Breast reduction surgeries on the rise in the UK says WhatClinic
Breast reduction surgery is on the rise in the UK, with enquiries surging by 20% over the past 12 months, according to WhatClinic.com.
Breast implants have long been a popular cosmetic treatment, but the trend is turning, with only a 5% increase in enquiries for the procedure last year. Celebrities are leading the way with the downsizing trend, with a number of high profile stars talking about having their breasts reduced.
Celebs are famously coy about what procedures they’ve had done, even when the results are very obvious. Modern Family star Ariel Winter bucked that trend last year after she spoke out about having surgery to reduce her cup size from a 32F to a 34D. She even stepped out on the red carpet for the 2016 SAG awards in a ball gown which revealed her scars. Other stars who have spoken publically about their breast reductions are 90s wild child Drew Barrymore, who had a breast reduction in 1992, Queen Latifah who went from an F to a DD in 2003, and Ulrika Johnson who went from 32E to C in 2009.
Breast reductions retail at slightly more than breast implants but the prices vary across the UK. The average price for a reduction in the UK is £5,075. The cheapest procedure can be found in Luton; where the price for the surgery starts at £1,825. The highest price in the UK for this surgery is in Worcester where a breast reduction can cost up to £6,600. WhatClinic.com has also seen a rise in the number of UK consumers seeking the procedure abroad. The Czech Republic, where the procedure costs on average £1,745, has seen an increase in enquiries from UK users of 103% over the past year. Turkey has also seen a rise in enquiries from UK users over the past 12 months. Turkey has seen similar growth (100% increase in enquiries), though the procedure is more expensive, costing £2,384 on average, still less than half the average price in the UK.
Breast implants are more popular in younger women, with almost 65% of the traffic for breast implants on WhatClinic.com coming from those aged of 18 and 34. The interest in the procedure decreases significantly with age, only 10% of those searching for implants were aged 45-54, 3% were 55-64 and none were over the age of 65. This concentration of interest in the younger age groups is not seen in the traffic to WhatClinic for breast reductions. The spread was fairly even for 18-54 year olds, where the interest was between 17% and 21%, dipping down to a still significant 15% for 55-64 year old, before tapering off to 7% for the over 65s.
Dr Foued Hamza MD, Consultant plastic surgeon at Queen Anne Street Medical Centre, London commented on the trends: “Interest in breast reduction surgery is something we’ve seen increasing for the last number of years. With some high profile advocates for the procedure, I think people are more aware of it as an option. For the women who decide to have the procedure it can have a really positive impact on their lives, particularly if they’ve been having back pain. The surgery is also less aggressive than before, with advances in technology now offering minimal scarring. Though implants remain a popular option for women, we’ve also noticed that over the past number of years the trend has been towards getting smaller implant – compared to larger ones that were popular in the 90s or 00s - or replacing large implants for smaller ones.”
Commenting on the data trends, Emily Ross, Director, WhatClinic.com said, “We're talking about two very different treatments here, with very different reasons for both. Reductions are often sought to combat chronic and debilitating back pain, while implants are either about creating some sort of fullness, or restoring fullness and shape after breastfeeding or aging. Despite these differences it is interesting to see that overall, there are more women than ever seeking to come down in size, including women having their implants reduced. Surgeons are also telling us anecdotally that the size of implant being asked for is certainly smaller. Today's patient is almost always looking for a natural look. It may well be that the interest in health and fitness has influenced these trends, as breast size can cause discomfort with many exercises.
“It’s important for patients to be realistic about both the risks and the outcomes of any cosmetic surgery procedure. With medical tourism and the increasing availability of finance options, costs are less of a barrier to treatment. It’s important to think carefully before making a final decision and to read reviews and check the surgeon’s qualifications before choosing a clinic.”
