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Cosmetic Surgery Flourishing Despite The Current Recession

BBC News is reporting that cosmetic surgery is still managing to hold its own despite the economic downturn, with the number of those going under the knife increasing as ever.

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) has released figures showing that the rise in procedures is much higher than expected, including a 1,000% rise in male breast reduction surgeries since 2003. It includes a 44% rise from the previous year and a total of 323 operations in 2008.

Unsurprisingly, breast augmentation procedures for women played a large role in the rise as well, with the amount of surgeries undertaken increasing by 30% in 2008 and a total of 8,000 operations.

But the amount of men undergoing cosmetic surgery has also been on the rise, as is consistent with reports to the same effect in October. As well as opting for breast reduction procedures to treat the effects of a condition known as gynaecomastia, men have also been going under the knife to receive ear correction surgery (otoplasty), eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) and brow lifts.

It seems that even as people’s wallets tighten, the demand for cosmetic treatments remains strong, with the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons referring to a number of possible reasons.

Rajiv Grover who is a consultant plastic surgeon for BAAPS as well as the Secretary in charge of the UK national audit of cosmetic surgery accounts for some of it, “There has been a dramatic rise in the number of procedures such as male breast reduction and brow lifts. This may be due to heightened media attention, which has allowed men to realise the positive outcomes that can be achieved.”

The results do not follow suit for liposuction, with figures down as well as those for women undergoing otoplasty, which Grover also refers to,

“It is also the first year since records began that we have seen a fall in liposuction and eyelid surgery, which may be due to the great number of non-surgical alternatives now available for those areas.”

The figures also show a 1.5% rise in rhinoplasty (nose job) procedures, a 30% rise in abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) procedures and a 1.7% rise in face/neck lifts. In 2008, a total of 34,187 procedures were carried out by BAAPS members.

There has been a dramatic increase in men demanding breast reduction procedures, claims one of UK’s top plastic surgeons.

Gynaecomastia, which is also commonly called man boobs, is a medical problem that causes male chest tissue to start developing similarly to female breast. It is difficult to establish a clear reason for this condition, but some doctors claim it may be due to disbalance of hormones in the body when there is a surcharge of the female hormone oestrogen. Moreover, gynaecomastia is likely to be developed by men who are heavily overweight or use drugs such as cannabis.

“Whenever I took my T-shirt off I had a proper set of boobs. They were massive, they were noticeable from every angle. I definitely would have passed for a woman,“ a sufferer told the Newsbeat.

“I wouldn’t have gone swimming – not a chance. Going on a foreign holiday, I wouldn’t have taken my top off until I was on my own. I was very self-conscious, very embarrassed. It was always on my mind. I would always have my arms folded or a big jumper on, something just to hide my chest.”

Getting rid of extra weight and keeping fit can reduce the condition, but for some men plastic surgery is the only way to remove the problem permanently.

Recent statistics collected by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons reveals that the number of male patients having breast reduction operations increased by more than a quarter from  2006 last year.

Raj Ragoowansi, who works as a consultant plastic surgeon at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in east London, says he has noticed a dramatic rise in the requests of men with the condition in the last three months. “This becomes a particular embarrassment for that person and they either become reclusive or shy,“ said the surgeon. He continues “It also affects their confidence and their self esteem and they tend to adjust their social lives and fashion accordingly. This is a problem which should be taken very seriously.”

However, some doctors are sceptical about undergoing surgery to remove this condition. It is so frequent that around 50% of men suffer from it at some point in their lifes. Overall, there is a noticeable increase in popularity of male plastic surgery. It was 17.5% higher last year than the year before.

The most common surgical procedures men choose to underg are nose correction, liposuction, eyelid operations and ear procedures as well as face and neck lifts.