Facelifts and other types of cosmetic surgery are becoming more commonplace today. Have you become curious about the size of the cosmetic surgery industry in Australia, the amount Australians spend trying to improve their appearances, and the kinds of beauty treatments many people are willing to explore?
According to recent statistics, cosmetic surgery is becoming more popular in Australia. It isn’t hard to understand why many people in Australia desire to improve their looks, as various networking platforms play an increasingly influential role in forming our aesthetic standards.
Unfortunately, this operation is costly; according to research conducted by Finder, Australians spend billions of dollars annually on cosmetic procedures.
This post has some of the most fascinating and illuminating facts you may want to know to provide a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes of the cosmetic surgery industry in Australia. So, let’s jump in.
Cosmetic Surgery in Australia
According to data conducted by Finder, 6% of Australians have admitted to having undergone some cosmetic surgery during the preceding year. This number equates to around 1.2 million individuals.
The Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery and Medicine reported that Australians’ annual spending on cosmetic procedures totals one billion dollars. This figure includes both medical and surgical procedures. That is forty percent more than people in the United States pay per individual basis.
It’s not simply to get a seat at the operating table that Australians are waiting in line for. Each year, millions of people seek out additional aesthetic procedures such as botox, eyelash extensions, teeth whitening, laser hair removal, and many more.
Here are some of the studies found about cosmetic surgery in Australia:
- In 2018, there were 202,642 operations performed in the whole of Australia.
- Anti-wrinkle injections take up the lion’s share of Australians’ cosmetic expenditure, with dermal fillers coming in a close second.
- Yearly, operations for wrinkle reduction with botulinum toxin are purchased more than 350 million dollars worth.
- Breast enlargement and reduction, anti-wrinkle injections, lasers, fillers, IPL treatments, and liposuction are the top five most popular cosmetic operations performed today.
- Compared to the US, Australia spends over 40% per capita on cosmetic surgery, which is a total of $1 billion on the procedure.
- In 2017, Australians had 30,000 liposuction procedures and 20,000 breast augmentations.
Cosmetic Surgery Facts as Plain as the Nose on Your Face
- In 2018, Australia carried out 202 642 procedures related to cosmetic surgery.
- Breast augmentation and Botox were the cosmetic treatments that were the most sought-after by Australians in 2018.
- In the year 2018, there were 38,937 breast operations conducted in Australia.
- In 2019, Australia was ranked the 22nd most significant population of plastic surgeons worldwide.
- The majority of cosmetic treatments are performed on Australians aged 35 to 50.
- According to statistics on aesthetic surgery, BDD is the mental condition that occurs the most often.
- Women in Australia perform the highest cosmetic surgery at a rate that is 90% of the time.
- Every year, residents of Australia spend around $1 billion on various cosmetic operations.
- Approximately 15,000 people from Australia go outside of the country each year to have less expensive cosmetic surgery.
- In the twelve months leading up to April 2021, the incidence of injectable treatments administered at cosmetic facilities in Australia increased by three.
The Statistics of Cosmetic Surgery in Australia
1. Surgery Can Be Performed in Australia by Any Doctor Who Has Earned a Medical Degree.
(Australian Lawyers Alliance) (Coco Ruby Plastic Surgery)
Frequently, dermatologists, general surgeons, and other medical professionals opt to perform aesthetic procedures. But the Australian Health Authority doesn’t recognise them. Most of the time, they have to get permission from the ACCS.
On the other hand, it takes an extra five years to become a certified plastic surgeon after the first 12 years of a surgical and medical study. They are given certificates by the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons(ASPS) and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS).
2. Cosmetic Surgeons Cannot Self-Identify As Plastic Surgeons.
(Australian Lawyers Alliance)
If you think that “cosmetic surgery” and “plastic surgery” are the same thing, you aren’t the only one who thinks that way. It’s a mistake that a lot of people make.
When comparing cosmetic surgery to plastic surgery, it is essential to remember that cosmetic surgery is done to make someone look better.
In contrast, plastic surgery is carried out primarily to treat a medical condition. And remember that Medicare does not provide coverage for elective cosmetic procedures.
