GLOBAL STUDY

Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery Statistics (2024)

Creator: Erin D.
Published: 2022-10-25T11:42:33+00:00

Pete Scott, MD

Written by Erin D. Updated on 22 Aug 2024

Key Statistics

The advancement of technology has made cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures highly accessible and convenient. Consequently, more men and women are choosing cosmetic surgery. With more than 100,000 user per month, Medihair is one of the largest platform that provides information about hair transplants and hair loss. Based on our user data and further statistics, we compile annually the latest cosmetic and plastic surgery statistics.

Most Important Findings

Most procedures	4.7 Million in the US
Most surgeons	7,000 plastic surgeons in the US
Average age	35 to 50 years (38,6%)
Main concerns prior	Price, recovery time, complications
Top 2 for women (US)	Liposuction, breast augmentation
Top 2 for men (US)	Hair transplant, liposuction
Most expensive procedure	Hair transplants ($13,610)

Most Popular Cosmetic Surgeries (Global)

Recent trends show an uptick in the frequency of cosmetic surgery procedures all over the world. However, some forms of plastic surgery are more popular than others. To find out the most popular cosmetic procedures, we have gathered clickstream data from third-party providers to measure search volumes:

Other sources of the following statistics include medihair´s user and clinic data, research conducted by our experts and surveys by the Plastic Surgery Societies (ISAPS). The following chapters contain the basic statistics relating to plastic surgery globally, the top procedures in the world, the most important concerns related to the process, and much more.

Key Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery Statistics

The largest number of total cosmetic procedures (4.7 Million) were performed in the US followed by Brasil (1.9 Million) and Germany (1.2 Million).
The highest number of plastic surgeons, around 7,000, are found in the United States, closely followed by Brazil which has 5,842 surgeons.
38.6% of cosmetic surgery patients in the US choose to have the procedure between 35 to 50 years of age.
Before getting cosmetic surgery, the most popular concerns of women in the US include: the price of the procedure, choosing the right doctor, the recovery time, and the possibility of post-surgery complications.
As of 2021, the top five cosmetic procedures for women in the US include: liposuction (458,628 procedures), breast augmentation (362,346 procedures), the tummy tuck (234,696 procedures), breast lift (165,968 procedures), and breast implants (146,731 procedures).
As of 2021, the top five cosmetic procedures for men in the US include: hair transplant (149,254 procedures) liposuction (30,806 procedures), breast reduction (22,467 procedures), eyelid surgery (18,688 procedures) and nose surgery (10,487 procedures).
Hair transplants are the most expensive in the US with a cost of $13,610 followed by facelifts ($9,127), tummy tucks ($6,764), eyelid surgery ($3,963), and breast augmentation, reduction & lifts ($4,000 to $5,000).

Press Contact

Journalists and Editorial offices can contact the press office at any time if they want to report on our statistics, need information on our topics or are looking for discussion partners. Furthermore, we can provide you with the data sets of our studies and statistics. Please contact press@medihair.com.

Cosmetic procedures by country

Cosmetic surgery or aesthetic surgery is an operative procedure that intends to improve the physical appearance of recipients. From hair transplants to facelifts and breast augmentations, there are many types of cosmetic surgeries targeted toward different areas of the body.

According to cosmetic surgery statistics, there has been a rise in the popularity of various aesthetic procedures all over the world. However, due to technological advancement, cultural norms, and socioeconomic factors, some countries have turned into hotspots for cosmetic surgery.

The top three countries with the most cosmetic procedures are the USA, Brazil, and Germany. As of 2020, 4,667,931 individuals in the USA had plastic or cosmetic surgery making it the most popular destination for plastic surgery in the world. After the US, Brazil showed 1,929,359 cases of plastic surgery closely followed by Germany at 1,157,738.

Other countries where plastic surgery is famous include Japan (1,058,198 procedures), Turkey (945,477 procedures), Mexico (860,718 procedures), Argentina (850,840 procedures), Italy (830,868 procedures), Russia (621,600 procedures) and India (524,064 procedures).

Country	Number of cosmetic procedures
United States	4,667,931
Brazil	1,929,359
Germany	1,157,738
Japan	1,058,198
Turkey	945,477
Mexico	860,718
Argentina	850,840
Italy	830,868
Russia	621,600
India	524,064

Countries with the highest number of plastic surgeons

With countless celebrities opting for and promoting cosmetic surgery, the number of aesthetic medicine professionals is increasing. The cosmetic surgery industry is brimming with potential, especially in a few countries where procedures are at an all-time high.

