Male Breast Reduction Fastest Growing Area Of Cosmetic Surgery In Britain Last Year

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Main Category: Cosmetic Medicine / Plastic Surgery
Also Included In: Men's health;  Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 02 Feb 2010 - 2:00 PDT

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The economic situation does not appear to have affected the cosmetic surgery business in Britain: new figures from a not-for-profit organisation show that the number of surgical procedures were 6.7 per cent higher in 2009 than 2008, among which the number of male breast reductions went up by 80 per cent.

These figures, released on 1st February, are from the latest audit by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), a not-for-profit organisation that describes its purpose as being to advance the education and practice of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery for public benefit.

Despite the recession, said the BAAPS in a press statement, 36,482 surgical procedures took place in Britain last year, up from 34,187 in 2008.

The audit also highlighted that:

• In women, procedures went up from 31,183 in 2008 to 32,859 in 2009 (just over 5 per cent increase).
• In men, procedures went up from 3,004 in 2008 to 3,623 in 2009 (21 per cent increase).
• In men, the number of breast reduction or or gynaecomastia operations (to remove "man boobs") went up from 323 in 2008 to 581 in 2009 (80 per cent increase).
• Breast reduction went from the 5th to the 3rd most popular procedure for men.
• Breast reduction is still popular among women: it rose from 3,522 operations in 2008 to 4,122 in 2009 (17 per cent increase).
• Male brow lifts went up from 72 in 2008 to 109 in 2009, male facelifts went up by 23 per cent and male tummy tucks by 20 per cent.
• "Nose jobs" (rhinoplasty) went up 25 per cent overall for both sexes, and is now the 5th most popular procedure (in 2008 it was the 5th).
• Although women in 2009 demanded 8 per cent fewer facelifts than they did in 2008, they have steadily demanded more brow lifts, eyelid surgery and nose jobs, suggesting they have sought cheaper and more targeted ways of looking younger.
• Breast enlargement is still the most popular procedure, with 8,565 performed in 2009, a rise of 1 per cent on 2008.

Nigel Mercer, consultant plastic surgeon and President of BAAPS, told the media that people's interest in aesthetic surgery appears to remain strong, and is even growing among British men, despite the economic situation.

"Wide media coverage has clearly helped to educate both men and women about the latest advances and choices available as well as the potential risks of these treatments," said Mercer, who said he was encouraged that more and more people are choosing surgeons with good training and qualifications, such as those featured on the BAAPS website.

"In the current climate it is even more important that patients seeking cosmetic surgical procedures do not make decisions based solely on price," he warned.

The most popular procedure overall, without distinguishing between men and women, in 2009 was breast augmentation. The second was eyelid operations, third was breast reduction (up from 4th place in 2008), fourth was face/neck lift (dropped from 3rd place in 2008), fifth was rhinoplasty (nose job, up from 7th place in 2008), sixth was liposuction, seventh was tummy tuck (down from 5th place in 2008), eighth was brow lift (up from 9th place in 2008), and ninth was otoplasty (ear correction, dropped from 8th place in 2008).

For women, the most popular procedure in 2009 was breast augmentation, second was blepharoplasty (eyelids), third was breast reduction (up from 5th place in 2008), fourth was face/neck lift (dropped from 3rd place in 2008), and fifth was tummy tuck (dropped from 4th place in 2008).

Source: BAAPS.

Written by: Catharine Paddock, PhD
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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