3. In 2018, Australia Carried Out 202,642 Cosmetic Procedures.
(ISAPS)
According to the most recent statistics on cosmetic surgery in Australia, of all the procedures done in 2018, 102,404 were surgical, and 100,238 were non-surgical. That year, the number of operations performed in the nation placed it ninth globally. 4.2% of the population had surgical operations, while 4.1% underwent non-surgical operations.
4. The Majority of Australians Have Cosmetic Procedures for Reasons Related to Their Appearance.
(HealthDirect) (HealthEngine)
The most common reason people seek cosmetic surgery is a lack of confidence or dissatisfaction with their physical appearance. So, most men and women get plastic surgery to get the “perfect” body or face, which is impossible. They are optimistic that doing so will boost their self-esteem and make them happier.
5. Botox and Breast Augmentation Became the Leading Cosmetic Operations in Australia in 2018.
(ISAPS)
Here were the top five operations for cosmetic surgery in 2018:
- Augmentation of breast,17.1%
- Eyelid surgery (11.2%)
- Liposuction 9.6%
- Abdominal surgery 9,.3%
- Reduction of the breast(7.4%)
The following were the common non-surgical operations:
- Botox (41%)
- Hyaluronic acid (29.5%)
- Reduction of fat 10.3%
- Removal of hair (7.5%)
- photorejuvenation (5%))
6. Botox Toped the Search Rank Cosmetic Operation in Australia at the Beginning of 2021.
(Beauticate) (Statista)
Around 1.6 million people in Australia do internet searches on issues connected to cosmetic surgery every month. Following the Google search for terms related to cosmetic surgery in Australia during January 2021, the following were the top five most searched queries:
- In a month, inquiries about botulinum toxin injections totalled 12,100.
- There were 9,900 queries conducted on the internet for lip fillers.
- With an average of 8,700 queries each month.
- Eight thousand one hundred people investigated the possibility of having nose surgery.
- There was interest in a belly tuck from 6,600 people in Australia.
7. In 2018, 38,937 Breast Surgical Procedures Were Carried Out In Australia.
(ISAPS)
In 2018, 17,553 breast augmentation surgeries were carried out in Australia. In terms of the total number of breast surgeries, the country ranked ninth globally.
In the same year, there were 4,505 implanted breast removals, while there were 7,223 clients who chose breast augmentation.
8. In Australia in 2018, Breast Reduction Surgery Ranked Second in Terms of Frequency.
(ISAPS)
Breast reduction became the second most popular kind of breast surgery in Australia in 2018, with 7,592 women opting to have the procedure. Gynecomastia surgery, also known as the excision of male breast tissue, became more common that year, leading to 2,065 treatments and putting it among Australia’s most common breast surgeries.
9. Australia Had 34,893 Surgeries on the Face and the Head in 2018.
(ISAPS)
The most recent annual statistics on cosmetic surgery in Australia show that 11,444 people had surgery on their eyelids. This makes Australia the tenth country in the world with the most blepharoplasties.
Another relatively standard procedure is rhinoplasty, performed on 6,864 patients in 2018. In the same year, Australia ranked tenth globally for rhinoplasty.
After that came face tissue transplants, which were done 5,928 times, and then facelifts, which were done 3,301 times.
10. In 2018, There Were 28574 Operations Done on the Body and Extremities in Australia.
(ISAPS)
According to the data on cosmetic surgery, there were 9,839 liposuction procedures performed on Australian residents in 2018. The next most common surgical procedure was an abdominoplasty, performed on 9,539 patients. Furthermore, lower body surgeries were quite common, accounting for 3,076 of the total treatments.
11. The Most Popular Injectable in Australia Is Botulinum Toxin.
(ISAPS)
The most recent poll, which was done in Australia in 2018, found that most people (71,840) liked injectables, while 10,502 liked face rejuvenation surgery.
The numbers show that 41,077 Botox injections were done that year, which puts Australia in ninth place in the world. In Australia’s plastic surgery field, dermal fillers were common, as seen by the 29,559 individuals who had HA injections.
