Doctors performed more than 36,000 plastic surgery procedures in the UK in 2009. While the popularity of cosmetic surgery has declined a bit from its peak in the 1990s, it seems to be gaining steam once again. Last year's numbers were up seven percent over the previous year. Why is plastic surgery on the rise?
Like most countries in Europe, the UK has an ageing population. And what is plastic surgery but a desperate attempt to turn back the clock? Every popular procedure with the possible exception of breast augmentation is about trying to look younger. There are facelifts, eye jobs, chemical peels, brow lifts, collagen injections, and Botox.
The good news is that most of these procedures are quite safe. Yes, it is surgery and it is serious. But major complications are extremely rare. Most plastic surgeons perform thousands of procedures and never lose a patient. When it does happen, it is often the result of an overdose of anesthesia during a more invasive procedure like liposuction.
However, plastic surgery is well known for its minor complications and side effects. There is not a single procedure, not even Botox injections, that does not come with a risk of side effects. There is no way to treat or minimise these risks.
The procedure that has the highest risk of side effects is probably breast augmentation. A full quarter of the patients who have them complain of 'minor' complications. These include numbness and a complete loss of sensation in the nipple area. Plastic surgeons report that nearly ten percent of these patients never regain full sensation.