Face the facts: fewer women are opting for plastic surgery
THE facelift may have had its day, with figures suggesting that women are shunning plastic surgery in favour of more subtle cosmetic help. Data from plastic surgeons show that female facelifts have fallen by 44 per cent in a year, while brow lifts are down by almost one third. Experts said the overall decline in “nip and tuck” surgery comes amid the increase of less invasive treatment. None the less, some procedures remain on the rise.
The number of women having breast enlargement rose by 7 per cent. The figures from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (Baaps) show 8,328 such cases in 2017. But almost as great an increase was seen in breast reduction surgery, with a 5 per cent rise in such operations, among women who regretted previous decisions. In total, 3,747 such operations were carried out.
In total, 28,315 cosmetic surgery procedures were carried out in 2017, the audit shows – a drop of 8 per cent in one year. Nine of out 10 operations were on women.
But the figures show rising numbers of men opting for facial procedures, with a 25 per cent rise in eyelid surgery, a 27 per cent rise in brow lifts, and a 16 per cent rise in facelifts. Meanwhile, men appeared to turn their backs on “short cuts” to the body beautiful, with liposuction down 20 per cent, tummy tucks down 12 per cent and a 7 per cent drop in procedures to tackle “man boobs”. Anne Robinson has admitted she had a facelift in 2003, while Simon Cowell, Joanna Lumley, Gwyneth Paltrow and Courteney Cox have all been open about having had less invasive surgery such as fillers and Botox.
Simon Withey, Baaps president, said some were turning away from cosmetic surgery because they thought more about the serious impact of the procedures while others were turning to non-surgical options, such as Botox and fillers. “Patients are realising that cosmetic surgery is not a ‘quick fix’ but a serious commitment,” he said.