On the other hand, 5,008 Australians voted for photorejuvenation as their preferred method.
12. Australia Was Rated 22nd Globally in 2019 Based on the Number of Plastic Surgeons.
(ISAPS)
Based on how many cosmetic surgeons there are in Australia, the country was ranked 20th in the world in 2019. They had 462 registered surgeons, which was a reduction of 73 surgeons from the previous year.
13. Australians Between the Ages of 35 and 50 Undertake the Most Cosmetic Services.
(Royal Australian College of General Practitioners) (Australian Psychological Society)
In Australia, anyone of any age can get cosmetic surgery. However, in Queensland, it is against the law to do a procedure on a child that is not medically necessary.
Which age range sees the most people getting cosmetic treatments done? According to the most current data collected in 2015, middle-aged clients in Australia make up the most significant proportion of those who get cosmetic treatments done.
14. Australian Women Under the Age of 17 Made up Over 25% Of Those Who Had Breast Augmentation in 2018.
(Body and Soul) (ISAPS)
Breast augmentation is the most common cosmetic surgery performed on women between 20 and 40, though it is also performed on teenagers and young adults. Based on the figures in Australia on cosmetic surgery in 2018, 26.7% of the women who went through the treatment process were under 18 years of age.
Both males and females between 20 and 50, and sometimes ladies in their late 60s, are the majority of candidates for liposculpture and liposuction procedures.
According to the data, the age range of people with Botox treatments ranges from 19 to 65.
15. In Australia, 90% Of Cosmetic Procedures Are Carried Out on Female Patients.
(Australian Psychological Society)
According to the most recent data, breast augmentation seems to be the most popular type of cosmetic surgery for women. On the contrary, liposuction is performed on men far more often than on women.
16. What Complications Might Arise From Cosmetic Surgery?
(Insight) (Coco Ruby Plastic Surgery) (Better Health Channel)
There is always a chance of complications after surgery. However, since it is so readily available, cosmetic surgery is associated with a higher risk of complications.
Because of where they live or how much money they have, many people choose to have non-accredited doctors or nurses do their cosmetic surgery. This could have devastating effects on one’s health.
Some problems that can happen with cosmetic surgery are scarring, infection, numbness, heavy bleeding, and trouble getting better after the surgery. Also, getting cosmetic surgery could put you at risk for complications that could be life-threatening or even kill you.
- Seroma is a condition that often arises after undergoing a stomach tuck treatment. It can happen in 15–30% of patients.
- Patients with a record of cardiovascular illness, respiratory illness, obesity or diabetes are at a greater risk of problems after receiving cosmetic surgery.
- Breast augmentation patients have an increased risk of infection, ranging from 1.1% to 2.5%
- In Australia, about 200 individuals have experienced inadvertent blindness due to questionable cosmetic treatments that practitioners carried out with insufficient qualifications.
- Breast augmentation results in lasting alterations in nipple sensitivity for around 15% of women who have the procedure.
- The most prevalent adverse reactions to cosmetic surgery are those associated with pain and discomfort.
- Some potential adverse effects of anesthesia include feeling sick and throwing up, being confused, experiencing chills and shivering, having trouble urinating, and other similar issues.
- Data on cosmetic surgery shows that patients typically report experiencing adverse effects such as bruising, swelling, and discolouration. These symptoms may persist for a few weeks or perhaps a few months.
- After surgery, it is not uncommon for patients to develop hematomas and seromas.
- There is always a possibility of experiencing severe adverse effects. For instance, blood clots, heart attacks, strokes, significant infections, and pulmonary embolisms are relatively rare medical conditions, but they do occur.
- According to data, two young ladies in New South Wales got into cardiogenic shock while undergoing breast augmentations in 2018. A woman from the Gold Coast died while undergoing a Brazilian butt lift in Mexico in 2015. Both of these tragic events occurred after cosmetic procedures had gone awry.
17. Although Less Harmful, Non-surgical Operations Carry Some Risk.
(Insight)
Non-surgical cosmetic procedures involve certain risks, although they are often less dangerous. For example, if Botox is given incorrectly, the client could have trouble seeing, eating, speaking, and breathing. They could also have muscle paralysis and eat botulinum toxin.
