate
enhancement.
The Association also posits the theory
that some of the most dramatic
rises – face/neck lifts (up 16%) and
liposuction (up 20%) – could be linked
to the fact that despite the vast array
of non-surgical treatments hyped for
these areas in recent years, the public
are realising they have limited effect
when compared to traditional surgery.
Men, as well, underwent substantially
more facial procedures, with face/
necklifts climbing 14%, brow lifts
(+15.5%), eyelid surgery (+15%), and
rhinoplasty (+14%) all gaining huge
popularity. Surgeons suggest that
possibly, this may be nudged by the
decline of last year’s bushy-bearded
‘hyper-masculine’ (or ‘lumbersexual’)
aesthetic common amongst hipsters.
The trends could mean that as men
ditched the facial hair and oversized
checked shirts they may have
uncovered previously-hidden double
chins or ‘dad bod’ bellies fuelling an
epic rise of 20% in male liposuction
and a 13% jump in ‘man boob’
reductions.
Although men still account for just
9% of the total number of cosmetic
surgery operations in the UK, their
numbers have nearly doubled over the
past decade (from 2,440 procedures
in 2005 to 4,614 in 2015).
According to consultant plastic
surgeon and former BAAPS President
Rajiv Grover, who collated the audit
data:
“The 2015 BAAPS 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. The plethora of
new non-invasive methods for skin
tightening and cellulite that are here
today and gone tomorrow, often
appear too good to be true and fail to
make the cut.
“Perhaps the decline of the ‘hyper-
masculine’ look fashionable last year
whichhas givenway toa sharper,more
slimline shape has influenced men –
and it certainly appears both genders
seem encouraged by a new openness
in glamorous celebrities admitting
they have had ‘a little surgical help’ to
enhance their looks. 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 President Michael Cadier
adds:
“There’s no doubt that we are
seeing an increase in demand for
cosmetic surgery from both men and
women. Whether this is inspired by
celebrity culture and a recognition
that the results of modern aesthetic
procedures in the right hands can
be subtle, natural-looking and
attractive, what is most important is
for patients to remember that surgery
is on the whole life-changing and
irreversible – far from a trivial ‘status
symbol’ beauty treatment. The
decision to undergo surgery must
be well thought-out, with managed
expectations, understanding the risks
through fully informed consent and,
most importantly, choosing the right
specialist provider who is properly
trained and accredited.”
8 February 2016
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The above information is
reprinted with kind permission
from The British Association
of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons.
Please visit
for further information.
© The British Association of
Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons 2016
