10 Most Popular Cosmetic Surgeries
Cosmetic surgery is becoming more and more popular, driven by the trend amongst celebrities and the rise of social media. Many people who go under the knife state their motive is to get the features of their favorite starlets, or to ensure they look their best in their social media photos and videos.
As those who have had fillers and Botox age, they are finding that these cosmetic procedures as no longer as effective and are therefore opting for invasive cosmetic surgery procedures.
Cosmetic surgery procedures are getting better and better – gone are the days where is was immediately obvious who had gone under the knife – clever surgeons can hide scars so they aren’t immediately visible, and results can be made more natural looking making it virtually impossible to distinguish between those who have naturally fabulous genes and those who have given Mother Nature a small helping hand.
So without further ado, here is the list of the ten most popular plastic surgeries (based on procedures undertaken), and the first is one few have heard of (if you’ll excuse the pun!)
10. Otoplasty – 1.5% of procedures
Otoplasty, or Ear Repositioning, is a surgical procedure performed to move the ears into a more natural looking position closer to the head.
This is a popular procedure because of the lack of visible scarring. Most often, surgeons will hide the scars behind the ears so it is virtually impossible to tell if someone has had an otoplasty surgery.
Your ears balance the look of your face so it’s easy to see why patients would want surgery to help harmonise the way they look. Otoplasty is popular with both men and women. Many men and women who dislike the look of their ears will try and use their hair to disguise them. However this means short hair styles are a no-no and as we age, hair often thins so this camouflage is slowly lost over time. As this surgery can be done as an out-patient without the need for a lengthy hospital stay or a general anaesthetic, it is easy to see why this surgery has gained in popularity and now sits firmly on the top ten list.
Otoplasty surgery is not limited to adults either – children may also go under the knife, usually in response to bullying.
9. Brow lifts – 4.2% of procedures
A Brow Lift (or Forehead Lift) is often sought when aging causes the brow to droop. Through lifting the brow and tightening muscles the eye area opens up leaving a more youthful looking appearance.
Many people state they have had a brow lift because the sagging of the eyebrow area causes them to look permanently grumpy, tired and sad. A brow lift will rejuvenate the face, bringing a smoother, more youthful contour. A brow lift will quite literally take years off your face.
8. Fat transfer – 6.6% of procedures
“Fat Transfer”, sometimes also known as fat grafting or lipomodelling, might not sound particularly appealing but it a natural way to restore body shape.
Fat transfer has double the benefits so it is no surprise that it makes the top ten list. The first step of the fat transfer procedure involves removing fat from unwanted areas such as the tummy or thighs. This fat is then implanted into another area of the body (such as the breasts or bottom) to smoothen the area and/or enlarge it.
The liposuction element of the procedure will usually involve stitches where the incisions have been made. In the areas where the fat is injected, this is done with a small needle and usually won’t require stitches.
The downside of this procedure is that the fat may be reabsorbed by your body over time so the results of the enlargement may not be long-term.
7. Abdominoplasty – 7.3% of procedures
Abdominoplasty is better known as the Tummy Tuck. A popular way to get rid of “Mummy Tummy”, it is a simple procedure used to thin and tighten the abdomen, improving the appearance of the stomach following dramatic weight loss or pregnancy. The procedure can not only remove troublesome excess weight from around the middle, but will also remove any excess skin as well giving the tummy a taut, toned look.
A tummy tuck is often combined with liposuction to give maximum benefit from the one surgery. Although more commonly associated with women, men are increasingly having tummy tucks – usually this is as a result of dramatic weight lost which has left unsightly, sagging skin.
6. Liposuction – 8.2% of procedures
Through this procedure fat can be removed from the body – it’s not an alternative to dieting but often helps patients with stubborn and unsightly fat that persists despite a healthy lifestyle.
This procedure is popular with both men and women who want that beach body without having to diet. The beauty of liposuction is problem areas can be targeted – diet and exercise may still leave you with problem areas no matter how much effort you put in; liposuction helps by targeting these specific areas.
However the main downside of liposuction is that it can sometimes lead to a bumpy, uneven area where the fat has been removed. If this happens the patient may have to undergo another liposuction procedure to try and even out the results.
5. Rhinoplasty – 8.4% of procedures
The common ‘Nose Job’ often undertaken for cosmetic reasons but now more commonly to assist breathing. Nose surgery is a complex, delicate procedure and must be planned with utmost care.
There are may different results a patient may be looking for from a rhinoplasty
- To change the shape of the nose and/or nostrils. This often entails breaking the nose and rearranging the cartilage in in.
- Making the nose larger. This often takes cartilage from other areas of the body such as the ears, or bone from the hips, elbow or skull. These ‘donated’ parts are then used to build up the size of the nose.
- Making the nose smaller. This is usually achieved by removing bone and/or cartilage.
- Changing the angle between the top lip and the nose.
Some of the major problems that can occur with nose surgery is a permanently altered sense of smell, permanently changed breathing, or nosebleeds.
4. Breast Reduction – 10.4% of procedures
Aside cosmetic reasons, backache, shoulder or neck pain are often cited as reasons to undertake this surgery. Low self-esteem, issues exercising and skin irritation are other reasons. The procedure leaves a more balanced and lifted appearance to breasts.
Although most commonly associated with women, men are increasingly having breast reduction surgery. The most common reason for men to have this surgery is gynaecomastia. This is a condition where increased levels of oestrogen in the body (caused by either a hormone imbalance or excessive weight) causes breast tissue to grow. Generally speaking, men who have developed breasts from simply being overweight are not suitable for this surgery.
3. Face/Neck lift – 13.3% of procedures
The term Face Lift, or Rhytidectomy, covers a range of approaches – including MACs (minimal access cranial suspension) and keyhole surgery. Following the surgery patients should be left with a more youthful appearance.
Depending on the extent of the surgery, the skills of the surgeon, and the way the procedure is performed, the scars from a face lift can be hidden (such as behind the hairline or behind the ears) making it almost impossible to tell if a patient has had a face lift or not. Some facelift surgeries will involve redistributing the fat around the face to maximise the youthfulness of the result.
2. Eyelid surgery – 15.5% of procedures
Eyelid surgery, or Blepharoplasty, removes excess skin or fat from the eyelids. As we age, skin loses elasticity and our muscles tend to slacken. In the eye area this can lead to an accumulation of skin around the eye area. There seems to be some genetic tendency towards upper eyelid bags so if your parents had baggy eyelids, you may inherit this trait.
By having eyelid surgery patients can see an improvement in the appearance of saggy eyelids and bags. The surgery involves making an incision, removing tissue as required and then, where applicable, supporting muscles or tendons before sealing up.
Although the scars from surgery may be quite noticeable in the weeks and months following the procedure, they should eventually turn pink and become almost invisible so only those in the know will know you have had cosmetic surgery performed.
1. Breast augmentation – 24.6% of procedures
The number one cosmetic surgery procedure remains the biggest (see what we did there?). Breast Augmentation, or Breast Enlargement, involves an incision, insertion of implants (usually silicone or saline) and weeks of aftercare (some which can be undertaken at home).
As this has always been one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures, there are a large number of different options available. One of the biggest decisions patients have to make is what kind of implant to have – saline, silicone, or gummy bear?
If you’re looking to embark on your own cosmetic surgery journey, please explore the rest of our website.
Source: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (UK data)
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