Plastic surgery is extraordinarily common. In 2024, nearly 38 million aesthetic procedures were performed worldwide, a 42.5% increase over just four years. In the United States alone, more than 27 million cosmetic procedures were performed in 2023. The vast majority of those weren’t surgical at all: over 25 million were minimally invasive treatments like injections and laser procedures, while about 1.6 million were actual surgeries.
Global Numbers at a Glance
The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery tracks procedure totals across countries each year. Their 2024 survey counted over 17.4 million surgical procedures and 20.5 million non-surgical procedures performed by plastic surgeons globally. That 38 million total represents a 40% jump from 2020, driven by wider availability, growing social acceptance, and an expanding menu of less invasive options.
In the U.S., the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported 27 million cosmetic procedures in 2023, with surgical procedures growing 5% year over year and minimally invasive procedures growing 7%. The non-surgical category dominates: for every person who goes under the knife, roughly 16 others get injections, laser treatments, or chemical peels instead.
Which Countries Have the Highest Rates
Some countries stand out when you adjust for population size. Based on 2021 data, these five countries had the highest per capita rates of plastic surgery:
- South Korea: 8.9 procedures per 1,000 people
- Argentina: 8.8 per 1,000
- Brazil: 7.6 per 1,000
- Colombia: 7.3 per 1,000
- Greece: 6.3 per 1,000
South Korea’s top ranking reflects a cultural openness toward cosmetic procedures, particularly eyelid surgery and facial contouring, that’s deeply embedded in everyday life. In Latin American countries like Brazil and Colombia, body contouring procedures like liposuction and buttock augmentation drive high volumes. These per capita figures include both surgical and non-surgical treatments.
The Most Popular Surgical Procedures
The five most common cosmetic surgeries in the U.S. have remained relatively consistent over the years. By volume, they rank as follows: breast augmentation leads the pack, followed by liposuction, eyelid surgery, nose reshaping, and facelifts. Together, these five procedures account for the bulk of all cosmetic surgeries performed annually.
Non-surgical procedures are a different story entirely, and they’re where the real growth is happening. Injectable treatments dominate this category. Wrinkle-relaxing injections (commonly known by brand names like Botox) are by far the most popular, followed by dermal fillers that restore volume to the face. Laser skin treatments, chemical peels, and skin-tightening procedures round out the list. These treatments are quicker, cheaper, and involve little to no downtime, which explains why they outnumber surgeries by such a wide margin.
Who’s Getting These Procedures
Different age groups gravitate toward different procedures, which makes sense given how the face and body change over time. Teens and young adults most commonly seek breast reduction surgery. In their 20s, breast augmentation becomes the top choice. Patients in their 30s continue to lead in breast augmentation and breast lifts, receiving 37% of all augmentations and 26% of all lifts in 2024.
The 40 to 55 age range is the sweet spot for liposuction, with this group accounting for 45% of all liposuction procedures. Once patients reach their mid-50s and beyond, eyelid surgery takes the top spot. Patients aged 55 to 69 received 56% of all eyelid procedures in 2024, reflecting the natural drooping and puffiness that develops around the eyes with age.
Men and Plastic Surgery
Cosmetic procedures remain overwhelmingly popular among women, but men are a growing segment. In 2024, men accounted for about 6% of all cosmetic surgeries and 7% of minimally invasive procedures in the U.S., totaling roughly 1.7 million treatments. The most popular procedures for men are wrinkle-relaxing injections (nearly 594,000 in 2024), laser skin treatments (about 489,000), and skin resurfacing procedures like chemical peels (around 257,000). On the surgical side, liposuction and eyelid surgery are the most common choices for male patients.
What These Procedures Cost
Cosmetic procedures are almost always paid out of pocket since insurance doesn’t cover elective surgery. Average surgeon fees for the most popular operations give a rough sense of the financial commitment involved. Nose reshaping tends to be the most expensive of the common procedures, averaging around $5,500 in surgeon fees alone. Tummy tucks run about $6,150, breast augmentation averages $4,500, eyelid surgery about $4,100, and liposuction around $3,600.
Those figures cover only the surgeon’s fee. Anesthesia, operating room costs, and post-surgical garments or follow-up care add significantly to the total. A breast augmentation that costs $4,500 in surgeon fees might run $8,000 to $12,000 all in, depending on location and facility. Non-surgical treatments cost far less per session but often need to be repeated every few months to a few years, so the cumulative expense can add up.
How Safe These Procedures Are
Complication rates vary significantly by procedure. Liposuction, the second most popular surgery, has relatively low complication rates: infection occurs in about 0.1% of cases and blood clots in fewer than 0.1%. Breast augmentation carries a 1.5% risk of significant bleeding and about a 1.1% infection rate. Tummy tucks carry the highest complication risk among common procedures, with infection rates between 2% and 7% and a mortality rate of roughly 1 in 13,000. For comparison, liposuction’s mortality rate is about 1.3 in 50,000.
These numbers apply to procedures performed by board-certified plastic surgeons in accredited facilities. Risk increases substantially when procedures are performed by less qualified practitioners, in unregulated settings, or when multiple surgeries are combined in a single session. The rising popularity of medical tourism, particularly for body contouring procedures in countries with lower costs, has also raised safety concerns because oversight and follow-up care can be inconsistent.