Have you ever wondered what the most popular cosmetic surgical procedures are for women around the world? The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) has recently released its 2023 International Survey, providing an in depth look at global trends in aesthetic and cosmetic procedures. This survey contains a lot of information, offering insights into the preferences and choices of women worldwide when it comes to surgical enhancements.
Consultant Plastic Surgeon Anca Breahna has many years of experience performing plastic surgery procedures for women, including breast enlargement, uplift and reduction, tummy tuck and blepharoplasty.
According to the survey, these are the top five surgical procedures for women in 2023:
Liposuction and breast augmentation maintain their positions as the top two procedures overall, showing their enduring popularity among women. However, eyelid surgery, which ranks third for women, actually surpasses breast augmentation in the overall rankings when male patients are included.
Liposuction continues to reign supreme as the most popular surgical procedure for women, with 1,898,880 procedures performed in 2023. But why is liposuction so popular? Well, it’s all about body contouring. Liposuction offers a way to remove stubborn fat deposits that often resist diet and exercise. It’s particularly effective for areas like the abdomen, thighs, and arms – regions many women struggle with.
Interestingly, the survey shows that liposuction’s popularity isn’t uniform across the globe. In Brazil, for instance, liposuction is very popular, with the country performing the highest number of these procedures worldwide. On the other hand, in Asian countries like South Korea and Japan, liposuction is less common, with procedures focusing more on facial features.
The appeal of liposuction also varies with age. It’s particularly popular among women in their 30s and 40s, who may be dealing with body changes post-pregnancy or due to slowing metabolism. However, it’s important to note that liposuction is not a weight-loss procedure, but rather a contouring one – a distinction that responsible plastic surgeons always emphasise to their patients.
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Coming in at a close second is breast enlargement, with 1,868,360 procedures performed on women in 2023. This procedure has long been a staple in the world of cosmetic surgery, but the numbers show a slight decline from previous years.
Why did this happen, you might ask? Well, there are a few factors at play. Firstly, there’s been a growing trend towards more natural-looking results. Some women are opting for fat transfer procedures or smaller implants for a subtler enhancement. Additionally, increased awareness about potential complications has led some to reconsider the procedure.
Despite this slight decline, breast augmentation remains incredibly popular, particularly in Western countries. The United States, Brazil, and Mexico top the list for the highest number of breast augmentations performed. Cultural ideals of beauty play a significant role here – in these countries, fuller breasts are often associated with femininity and attractiveness.
It’s worth noting that the motivations for breast augmentation can be deeply personal. While some women pursue the procedure for purely aesthetic reasons, others do so to restore breast volume lost after pregnancy or weight loss, or to correct asymmetry. The diversity of reasons behind this procedure contributes to its enduring popularity.
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Now, here’s where things get interesting. Eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, has seen a significant surge in popularity, with 1,353,566 procedures performed on women in 2023. This represents a 24% increase from the previous year!
So, what’s behind this dramatic rise? Well, several factors are contributing to the growing popularity of eyelid surgery.
As video calls have become a staple of our daily lives, more people are becoming conscious of their eye area. Eyelid surgery can help create a more awake, refreshed appearance – something many of us could use after hours of staring at screens!
Additionally, eyelid surgery is often seen as a subtler form of facial rejuvenation compared to more invasive procedures like facelifts. It can effectively address signs of ageing around the eyes, such as sagging skin and puffiness, without dramatically altering one’s overall appearance.
When it comes to age groups, eyelid surgery is most popular among women in their 40s and 50s. This makes sense, as this is typically when the signs of ageing around the eyes become more noticeable. However, in some Asian countries, eyelid surgery is popular even among younger women, often to create a double eyelid – a procedure known as Asian blepharoplasty.
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Fourth on our list is abdominoplasty, commonly known as a ‘tummy tuck’, with 1,033,264 procedures performed on women in 2023. While this represents a slight decrease of 2.3% from the previous year, the demand for this procedure remains steady.
Abdominoplasty is particularly popular among women who have experienced significant weight loss or pregnancy. These life events can leave behind excess skin and weakened abdominal muscles that diet and exercise alone can’t address. A tummy tuck can restore a flatter, more toned appearance to the midsection, often boosting both physical comfort and self-confidence.
The connection between abdominoplasty and post-pregnancy body contouring is strong. Many women include it as part of a ‘mummy makeover’ – a combination of procedures designed to address the physical changes brought on by pregnancy and breastfeeding. This often includes breast procedures as well, which helps explain why we see both breast surgeries and abdominoplasty in the top five.
Compared to previous years, the numbers for abdominoplasty have remained relatively stable. This suggests that while new trends may come and go, the desire for a flat, toned tummy is a consistent one for many women.
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Rounding out our top five is the breast lift, or mastopexy, with 903,266 procedures performed on women in 2023. This procedure aims to raise and reshape sagging breasts, often restoring a more youthful appearance to the chest.
The popularity of breast lift is closely tied to that of breast enlargement. In fact, these procedures are often performed together. While augmentation adds volume, a lift addresses the position and shape of the breasts. This combination can provide rejuvenation, especially for women who have experienced changes due to ageing, weight fluctuations, or pregnancy.
Age-related trends for breast uplifts are quite clear. The procedure is most popular among women in their 30s and 40s. This aligns with the time when many women start to notice changes in breast shape and position, often accelerated by factors like pregnancy and breastfeeding.
It’s worth noting that while breast uplifts are in the top five, they’re performed less than half as often as breast enlargements. This suggests that for many women, adding volume remains a higher priority than addressing sagging – though of course, individual preferences vary widely.
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As you might imagine, the popularity of these top five procedures isn’t uniform across the globe. Cultural ideals of beauty, economic factors, and even climate can influence which procedures are most sought after in different regions.
While we’ve been focusing on women’s procedures, it’s interesting to compare these trends with those for men. The top five surgical procedures for men are quite different:
This comparison highlights some interesting gender-specific trends in cosmetic surgery. Women often seek enhancement or lifting, while men are more likely to pursue reduction.
Facial procedures feature prominently for both genders, but in different ways. Eyelid surgery tops the list for men, while it’s third for women. Rhinoplasty makes the top five for men but not for women globally (though it’s sixth overall).
These differences reflect varying beauty standards and areas of concern between genders. They also highlight the importance of tailored approaches in aesthetic medicine, recognising that one size certainly doesn’t fit all when it comes to cosmetic surgery.