The cosmetic surgery business is booming. In 2023, the aesthetic plastic surgery industry achieved total global sales of 15 billion euros. This corresponds to an increase of almost 50 percent compared to 2019, according to an industry report published on Friday and quoted by the Austria Press Agency.
The European Union came third in the ranking for the first time – behind the USA and the Asia-Pacific region. Demand was particularly high for Botox for wrinkles, laser treatments, weight surgery and breast enlargements.
Eyelid lifts and Botox treatments are the most popular beauty procedures in Germany
These cosmetic procedures are also very popular in Germany. This emerges from statistics from the German Society for Aesthetic-Plastic Surgery (DGÄPC):
Significantly more women (84.7 percent) than men (11.3 percent) continue to have aesthetic plastic surgery. The numbers have only fluctuated minimally for years. The average age of the patients is 44 years.
Breast enlargements are most common in people under 30
But younger people are also opting for cosmetic surgery. “A huge increase in breast surgery is particularly noticeable among the young target group under 30,” says the DGÄPC report. Breast enlargements with implants accounted for 23 percent of all procedures on patients under 30 last year (2022: 18.6 percent).
The DGÄPC doctors have noticed the most serious change in this target group compared to the previous year in the area of lip corrections and Botox treatments. While lip corrections fell from 7th place to 20th place in the ranking of the most common aesthetic procedures (2022: 5.9 percent, 2023: 2.0 percent), Botox treatments also slipped from 8th place to 16th place (2022: 5.3 percent , 2023: 2.3 percent).
More and more patients are moving to dubious providers with dumping prices
However, these figures only refer to treatments that were carried out in the practices and clinics of established specialists. In fact, the popularity of Botox treatments and lip corrections continues unabated.
Due to “increasing price sensitivity,” patients are moving to “beauty chains and providers without sufficient qualifications who advertise their services with increased advertising activity and dumping offers,” the report says.
This can have fatal consequences. “As an expert for the Westphalia-Lippe Medical Association, I see many cases of incorrect treatment, especially among young women,” says Michaela Montanari, specialist in plastic and aesthetic surgery, according to the DGÄPC report. “Most young people come to our specialist surgeries because they think they can get botulinum, filler and lip treatments cheaper elsewhere – in most cases this is a fallacy.”
Risks of popular cosmetic procedures
Even if the risk of complications is significantly lower with specialists, it can never be completely ruled out. Every procedure carries certain risks.
Botox treatments:
Bruises at the injection site Headaches up to migraines Dry eyes, impaired tear flow Squinting Double vision Drooping eyelids or eyebrows Voice problems, hoarseness Weakened neck muscles Difficulty swallowing Ectropion (lower eyelid turned outwards), eyes can no longer be closed properly
Breast enlargements:
Breast implants can tear after a few years and have to be replaced – so breast enlargement with implants usually involves further procedures. Capsular fibrosis: after breast enlargement, scar tissue (implant capsule) forms around the implant – if there is a lot of tissue formation, the capsule can thicken and narrow, resulting in bruising of the implants and painful hardening of the breast tissue. Certain implants can increase the risk of the malignant tumor disease BIA-ALCL. Breast implant disease, especially with silicone implants, classic symptoms: fatigue, joint pain, rapid heart rate, forgetfulness, migraines, muscle weakness, numbness, rash, infections, inflammation, nerve damage in some cases Areas or entire limbs with accompanying pain and numbness up to paralysis Slipping of the implants Formation of creases and folds on the breast Irreparable asymmetries of the breast Implications for breast examinations for cancer prevention due to implants Impairment of breastfeeding
Eyelid lifts:
Dryness and sensitivity of the eyes Overstimulation of the tear ducts with frequent tearing Visible scarring in the eye area Protrusion of the lower eyelid Visual disturbances Secondary bleeding
Lip corrections:
Allergic reactions to fillers Bacterial infections Reactivation of herpes simplex viruses Tyndall effect: the filler shimmers bluish through the skin because it was injected too superficially Appearance of granulomas (granular new tissue formations) even months and years after treatment Swellings do not subside after treatment The lip contour and arch are no longer recognizable. Lips appear crooked. When speaking or laughing, the lips can no longer be moved properly