BAAPS audit reports 16% decrease in procedures

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (The BAAPS), the UK’s only organisation solely dedicated to advancing safety, innovation, and excellence in cosmetic surgery, has released its annual audit.

According to the new figures, 25,972 surgical procedures took place in 2023, a 16% fall from 2022.

Women had 93% of all cosmetic procedures in 2023. The five most popular procedures for women were breast augmentation (down 26%), breast reduction (down 17%), abdominoplasty, also known as the tummy tuck (down 19%) blepharoplasty, eyelid surgery (up 1%) and liposuction (down 17%). Face and neck lift surgery increased in popularity to sixth place in 2023.

Men had 7% of all cosmetic surgery procedures, a fall of 20% from 2022. The five most popular procedures among men were rhinoplasty (down 1%), blepharoplasty, eyelid surgery (down 9%) chest reduction (down 29%), liposuction (down 36%) and octoplasty, ear correction, (down 22%).

"In 2022, we witnessed the most substantial yearly increase in procedures since the audit's inception in 2004,” said president of BAAPS, Marc Pacifico: “While we anticipated a decline to offset the surge in post-pandemic pent-up demand and the prevailing recessionary environment, it's noteworthy that certain procedures such as breast and body surgeries experienced a significant double-digit decrease. Conversely, facial procedures including facelifts, brow lifts, and blepharoplasty remained largely stable or exhibited only minor declines."

"This trend appears consistent with the increasing number of individuals opting to travel abroad, particularly to destinations such as Turkey, in search of cheaper options for popular surgical procedures like liposuction and breast augmentation. However, this choice comes with significant consequences, not only for the individuals undergoing surgery overseas but also for the NHS, which often bears the burden of correcting complications upon patients' return to the UK." he adds.

Vice president Nora Nugent remarked, "We're observing a trend where individuals travelling abroad for surgery tend to be younger, with a median age of 39, indicating that financial considerations influence their choice to opt for cheaper surgical options. Typically, these surgeries pertain to breast or body enhancements, aligning with the priorities of a younger demographic. Conversely, procedures such as face, neck, and eyelifts are more common among individuals aged 50 and above, who likely possess greater financial flexibility and are less swayed by discounted offers."

To read the full audit, click here.