Liposuction figures on the increase

The number of people having liposuction operations has increased by almost 90% in just one year.

According to figures released by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), nearly 4,000 liposuction procedures were carried out in 2006, an increase of nearly 90% on the previous year.

The figures revealed that liposuction had now gone from being the eighth most popular procedure in 2005 to the third most popular procedure in 2006.

The most popular procedure remained breast surgery, followed by eyelid surgery.

The figures revealed that BAAPS surgeons carried out 28,921 last year, an increase of nearly a third on 2005's figures.

The majority of cosmetic surgery was carried out on women (92%), with the top procedure being breast augmentation, with more 6,156 operations being carried out.

Rhinoplasty - nose jobs - remained the top choice for men, with 525 operations carried out by BAAPS members.

The figures also showed that anti-ageing procedures (facelifts, eyelid surgery and brow lifts) were continuing to increase in popularity, rising by 44%, 48% and 50% respectively.

However, the number of ear correction operations fell by a fifth in 2006.

The top surgical procedures for men and women in 2006 were:

• Breast augmentation - 6,156 (up 9% from 2005)
• Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) - 5,065 (up 48%)
• Liposuction - 3,986 (up 90%)
• Face/neck lift - 3,281 (up 44%)
• Breast reduction - 3,219 (up 19%)
• Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) - 2,743 (47%)
• Rhinoplasty (nose jobs) - 2,678 (up 18%)
• Otoplasty (ear correction) - 943 (down 20%)
• Brow lifts - 868 (up 50%)

Commenting on the figures, Douglas McGeorge, consultant plastic surgeon and President of the BAAPS, said: "These figures reflect the growing acceptance of aesthetic surgery, particularly in the areas of body contouring and anti-ageing. I attribute at least some of this trend to the continued media coverage which provides the public with an idea of what surgical procedures can achieve, as well as technological advances that improve safety and reduce costs."

Rajiv Grover, consultant plastic surgeon and BAAPS council member responsible for the UK national audit of cosmetic surgery, said: "Judging by the dramatic rise in certain procedures, it is clear we are becoming a more body-image conscious society. However, it is important to note that liposuction and tummy tuck are not a treatment for weight management or obesity: they are body contouring procedures for patients near or already at their ideal body weight."

(KMcA)