Most Popular Cosmetic Procedures Vary by Country

by Jane Meggitt

While looking good is a universal desire, exactly what constitutes true beauty varies by culture. That’s why the most popular cosmetic procedures vary by country and region. For example, breast augmentation is performed far more often in the West than in Asian countries. Worldwide, Botox remains the most common non-surgical cosmetic procedure, followed by hyaluronic acid.

The Big Three Countries for Plastic Surgery

While plastic surgery grows in acceptance worldwide, there are still three major cosmetic procedure centers – the United States, Brazil and South Korea. While patients flock to these plastic surgery destination hubs from around the world, certain specialties arise in each country. In the U.S. and Brazil, breast augmentation and liposuction are the most common procedures. In South Korea and throughout Asia, facial surgeries top the popularity list. Those are primarily rhinoplasty – nose jobs- and eyelid surgeries, with liposuction also making the list. Per capita, South Korea tops the plastic surgery list, with an estimated 20 percent of women having undergone some type of cosmetic surgery.

These other countries made the list of top countries for cosmetic surgery procedures:

India
Mexico
Germany
Colombia
France
Italy

When in Rome

Based on data from the International Society of Esthetic Plastic Surgery, a basic breakdown of the most popular surgical cosmetic procedures in Europe includes:

France – breast augmentation, eyelid surgery, liposuction
Germany – breast augmentation, liposuction, eyelid surgery, facial fat grafting
Greece – breast augmentation
Italy – breast augmentation, liposuction, eyelid surgery

Patients in Europe and the U.S. undergo rhinoplasty far less frequently than in other countries. It looks like Europeans and American are pretty satisfied with their noses, much less so with their breasts.

Colombia

While liposuction and breast augmentation are the most popular cosmetic surgeries in this South American country, abdominoplasty ranks third. Eyelid surgery and rhinoplasty are next in line.

India

In India, liposuction and rhinoplasty top the cosmetic surgery list, but hair transplantation comes in third. Abdominoplasty is next in line, with eyelid surgery coming in fifth.

Mexico

Liposuction and breast augmentation are the most frequently performed cosmetic surgeries in Mexico, with eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty and abdominoplasty next in order.

The United Kingdom

While the UK isn’t on the list of countries with the highest number of plastic surgery procedures, that doesn’t mean there aren’t a lot of such surgeries performed. In Great Britain, the face lift ranks number three, just under breast augmentation and eyelid surgery. Breast reduction is fourth and liposuction. The popularity of the face lift indicates an older population undergoing cosmetic surgery.

If you or someone you know would like more information about plastic surgery, please feel free to schedule a consultation or contact one of our representatives today!