Big, taut and beautifully plump These are the trends of beauty surgery

In the past, it was mainly the 30-year-olds who wanted to preserve their youth. Today, it is apparently the 40-year-olds, the plastic surgeons make in Germany. According to a recent study by the German Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (DGÄPC), the average age at surgery is 42.6 years. Thus, those who are operated on younger, getting older.

More and more elderly patients Patients visiting an aesthetic plastic surgeon in Germany today are on average 42 years and six months old. Thus, the average age since 2010 has increased by about four years. "In old age, an existing trend continues with great clarity," explains DGÄPC President von Saldern with regard to the results. "We have more and more older patients." This is also reflected in the distribution by age group: While the 18- to 30-year-olds at 24.5 percent represent a smaller proportion than last year (27.8 percent), take age groups over 40 years. According to the latest survey, 44.4-year-old male patients are on average more than two years older than female (42.2-year-olds).

The current trends in cosmetic surgery. Picture: detail-view-foto - fotolia

The end of the men's trend?
Men have become more and more important as patients in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in recent years. The proportion of male patients today, at 13.5 percent, is significantly higher than the 9.6 percent recorded in the first DGÄPC patient survey in 2008. However, the proportion of men fell significantly in 2015 compared to 2013 (17.1 percent) and 2014 (14.7 percent). "We can no longer speak of a male trend," says DGÄPC President von Saldern. In patients who undergo non-invasive treatments, the proportion of men at 7.5 percent is even significantly lower than for surgical procedures (14.4 percent).

"Our patients are concerned with quality of life."
For the first time, the DGÄPC asked the participants of the patient survey with an open question about the hopes that they associate with the desired aesthetic plastic treatment. "Our patients are concerned with quality of life," summarizes conference president Baetge. With 15.3 percent, the term "appearance" is the most common in the answers, but keywords such as "well-being", "self-assurance" or "a better body feeling" are often mentioned. For Baetge, this confirms practical experience with patients in his clinic. Popularity of breast augmentation is rising again. A surprising trend is emerging in the most popular aesthetic plastic surgery of female patients: Breast augmentation with implants is enjoying increasing popularity for the first time since the PIP scandal. 20.4 percent of the women surveyed said they wanted to undergo breast augmentation with an implant.

"The implant scandal could not permanently shake the trust of the patients", evaluates the development of Saldern. "However, more and more women are using breast augmentation with autologous fat." At 4.4 percent, significantly more female patients took this alternative to the breast implant than in 2014 (3.2 percent). Breast tightening (5.6 percent) and nose surgery (4.2 percent) are slightly less popular than in the previous year.

"Men want tight eyelids and less fat"
Male patients prefer, as in previous years, two classics of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. "Men want tight eyelids and less fat," sums up von Saldern. At 20.6 percent, men's eyelid tightening not only ranks first in the world's most sought-after aesthetic-surgical treatments, but is also much more popular than with women (12.2 percent). Like liposuction (18.3 percent) eyelid tightening became more popular than in the previous year.

A particularly strong growth experienced the facelift, which is now with 8.4 percent in third place of the most popular operations. By contrast, there were significant decreases in intimate corrections (-3.4 percent) and sweat gland suction (-3.1 percent). Soft methods continue to trend Overall, the trend towards soft methods continues with the most popular treatments. In 2015, the proportion of patients visiting an Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon due to non-invasive or minimally invasive treatment was 23.8 percent, significantly higher than in the previous year (20.7 percent). "Gentle methods are becoming more and more important," emphasizes conference president Baetge.

Unlike 2010, wrinkle treatments with botulinum toxin (12.8 percent) or fillers (11.2 percent) are more in demand among patients than, for example, liposuction (10.4 percent). Even newer methods such as wrinkle treatment with autologous fat (2.4 percent) or cryolipolysis (1.3 percent) have gained in popularity compared to last year.

"Recommendations count"
In the context of this year's survey, the DGÄPC examined more precisely where patients know their specialist in plastic and aesthetic surgery. "Recommendations count," says DGÄPC President of Saldern the results in a nutshell. Although portals or physician assessment platforms on the Internet are now an important source of information for doctors (16.3 percent) and men (22.3 percent). However, the personal recommendation is decisive: 48.0 percent of the female and 41.2 percent of the male patients became aware of their doctor by a recommendation.

Significant risk awareness in patients
For the first time, the DGÄPC asked its members' patients in the current survey whether they had already informed themselves before the specialist's visit about possible risks of their desired intervention. The vast majority of respondents were well prepared: 71.8 percent of male and 80.0 percent of female patients said they had been aware of potential risks. For Baetge, this is an encouraging sign: "Aesthetic plastic surgery is a medical procedure with all the associated risks." He is pleased with the patient's risk awareness, but emphasizes: "It does not relieve specialists of their duty to inform." Aftercare important " A conscientious aftercare is decisive for the success of the treatment, "adds Baetge. To what extent patients pay attention to good after-care, the results of the DGÄPC patient survey make it clear for the first time that almost 90 percent of those surveyed consider the accessibility of the surgeon to be important or very important following an aesthetic-plastic surgery. In female patients, the sensitivity to this issue is 90.4 percent more pronounced than in male patients (79.4 percent).

Majority of patients view OP abroad critically
"The often inadequate accessibility of the surgeon is one of the reasons why we warn against package deals for aesthetic treatments abroad," adds DGÄPCP president of Saldern on the topic of aftercare. After 2011, the professional society asked for the second time how patients stand for aesthetic plastic treatment outside of Germany. The result is clear: 64.1 percent of women and 55.7 percent of men would not undergo an aesthetic plastic surgery abroad. In 2011, the respective share was still half as large with 32.7 percent (female patients) and 25.7 percent (male patients). President Baetge warns, however: "About one in five people is undecided on this issue and knows too little about the problems that medical tourism can bring." (Sb, pm)