Corresponding to the high number of cosmetic surgery procedures in the US, the country also has the highest number of plastic surgeons to meet the growing demand. As of 2020, the US has 7,000 plastic surgeons, closely followed by Brazil which has 5,843 surgeons. China places third with 3,000 plastic surgeons, followed by Japan and South Korea.

Country	Number of plastic surgeons
United States	7,000
Brazil	5,843
China	3,000
Japan	2,707
South Korea	2,581

Age of cosmetic surgery patients

Typically, you have to be at least 18 years of age to qualify for plastic surgery. It is known that plastic surgery is more effective in adults in the range of 18 to 70 and beyond. However, as we grow older, our body loses its youthful exuberance and aesthetics. As humans reach their middle ages, they have to contend with common issues such as wrinkles, loose skin, and hair loss.

As of 2019, 39% of the cosmetic procedures in the US were performed on individuals that were 35 to 50 years old. 20.7% of the patients were 51 to 64 years old and only 17.5% were 19 to 34 years. The least amount of procedures were performed on ages 65 and above (12.1%) and 18 and younger (0.8%).

These statistics reveal that the most common age to get plastic or cosmetic surgery lies between 35 to 50 years. Naturally, this is the phase where most people need cosmetic surgery the most to age gracefully.

Age groups of cosmetic surgery patients	Percentage
18 and younger	0.8%
19 - 34	17.5%
35 - 50	38.6%
51 - 64	20.7%
65 and older	12.1%

Major concerns when considering cosmetic surgery

Much like any other surgical procedure, cosmetic surgery may have several implications. From side effects and complications to recovery times, there are many concerns attached to getting plastic surgery. However, there is another major concern when it comes to complex cosmetic surgeries and it relates to the exorbitant cost of the procedure.

Cosmetic procedures typically require a team of qualified professionals who use specialized equipment and expertise to provide excellent results. All this contributes to the high cost of plastic surgery. A 2019 survey reported that 64% of the women in the US were worried about paying for cosmetic procedures making it the number one concern.

Other causes for concern include the possibility of complications and bad results (60%), choosing the right surgeon (51%), the recovery period (39%), and long-term effects (35%). Due to a lack of awareness, 21% of the women were unsure about which cosmetic procedures to choose. Surprisingly, only 9% of the women found societal stigma towards plastic surgery to be an obstacle.

Major concerns when considering cosmetic surgery	Percentage of mentions
Paying for the procedure	64%
Fear of complications / Bad result	60%
Finding the right surgeon	51%
Recovery / Downtime	39%
Don´t want to look like something was done	35%

Top surgical cosmetic procedures for women in the US

From rhinoplasty to lipoplasty and more, there are countless types of plastic surgery options available for both men and women. Often, the most popular cosmetic procedures follow aesthetic trends in media and entertainment.

As of 2021, the top five cosmetic procedures for women in the US include liposuction, breast augmentation, tummy tuck, breast lift, and breast implants. In 2021, 458,628 women in the US got liposuction for body fat reduction.

This was followed by 362,346 cases of breast augmentation and 234,696 cases of abdominoplasty or tummy tuck. Mastopexy or breast lifts (165,968 cases) and breast implants (146,731) were also popular among US women.

Procedure Type	Number of procedures for women in the US
Liposuction (Lipoplasty)	458,628
Breast augmentation	362,346
Tummy tuck (Abdominoplasty)	234,696
Breast lift (Mastopexy)	165,968
Removal / Replacement breast implants	146,731

Top surgical cosmetic procedures for men in the US

Much like women, the most popular cosmetic procedure for men in the US is lipoplasty or liposuction. Lipoplasty is a fat removal procedure that liquefies fat using high-frequency sound waves. It is usually performed on stubborn areas where fat accumulates such as the abdomen.

In 2021, 149,254 men hat a hair transplant and 30,806 a liposuction procedure. This was followed by 22,467 cases of breast reduction surgery and 18,688 cases of cosmetic eyelid surgery. In the same year, there were 10,487 cases of nose surgery and 7,335 cases of tummy tuck.

Procedure Type	Number of procedures for men in the US
Hair transplant	149,254
Liposuction	30,806
Breast reduction (Gynecomastia)	22,467
Eyelid surgery (Blepharoplasty)	18,688
Nose surgery (Rhinoplasty)	10,487

Average Cost of cosmetic procedures in the US

The cost of cosmetic procedures depends on the type and complexity of the process along with the practitioner you choose. In general, most cosmetic procedures are expensive due to the expertise, equipment, and care required to provide successful results.