18. Statistics on Cosmetic Surgery Show That the Process Has BDD is the Most Prevalent Mental Condition.
(Australian Psychological Society)
Dissatisfaction with one’s appearance can be a powerful emotional motivator for pursuing cosmetic surgery. Most individuals are dissatisfied with their physical appearance. Still, many people with these procedures tend to be very unhappy with their appearance.
It is linked to several known diseases, but body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is thought to be the most common, especially in cosmetic groups.
People with this illness are more likely to get surgery than professional help because they want their problems to disappear.
They are also the ones who are most likely to be unhappy with the results of their cosmetic surgery and get more work done because of it.
19. The Qualifications of Cosmetic Surgeons Need To Be Better Understood by Australian Patients.
(Sheree Moko Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery) (Schreuders Compensation Lawyers)
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency usually takes away the licenses of doctors in Australia who do cosmetic procedures. This is because Australia does not have a national accreditation system for surgeons. Worse yet, cosmetologists are prone to creating unlawful facilities and potentially harmful cosmetic operations.
In particular, a 2019 online survey done by ASAPS found that 93% of Australians think it would be a good idea to require healthcare providers to use their AHPRA titles. It would be more significant for individuals between 18 and 24, as they are the age group that is least likely to be concerned about the surgeon’s qualifications.
20 In 2019, Individuals With Problems From Cosmetic Surgery Were Handled by 85% Of Asaps Members.
(Sydney Health Law) (Sheree Moko Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery)
Because there are more problems with cosmetic surgery in New South Wales, the Committee on the Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC) suggested in 2018 that the position of cosmetic surgeon be banned.
The Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council supported a report that said a cosmetic surgeon should be registered and certified, the cosmetic institution should be licensed, strict measures should be put in place to prevent infections, equipment and substances should be monitored, and there should be safety measures for clients.
Australia Cosmetic Surgery Spending Statistics
21. Approximately $1 Billion Is Spent Annually on Cosmetic Procedures by Aussies.
(Statista) (Insight)
- The average Australian spends 40 per cent more money on cosmetic procedures than the average American.
- The cost of abdominoplasty is between $6,000 and $8,000.
- Breast implants in Australia can cost you roughly $12,000 in local currency. The surgeon’s cost is around $6,000, which is approximately half of this total. Furthermore, you will be required to pay other expenses like the admission fee, implants, anesthesiologist, and more which could be $3,000. Additionally, checkups typically cost $250 for every appointment.
- According to the most recent figures for 2020 and 2021, hair transplant surgery in Australia costs $5.5 per transplant, comparable to the rate in the United States.
- Liposuction is one of the most expensive surgery treatments in Australia. Costs for a single body component may approach $5,000, whereas purchasing all four body parts can run as much as $15,000.
- Approximately $5,000 and $15,000 is the price range for rhinoplasty. After additional charges are included, the total cost might range between $8,000 to $20,000, depending on the specifics.
- A single operation with the replacement of injectable botox may cost anywhere from $300 to $700, considering where the therapy is done and the number of units used. The typical duration is between three and four months.
- Reports indicate that fillers consisting of collagen, hyaluronic acid, or other comparable materials vary in price from $500 to $600 and may last anywhere from six to 24 months.
22. Australia’s Plastic Surgery Sector Had an Approximately 0.6% Reduction From 2015 to 2021.
(IBISWorld)
In Australia, the market for plastic surgeons is expected to drop by 1.3% each year, bringing the market’s total size down to $1.3 billion in the next five years, including 2020 and 2021. This decline is primarily attributable to limitations imposed by COVID and economic challenges. On the other hand, there is an anticipated recovery in 2020–21, which will result in an increase of 5.6% in annual revenue.
23. A $201,10 Million Valuation Was Assigned to the Australian Cosmetic Products Market in 2020.
(Mordor Intelligence)
The expansion of the aesthetic device industry is driven primarily by many factors, the most important of which are the growing demand in the worldwide market for cosmetic surgery and the speedier pace of technological advancement of products. It is anticipated that the value of this Australian market will reach $371 million by the year 2026, with a 10.78% annual compound rate.
