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Britons still find ways to perk up

London, UK – 31 January 2010 – Britons still found ways to perk up during (arguably the worst period in) the recession, according to the latest audit figures from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (www.baaps.org.uk), the not-for-profit organisation established for the advancement of education and practice of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery for public benefit. The number of surgical procedures in 2010 showed a slow but steady rise of 5% from 2009 to a total of 38,274. The most impressive statistics have been recorded specifically in breast augmentation (up 10%), facelifts (up 12%) and a whopping increase of 28% in gynaecomastia or ‘man boob’ ops –now the second most common procedure among males. 

Highlights:

38,274 surgical procedures were carried out by BAAPS members in 2010, a 5% increase from 2009, when 36,482 were performed

Women had 34,413 procedures in 2010, up from 32,859 (a modest increase of 5%) but interest in male surgery remained rather higher with a 7% rise overall (from 3,623 last year)

Breast augmentation (‘boob jobs’) showed an impressive growth of over 10% from 8,537 to 9,418 in 2010 – and remains the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure

Facelifts proved popular among men and women, with an average rise of 12% for both genders, eclipsing breast reduction as women’s third most popular procedure

‘Man boob’ ops or Gynaecomastia rose from 3rd most common procedure among males to 2nd, rising an impressive 28% in 2010 from 581 to 741 ops

Male brow lifts and male nose jobs (‘Rhinoplasty’) both rose quite considerably (up 13%), from 109 to 123 and 877 to 993 respectively – in fact brow lifts went up from being the 7th most common procedure for men, to 5th place in 2010

Nose jobs proved popular with both sexes, increasing by nearly 10% combined overall

The only procedures to go down in favour were tummy tucks (Abdominoplasty), which was down 7.5% and pinning back prominent ears (Otoplasty), down 17%

According to Fazel Fatah, consultant plastic surgeon and President of the BAAPS;

“The public’s interest in aesthetic surgery remained strong in spite of the economic downturn. Procedures showing the more considerable rise during this period seem to be, perhaps not surprisingly, concentrated on the most visible areas of the body: facelifts, breasts and nose jobs. Surgeries that decreased in popularity were for the areas which could potentially be ‘hidden’ or disguised by fashion and hairstyles, such as tummy tucks and pinning back prominent ears.”

The figures in full:

 
MEN & WOMEN COMBINED 
The top surgical procedures for men & women combined for 2010 in order of popularity (the ranking showed no changes from last year in the order of procedures) are as follows:
Breast augmentation:                    9,430 – up 10% from last year            
Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery): 5,779 – up 6.2%                      
Breast Reduction:                            4,959 – up 5.4%                      
Face/Neck Lift:                                 4,756 – up 12%                       
Rhinoplasty:                                       4,207 – up 9.7%                      
Liposuction:                                        3,369 – down 4%                    
Abdominoplasty:                             3,147 – down 7.5%                 
Browlift:                                               1,513 – up 5.6%                      
Otoplasty (ear correction):          1,114 – down 17%                 

WOMEN ONLY 
Women had 90% of all cosmetic procedures in 2010, the same percentage of total procedures as in 2009. 2010 figures for women in order of popularity:
Breast augmentation:                    9,418 – up 10.3% from last year
Blepharoplasty (eyelids):              5,127 – up 7%
Face/Neck Lift:                                  4,493 – up 12% (Up from 4th to 3rd place)
Breast Reduction:                            4,218 – up 2.3% (Dropped 3rd to 4th place)
Rhinoplasty:                                       3,214 – up 8.6% (Up from 7th to 5th place)
Abdominoplasty:                             3,039 – down 7% (Dropped from 5th to 6th place)
Liposuction:                                        2,896 – down 3.8% (Dropped from 6th to 7th)
Brow lifts:                                            1,390 – up 5%  
Otoplasty (ear correction):          618 – down 23%  

MEN ONLY 
Men had 10% of all cosmetic procedures in 2010 (3,861), the same percentage of total procedures as in 2009. The 2010 figures for men in order of popularity:
Rhinoplasty:                                       993 – up 13.2% 
Breast Reduction:                            741 – up 27.5%  (Up from 3rd to 2nd place)
Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery): 652 – up 5.8%  (Dropped from 2nd to 3rd place)
Otoplasty (ear correction):          496 – down 27%         
Liposuction:                                        473 – up 5.2%                         
Face/Neck Lift:                                  263 – up 11.4%           
Brow lifts:                                            123 – up  12.8% (Up from 8th to 7th place)
Abdominoplasty:                             108 – down 20%  (Dropped from 7th to 8th)

According to Rajiv Grover, consultant plastic surgeon and BAAPS President Elect with responsibility for the UK national audit of cosmetic surgery; 
 
“Every week there are reports in the press of new so-called ‘lunchtime’ procedures which are here today and gone tomorrow. The growth rates for surgical Facelifting, Breast Augmentation and Rhinoplasty show double digit percentage rises because in times of financial hardship patients are looking for the real deal, for treatments which deliver a reliable long lasting result and have a proven safety record. The failure of injectable fillers to treat the breast and nose and for non surgical methods to tighten loose skin of the jowls and neck has clearly fuelled a very significant rise in surgical treatment - despite the recession.”
 
Fazel Fatah adds; 
 
“BAAPS has always made patient safety and education in cosmetic surgery its main aim - and wide media coverage has helped to educate both men and women about the latest advances in aesthetic plastic surgery. It’s encouraging that more people are choosing surgeons with excellent training and credentials from the BAAPS register.”

About the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons
The BAAPS (www.baaps.org.uk ), based at the Royal College of Surgeons, is a not-for-profit organisation, established for the advancement of education and practice of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery for public benefit. Members undergo thorough background screening before they can join. Information about specific procedures and surgeons’ contact details can be found on the website, or by contacting their office at 020 7430 1840. Further materials can be posted to members of the public seeking specialised information. BAAPS is also on Twitter: www.twitter.com/BAAPSMedia    and Facebook: www.facebook.com/BritishAssociationofAestheticPlasticSurgeons

For all media enquiries, please contact pr@baaps.org.uk

 
SOURCE: BAAPS

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