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, a renowned organization with 2,600 plastic surgeons from around the world, has compiled the average cost of cosmetic procedures in the US:

Procedure Type	Cost of procedure in USD
Hair Transplants	13,610 USD
Facelift	9,127 USD
Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)	6,764 USD
Rhinoplasty	5,443 USD
Mastopexy (Breast Lift)	4,864 USD
Gynecomastia (Male Breast Reduction)	4,635 USD
Breast Augmentation	4,235 USD
Blepharoplasty (Eyelid)	3,963 USD
Liposuction	2,736 USD
Dermal Fillers	766 USD
Neurotoxins	409 USD

To summarize, hair transplants are among the most expensive cosmetic procedures in the US with a cost of $13,610. Other popular plastic surgery procedures include facelifts which cost $9,127 on average and tummy tucks which cost $6,764 on average. Breast augmentation, reduction, and lifts cost anywhere from $4,000 to $5,000 and eyelid surgery may cost you around $3,963.

However, the prices for hair transplants vary greatly from country to country as our annually hair transplant cost study shows:

Emotional Impact of a cosmetic surgery

Cosmetic surgery and other cosmetic treatments aim to boost the aesthetic appeal of recipients to make them look youthful, refined, and presentable. Feeling satisfied about your physical appearance is known to have a positive impact on your emotional and mental well-being.

Hence, the emotional impact of augmenting physical appearance with the help of cosmetic surgery is huge and long-lasting. For example, many people report feeling more satisfied in their social life, relationships, and career after receiving a hair transplant.

Hair loss is one of the most common ailments faced by individuals as they grow older. 85% of men and 33% women end up facing hair loss at one point in their lives. A hair transplant is a procedure that can help reverse these symptoms to preserve a full head of hair.

Medihair´s hair transplant statistics for 2022 revealed that 55.7% of the correspondents claimed that getting a hair transplant had a highly positive emotional impact on them.

Reasons for a cosmetic surgery

Many patients opting for plastic surgery are looking for a boost in self-confidence. Ultimately, this can positively impact the personal lives and emotional satisfaction of recipients.

Hair transplants are an excellent example of a cosmetic surgery that is widely popular with a high success rate. According to research, the top reason recipients get a hair transplant is to gain success in their social life and dating prospects.

37% of the correspondents claimed that dating and social life were the driving factors behind their hair transplant decision. On the other hand, 34.7% of the correspondents got a hair transplant to improve their career prospects.

The Most important criterion for the selection of a clinic

Since cosmetic surgery is a highly complex and sensitive undertaking, selecting the right clinic or surgeon is one of the biggest concerns for patients. There are a lot of factors that need to be considered before you trust a surgeon with your physical appearance and potentially, your future.

Research by our experts suggests that 65.54% of the recipients believe quality and service to be the most important criteria when it comes to hair transplants. Meanwhile, 30.75% choose their doctors based on the pricing and only 3.71% of the people cared about their distance to the doctor.

This indicates that patients are willing to travel to get a hair transplant as long as the quality of service meets their requirements and the procedure fits their budget.

Study Design

Medihair compiles comprehensive hair loss and hair transplant data from users and partner clinics. Data collection is done through surveys which help users evaluate their hair loss type and connect with relevant transplant clinics. Our data set comprises more than 1,000 individuals (n = 1,063) which is a sizable sample. In fact, our sample size exceeds those of international medical societies that collect data from their members (e.g. ISHRS: n = 200).

Instead of collecting data from the clinics, Medihair gathers unbiased data directly from hair transplant patients. The data set is further enriched with findings from international societies to provide a credible and holistic overview.

Summary

As cosmetic surgery becomes more widely accepted and destigmatized, more and more people are opting for cosmetic procedures every day. Whether the goal is to boost confidence or improve their social life and careers, cosmetic surgery has proved to be an effective solution. Today, there are over 7,000 plastic surgeons in the US alone with 4.7 million procedures in 2020.

Technological advancements have also played a huge role in making cosmetic surgery more accessible and affordable through the creation of new techniques and equipment. A great example of the success of cosmetic surgery is the growth of the hair transplant industry around the world. As the world progresses, the demand for cosmetic surgery is bound to multiply.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources