The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) has released its annual audit for 2023-2024, revealing a 5% rise in cosmetic surgical procedures, with 27,462 surgeries performed in 2024.
Breast augmentation remained the most popular procedure, with 5,202 surgeries performed (+6%). Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) saw a 13% increase, rising to become the third most common surgery, surpassing abdominoplasty. Face and neck lifts increased by 8%, while brow lifts saw a significant rise of 20%.
Body contouring procedures also grew, with liposuction up 8%, abdominoplasty rising 6% and thigh lifts surging by 24%. However, male cosmetic surgery saw a slight decline, down 1.5% overall, with rhinoplasty (-14%) and liposuction (-7%) experiencing the largest drops. Non-surgical treatments also rose, with botulinum toxin performed by surgeons increasing by 5%, and dermal fillers seeing a substantial 27% growth.
Consultant plastic surgeon and BAAPS president Ms Nora Nugent commented, “Breast augmentation remains limited to two primary methods – breast implants or fat transfer – but these approaches yield different results. Fat transfer offers a more subtle enhancement, which may explain the continued demand for implants, as there is no true alternative for many women. Implant removal rates have also declined, possibly for similar reasons. Additionally, new research is helping to reshape previous misconceptions about the long-term safety of breast implants.”
