Cosmetic surgery boom

Consultant plastic surgeon Miss Sujatha Tadiparthi looks at the reasons behind the increase in cosmetic procedures in 2022 shown in the recent BAAPS audit

Despite the current economic downturn, it was interesting that the recent British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) audit revealed a significant rise in the number of cosmetic procedures performed in 2022 compared to the year before. This was the highest annual rise since the audit began in 2004. A staggering 31,057 cosmetic procedures took place in 2022, of which 93% were on women.

This did not come as a surprise, as I have personally noticed an increasing number of women requesting consultations for cosmetic breast surgery, tummy tucks, mummy makeovers, liposuction, upper eyelid surgery and labiaplasty, which aligns with the audit. Having discussions with patients daily and understanding their rationale for surgery, I believe the heightened demand for cosmetic surgery stems from several underlying factors.

COVID-19’S ONGOING IMPACT

Firstly, there has been a greater focus on health and well-being since the pandemic. Covid-19 particularly affected those that were obese or had underlying medical conditions. This prompted a greater degree of self-awareness and self-care as a means of boosting our immune system and minimising Covid-19 infection and its complications. For most, this resulted in a positive change in daily routines with improved diets and levels of fitness.

I think the recent heightened focus on health is one of the drivers for plastic surgery. I have noticed that my patients either want to be more active or they have been active and not able to achieve their physical body goals. For example, women with very large breasts are limited in how much exercise they can do. Procedures such as breast reduction offer relief from the weight of the breasts, improve back, neck and shoulder pain, and produce more proportionate breasts that will enable them to be much more active. In contrast, other clients come to me after having tried their utmost with diet and exercise to achieve their desired body shape and request procedures such as tummy tuck and liposuction.

Obesity is one of the biggest health crises facing the country with almost two-thirds (63%) of adults in England being overweight or obese.1 Previously, losing weight naturally was the norm, but in recent years, increasing numbers have been opting for bariatric weight loss procedures, either in the UK or abroad. The less invasive gastric sleeve surgery removes most of the stomach and allows you to lose 60-70% of your body weight in just one to two years with minimal risks. There is an extensive gastric sleeve community on social media with patients charting their weight loss journeys openly, and dramatic before and after pictures have boosted its popularity. Massive weight loss inevitably leads to excess, loose skin requiring removal with plastic surgery procedures such as arm lifts, thigh lifts, extended tummy tucks and breast uplifts and a significant number of patients are approaching me for these procedures.

SOCIAL MEDIA

There has been a surge in the information and resources readily available both on the web and social media enabling surgery to be much more accessible to patients. In the current digital age, social media is playing a big part in sharing patient experiences of surgery, as well as finding a suitable plastic surgeon. I have found that women attending my clinics for surgery are often well-researched on who they trust with their bodies, the surgeon most likely to give the results they desire, how the surgery is performed, and the different types of procedures available. The openness on social media by patients on the procedures they have undergone, the recovery and the results, has meant that cosmetic surgery is a lot more accepted and sought after. Furthermore, surgeons are marketing heavily on social media with posts on what procedures they do and how they are done, the recovery and aftercare, before and afters and patient reviews.

WOMEN’S ROLE

Over the years, women’s role in society has changed. Most women now work and are sometimes in prominent senior positions or are business owners and are often financially independent. They have higher expectations of both their lives and their bodies. Women want the confidence they previously had in their bodies before having children. Sometimes, no amount of dieting or exercise will remove the excess sagging skin associated with a post-pregnancy body. Physical concerns can have a significant impact on their mental health and reduce their self-confidence. As a woman and a mother of three small children, I can relate to their concerns and it is rewarding for me to be able to help my patients achieve their goals and be happy with their bodies once again after the surgery. The ‘mummy makeover’ is becoming increasingly popular. Women want to have several cosmetic procedures together, of which a breast uplift, tummy tuck, liposuction and labiaplasty surgery are the most commonly requested. Often, ladies want to combine various procedures in one sitting to minimise downtime and recovery, reduce time off work and take advantage of any cost savings. For surgeons, it is crucial to ensure that they are medically fit enough to have a combined ‘mummy makeover’ surgery. I also restrict the surgery duration to six hours or less to minimise blood loss and post-operative complications.

REMOTE WORKING

The pandemic has significantly changed our working practices and I believe this has had an impact on the cosmetic surgery boom. Working from home and seeing ourselves during online meetings have highlighted either facial ageing issues or aspects of facial features which they may not have noticed or been conscious of before. This has inevitably contributed to a sharp rise in facial cosmetic procedures, such as facelifts, neck lifts, rhinoplasty and eyelid surgery. Increased working from home has also made the recovery following surgery much easier. My patients often only need to take the first few days off work after major surgery and if possible, they can work remotely for a few weeks and only return to the office once they are fully recovered. Therefore, home working has made surgery a lot more accessible with less time required off work and also removed the dread of having to reveal to work colleagues what procedure they have had.

TRENDING TWEAKMENTS

Despite the growing popularity of less invasive, ‘non-surgical’ interventions such as thread lifts, organisations like Save Face have been receiving an increased number of complaints from patients in recent years. Minimal regulation or enforcement of set legal requirements, lack of patient awareness, and practitioners with minimal qualifications, training and experience undertaking some of these procedures, will have no doubt contributed to the rising number of complaints. With the cost of living crisis especially, it may be tempting for the public to go to the cheapest clinics. The lack of any significant improvement, the development of complications from these less invasive interventions, and mounting costs over time may be driving up the figures for cosmetic surgery. Many clients come to me after various ‘fat dissolving injections’ or ‘skin tightening solutions’ that have had little or no effect. Despite more scarring, longer downtime and recovery, and a higher one-off cost, surgery can deliver permanent, natural, life-changing and dependable results. Surgery, if undertaken by an appropriately trained, experienced plastic surgeon can have a tremendously positive impact on quality of life, self-confidence, and physical and emotional well-being. However, patients must give serious consideration to the potential risks before proceeding with any surgery and it is always advisable to see more than one surgeon to get a balanced opinion. There are many credible platforms, notably, BAAPS, British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS) and the General Medical Council (GMC) specialist register available to help patients find safe, well-qualified and trained plastic surgeons.

MISS SUJATHA TADIPARTHI

Miss Sujatha Tadiparthi is a well-regarded and experienced consultant plastic surgeon with over 15 years of experience in the field of plastic surgery. She is registered with BAPRAS and is on the GMC specialist register for plastic surgery. The procedures she offers include cosmetic breast, body contouring, post-weight loss, upper eyelid, and minor skin and scar surgery. With clinics based in Central London (152 Harley Street) and South London (Shirley Oaks Hospital, South Croydon and North Downs Hospital, Caterham), she is one of the few female plastic surgeons in the UK. Her team at Choice Aesthetics are multi-award winning, having featured extensively in the media and received a multitude of 5-star reviews from their patients.