Cosmetic Surgery Statistics UK
Cosmetic surgery has been popular in the UK for many years, with various different trends coming and going. But which surgical procedures are the most common in 2022 compared to previous years and what is influencing Brits to go under the knife? We have collected the key facts and statistics to help you make informed decisions about cosmetic surgery and its commonality within the UK..
This year, at Patient Claim Line, we conducted a survey of 2,000 nationally representative British participants to understand the current attitudes towards facial cosmetic surgery and the factors that influence individuals to consider having a procedure done.
Alongside this, we are constantly collecting data from trusted sources on the cosmetic surgery industry which will be included and referenced throughout this collection of statistics.
How Common Is Cosmetic Surgery in the UK?
Within our 2022 survey of 2,000 people, we discovered that one in three British participants have had or have considered facial cosmetic surgery such as cheek enhancement, full face lifts or hairline surgery.
Facial cosmetic surgery is most popular amongst young people, with three quarters of participants aged 18-24 admitting to having had cosmetic surgery on their faces or considering it. Those over the age of 65, however, were much less likely to have or to even consider having facial cosmetic surgery, with over 60% of those participants reporting that they do not have nor would they consider having surgery.
Interestingly, a recent study on blepharoplasty procedures has shown that the number of eyelid surgery procedures in the UK has dropped to 1,500 in 2021 compared to around 8,700 in 2015.
What Are The Most Popular Procedures?
In our recent survey, we found that the most popular type of facial procedures are that of the eye socket/under eye and lip procedures, with almost two thirds of Brits interested or having had these procedures.
In 2021, other popular procedures included breast augmentations, with . Rhinoplasty was the most common procedure amongst British men, with 267 procedures being performed in 2021.
Factors Influencing Surgical Cosmetic Procedures
We have found that the top three factors influencing young people’s decision to undergo facial cosmetic surgery were:
- Peers: 45% of Gen-Z participants agreed that their desire for cosmetic surgery was or has been influenced by their peers.
- Influencers: 45% of participants aged 18-24 agreed that influencers were a factor in prompting a desire for surgery.
- Filters: 41% of Gen-Z participants agreed that filters such as on social media picture apps such as Snapchat have influenced their desire to undergo surgery.
For participants over the age of 65, the top factors influencing their decision were noticeably different to the younger participants. The most common reasons were:
- Fixing An Injury: Two in five agreed that they considered having cosmetic surgery to fix an injury.
- Being Bullied For Their Appearance: One third had been influenced due to being bullied for their appearance.
Women and Plastic Surgery Statistics
Our survey highlighted that the top four types of facial surgery that women would consider have done for aesthetic reasons were the following:
- Eye Socket/Under Eye (28% of female respondents)
- Lips (24% of female respondents)
- Jaw (24% of female respondents)
- Nose (23% of female respondents)
Men and Plastic Surgery Statistics
The men in our survey admitted that they would most likely have the top four following facial surgery:
- Lips (34% of male respondents)
- Hairline (32% of male respondents)
- Forehead (30% of male respondents)
- Full Facelift (21% of male respondents)
Are Cosmetic Surgery Procedures Declining?
In 2020, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons released a statement advising that there had been an overall decrease in the number of cosmetic surgeries taking place, with a decrease of 7.5% since 2018.
In 2021, approximately 15,000 cosmetic procedures were performed in the UK compared to around 51,000 procedures in 2016. Noticeably, there has been a decrease in the amount of surgeries being performed according to this data.
Despite this supposed decline, there has been increases elsewhere in the industry, particularly when it comes to complications after surgery has been performed abroad. The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) recently released a press release highlighting that the number of patients being treated for severe complications following botched cosmetic surgery abroad has increased by 44% in 2021 compared to 2020 reports. A staggering 100% of these complications originated from surgery completed in Turkey.
Contact Patient Claim Line
No matter the reason for undergoing surgical procedures, it is important to know both the risks and the rewards. If you have unfortunately been left to face the consequences of a faulty implant or have suffered as a result of your cosmetic surgery, you could be entitled to compensation.
Contact our team of specialist negligence lawyers today to find out more.