What Was the Effect of COVID-19 on Cosmetic Surgery Statistics in Australia?
24. From February to May 2020, 400,000 Elective Surgery Operations Were Postponed in Australia.
(Mordor Intelligence) (Beauticate)
Because of the widespread coronavirus, all places that did cosmetic surgery had to close for a short time. Even at the height of the pandemic, cosmetic surgeons in Australia saw a more than 50% increase in demand for surgical procedures.
25. In Australia, the Year Ending in April 2021 Saw a Tripled Usage of Injectables.
(Herald Sun) (The New Daily)
Most Australians who sought cosmetic operations during COVID-19 did so on their eyebrows, eyes, and foreheads; in fact, some sought surgeries on almost every portion of their face that wasn’t concealed by a mask.
As a result of individuals trying to achieve the “ideal face”, the number of clients seeking facelifts, injectibles, and rhinoplasties throughout the nation soared by a factor of three hundred per cent.
Australia’s Cosmetic Surgery Statistics Verse Other Nations
26. There Were Around Four Million Cosmetic Procedures in the US in 2019.
(ISAPS)
The United States ranked first for the last two years in terms of the overall number of operations performed on cosmetic surgery. A total of 3,982,749 aesthetic operations were carried out in 2019, including 1,351,917 surgical and 2,630,832 non-surgical processes. This represents a reduction from 2018 when 4,361,867 cosmetic surgeries were carried out.
27. Brazil Conducted Around 2.5 Million Operations in 2019.
(ISAPS)
In Brazil, the cosmetic surgery sector is seeing phenomenal growth. In 2019, 2,565,675 operations were performed, a rise over the previous year’s figure of 2,267,405. The country was ranked in the second position globally for two consecutive years.
Even so, Brazil had the most cosmetic procedures done of any country in the world in 2018 and 2019, with a total of 1,493,673 procedures. The number of non-surgical procedures increased from 769,078 in 2018 to 1,072,002 in 2019.
In 2019, the following nations also ranked among those with the highest rates of cosmetic surgery:
- Japan had a total of 1,473,221 patients, consisting of 249,543 surgical operations and 1,223,678 non-surgical operations
- Mexico had 1,200,464 admissions, including 580,659 surgical and 619,804 non-surgical procedures
- Italy had 1,088,704 operations, of which there were 314,432 surgical procedures and 774,272 non-surgical procedures.
28. Approximately 15,000 Australians Go Abroad Annually for Inexpensive Cosmetic Procedures.
(CHOICE)
According to an international study, Australians spend $300 million annually on plastic surgery tourism. The most common explanation for taking this kind of trip, often to Malaysia or Thailand, is that they can typically get cheap cosmetic surgery abroad.
29. The Number Of Men Undergoing Cosmetic Surgery Is Growing.
According to the American Society of Cosmetic Surgeons (ASAPS), male patients made up 7% of the total plastic surgery operations performed in the United States in 2019.
Gynecomastia and liposuction are the two types of surgical treatments performed on males most often.
Even though no comparable statistics have been published, stories from local surgeons suggest that the same pattern is also happening in Australia.
Which Nations Are the Biggest Users of Plastic Surgery?
One hundred two thousand four hundred and four cosmetic procedures were done in Australia in 2018, according to statistics from the ISAPS. This could be more impressive when weighed against the accomplishments of the significant titans. In places like the U.S. and Brazil, where 1.5 million and 1.3 million cosmetic surgery procedures are done yearly, these countries have earned a well-deserved reputation as plastic surgery hubs.
Nevertheless, the narrative takes a different turn when the population is considered. The number of surgical procedures per 100,000 people in Greece is 750, making it the nation with the highest number of plastic surgery operations among those covered by the ISAPS. After this comes Argentina with 630 operations per 100,000, Brazil with 615 per 100,000, and Germany with 508 per 100,000.
