Plastic no longer fantastic: Cosmetic surgery procedures in the UK drop by 40%

The number of people in the UK having cosmetic surgery dropped by 40% last year, figures have revealed.

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) said 30,750 procedures were carried out in 2016, far fewer than the 51,140 booked in 2015.

It is thought a climate of “global fragility” has left potential patients ditching cosmetic surgery to prioritise stability over big life changes.

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It is the first time the annual total cosmetic surgery procedures for men and women has dipped below 31,000 – 2016’s figure was 5% less than in 2007.

BAAPS said there is anecdotal evidence to suggest that non-surgical treatments such as facial injectables are still on the rise.

Consultant plastic surgeon and former BAAPS president Rajiv Grover, who compiles the annual list, said: “In a climate of global fragility, the public are less likely to spend on significant alterations and become more fiscally conservative, by and large opting for less costly non-surgical procedures such as chemical peels and microdermabrasion, rather than committing to more permanent changes.

“The background of negative news and economic uncertainty seems to have re-invigorated the famous British ‘stiff upper lip’ – achieved, however, through dermal fillers and wrinkle-relaxing injections, rather than surgery.

“Indeed, some procedures which have no real non-surgical equivalent such as abdominoplasty and otoplasty (pinning back prominent ears) are some of the few which changed little, with demand for tummy tucks actually recording an impressive rise amongst men.

“It’s worth however to remember that the non-surgical sector is rife with lax regulation, maverick behaviour and unethical promotional gimmicks, so the public must remain vigilant. Non-surgical does not, and never has, meant non-medical.”

A total of 28,341 procedures were carried out on women in 2016 – a fall of 39.1% from 2015, and a total of 2,409 were carried out on men – a fall of 47.8% from 2015.

The top surgical procedure for women was breast augmentation which accounted for 7,732 – down 20% from the last year, and the most popular operation for men was rhinoplasty, accounting for 529 in total – down 35% from 2015.

The biggest fall was in the number of browlifts – with a fall of 71% in the number of men and women having the procedure.

The number of men having abdominoplasty – or tummy tuck – was up 47% with 172 procedures carried out.

BAAPS president and consultant plastic surgeon Simon Withey said: “The 2016 BAAPS audit demonstrates that at the very least, patients seem to be getting the message that cosmetic surgery is not a ‘quick fix’ but a serious commitment and are as a result, carefully evaluating risks as well as benefits surgery may offer.

“If it means people are taking their time to be truly sure a procedure is the right investment for them, then this can only be a good thing.”