Cosmetic Surgery Rates Soaring In UK

Growth rates for surgical facelifts and other anti-ageing procedures have shown a double-digit rise - despite a double-dip recession, new figures show.

Even though anti-ageing procedures are becoming increasingly popular, breast augmentation still tops the charts for the most common cosmetic surgeries with almost 10,000 women going under the knife in 2012.

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (Baaps) study also found that fat injections have become more popular than liposuction.

Rajiv Grover, consultant plastic surgeon and Baaps president, said: "Interestingly, for the first time we see a greater number of women having procedures to re-insert fat - known as fat transfer, to add volume to the face - than to remove it, in the form of liposuction."

The number of women who are transferring fat from one part of the body, such as the hips or thighs, to areas that have lost plumpness through age, including the face or hands, has increased by 13% in just one year.

The number of women who had liposuction has reduced by 14%.

A total of 2,641 women underwent a "fat transfer" procedure last year, making it the seventh most popular cosmetic surgery conducted by Baaps members.

Meanwhile, liposuction has dropped to eighth place, with 2,638 women undergoing the procedure in 2012.

Of the 43,172 surgical procedures carried out by Baaps members last year, one in 10 were conducted on men.

The most popular procedures for men were nose jobs, eyelid surgery and breast reduction.