Plastic surgery is performed on 402 of every 100,000 Australians, a rate much higher than the Russian, Spanish, and Japanese. Unexpectedly, Australians spend forty per cent more than Americans per person on cosmetic surgery, which adds up to a total of one billion dollars spent by the country.
The United States of America has the most competent plastic surgeons in the world, with a total of 7,000 practising in the field. Brazil, with a score of 5,843, is now in second. When we consider the population, however, South Korea has the most incredible rate of plastic surgeons (5 per 100,000), followed by Argentina (4.4 per 100,000).
Australia has only 424 certified plastic surgeons — comparable to 1.7 per 100,000 people. This is higher than the combined case in France, Mexico, Russia, and the United Kingdom.
The Most Common Cosmetic Procedures
Various standard cosmetic procedures include breast augmentation, eyelid surgery, liposuction, facelifts, and rhinoplasty.
On the other hand, the most common non-surgical cosmetic treatments are hair removal, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, anti-wrinkle injections, and fillers.
The most common surgical cosmetic operations are stomach tucks, nose reshaping, liposuction, breast augmentation, and eyelid surgery.
According to Dr Dennis Schimpf, social media is the main reason cosmetic surgery is becoming increasingly popular.
Some men’s most common cosmetic surgeries are gynecomastia, eyelid surgery, ear surgery, liposuction, and rhinoplasty.
The Australian Cosmetic Surgery Rates
Some cosmetic surgeries could cost as much as $40,000 or even more. The charge for the surgeon, the anesthesiologist, the amount of time needed for recovery, and any follow-up visits contribute to these high expenditures.
The price of breast augmentation might range anywhere from $AU7,000 to $AU15,000 on average. This will be determined by the amount the surgeon charges and the implants you choose.
- The price of anti-wrinkle injections might go up to $AU 300 for a single treatment session.
- The price of rhinoplasty might range anywhere from AU$ 8,000 to AU$ 20,000
- The average liposuction cost for one body part is approximately AU $5,000. This price might be as high as $AU 15,000 or even more if it includes more than four body areas.
- Abdominoplasty is a technique that is often performed to remove extra fat or skin that has sagged, and the price of the operation may range anywhere from $AU 6000 to $AU 8000
When Deciding on Cosmetic Surgery, Is Age Considered?
Because technology is improving and more social media sites, cosmetic surgery is becoming easier for people of all income levels. This indicates that youngsters are increasingly developing an interest in this operation.
According to the 2018 report, most teens went for nose contouring, ear surgery, hair removal, and male breast reduction.
Most cosmetic treatments, or 7.8 million surgeries, were done on people between 40 and 45. Rhinoplasty was the most common cosmetic surgery done on people under 18 in the U.S.
Does Health Insurance cover cosmetic Procedures?
Neither Medicare nor private health insurance will pay for cosmetic procedures that are not medically necessary. But your health insurance plan may cover cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, which you may need to regain your health and get your body working normally again.
Some of the procedures that might fall into this category include fixing nasal problems that make it hard to breathe, reconstructing the breast after cancer removal, fixing scars, and replacing damaged taste buds.
In most cases, you will be able to get this form of coverage for your hospitalisation once you move up to the bronze level.
The Future of Cosmetic Surgery
There will be significant growth in aesthetic treatments, considering many admissions.
- By 2025, it is anticipated that the market for cosmetic surgery will reach $43.9 billion globally.
- It is anticipated that tummy tucks and breast enhancement will continue to be the most common types of cosmetic surgery performed during the next several years.
- It is anticipated that there will be 3,847,929 cosmetic treatments performed by the year 2030
- 78% of respondents would prefer going for a more natural appearance, as opposed to 15% who want a more sculpted appearance
- Because of the rising prevalence of obesity, it is anticipated that there will be a rise in demand for cosmetic operations like liposuction.
Conclusion
Despite an epidemic, the number of people getting cosmetic surgery has increased in Australia, and fewer people are worried about it. In addition to this, it appears like a lot of people are doing it for attention.
However, surgery typically comes with some hazards, and the client may end up unhappy with their new appearance. And with the rising interest in cosmetic surgery, people should require more regulations.
