Older people and men increasingly seeking cosmetic surgery: survey

People aged 60 and over are increasingly turning to cosmetic surgery in a bid to 'look well', while men of all ages are becoming more eager to go under the knife, according to research from not for profit health organisation Nuffield Health.

Nuffield Health has found 64 per cent of its surgeons, who carry out 1 in 10 UK cosmetic procedures in the UK, reported an increase in older people seeking surgery – according to the organisation’s first Plastic Surgery Insight survey.

Four in five of Nuffield Health surgeons, based at 31 Nuffield Health hospitals across the UK, have noticed a rise in men seeking cosmetic surgery in the form of nose jobs, eyelid lifts and ‘man boob’ removal. Almost all surgeons (95 per cent) reported a rise in the number of previously overweight or obese patients looking for surgery following dramatic weight loss.

Reasons given by the responding surgeons for the trend of the ‘baby boomer’ generation seeking plastic surgery is that people are living longer, healthier lives and they want to ‘look well’ too.

Ian Whitworth, consultant plastic surgeon at Nuffield Health Bournemouth said: “I am now seeing many more people in their 60s, 70s and even their 80s seeking plastic surgery as they not only want to remain fit and healthy into their old age, but they want to look well too.

"I think this trend will continue as this is an expanding age group. They aren’t usually looking for radical work, normally face-rejuvenation, and providing they are fit and healthy, we can use new techniques and technologies which are ideally suited to them. I also see many more men. Fifteen years ago, surgery on men was very rare, now they make up around 10-15 per cent of the people I see.”

All the surgeons surveyed reported clients looking for a natural result and 57 per cent of the surgeons said clients were looking to rejuvenate rather than enlarge features.

In terms of trends for the future, 95 per cent of Nuffield Health practitioners agreed they would continue to see an increase in men seeking surgery and 82 per cent of surgeons thought older people would also continue to seek out rejuvenating procedures.

According to Nuffield Health statistics, the top procedures carried out by surgeons of the organisation on women in 2014 are as follows:

1. Breast augmentation2. Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck)

3. Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery)4. Breast Reduction

5. Rhinoplasty (nose job)

The most popular procedures for men in 2014 are:1. Breast reduction

2. Rhinoplasty (nose job)3. Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery)

4. Otoplasty (ear correction5. Liposuction

The growth trend among UK males and baby boomers jars with the overall picture of the UK cosmetic surgery market. The popularity of cosmetic surgery in the UK plummeted in 2014, according to figures from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (Baaps).