Health: Gender Distribution of Cosmetic Surgical Procedures, by year
YearFemale,
in %
Male,
in %
202286.213.8
202186.113.9
202086.313.7
201986.513.5
201886.513.5
  • Region: Worldwide
  • Time period: 2018 to 2022
  • Published: 2023

Data Analysis and Insights

Updated: Mar 27, 2024 | Published by: Statistico | About Us | Data sources

Stability in Gender Distribution Across Five Years

The gender distribution of total cosmetic surgical procedures worldwide has remained remarkably stable over the five-year period from 2018 to 2022. Women consistently accounted for a significant majority of these procedures, with their percentage fluctuating narrowly between 86.2% and 86.5%. Similarly, the male percentage has shown minimal variation, ranging from 13.5% to 13.8%. These small shifts underscore a persistent gender trend in cosmetic surgery preferences.

Marginal Increase in Female Procedures from 2021 to 2022

Between 2021 and 2022, there was a slight increase in the percentage of cosmetic surgical procedures performed on females, from 86.1% to 86.2%. Although this change is minimal, it indicates a very slight upward trend in female participation in cosmetic surgery over the most recent year. Conversely, the percentage of male procedures decreased marginally from 13.9% to 13.8% during the same period.

Comparison of Extreme Values

The highest percentage of female cosmetic surgical procedures was observed in 2019 at 86.5%, while the lowest percentage occurred in 2021 at 86.1%. For male procedures, the lowest percentage was noted in 2019 at 13.5%, with the highest reaching 13.9% in 2021. These points represent the extreme values within the dataset, highlighting a very narrow range of fluctuation over the years.

Steady Male Participation in Cosmetic Procedures

Despite societal changes and potentially evolving attitudes towards cosmetic surgery, male participation has remained consistently low but stable. Over the observed period, the proportion of men undergoing cosmetic surgical procedures has not surpassed 13.9% nor fallen below 13.5%. This steadiness suggests a consistent demand among men, albeit significantly lower than that of women.

Insignificance of Yearly Fluctuations

Yearly fluctuations in the gender distribution of cosmetic surgical procedures have been minimal, with no dramatic shifts observed. The largest year-to-year change in female participation was merely a 0.1% increase or decrease, indicating a high level of consistency in gender preferences for these procedures. Similarly, male participation changes have mirrored this stability, reinforcing the notion of a steady market.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the overall trend in gender distribution of cosmetic surgical procedures over the past five years?

The gender distribution of cosmetic surgical procedures has remained remarkably consistent, with women consistently accounting for 86.2% to 86.5% and men for 13.5% to 13.8% of all procedures.

What are the extreme percentages of cosmetic surgical procedures performed on each gender?

The highest and lowest percentages of cosmetic surgical procedures performed on women were observed in 2019 at 86.5% and in 2021 at 86.1%, respectively, while for men, they were 13.9% (2021) and 13.5% (2019) .

Terms and Definitions

Cosmetic surgery is a sub-discipline of plastic surgery focused on enhancing appearance through surgical and medical techniques. It can be performed on all areas of the head, neck, and body and unlike reconstructive surgery, which focuses on repairing defects to the body, cosmetic surgery is elective, intended primarily to improve aesthetics and ensure patient satisfaction with their appearance.

Procedures in the context of cosmetic surgery usually refer to the different types of surgeries that are being carried out. These include but are not limited to breast augmentation, liposuction, nose reshaping (rhinoplasty), eyelid surgery, and tummy tucks (abdominoplasty).

Elective surgery refers to a surgical procedure that is scheduled in advance because it is not an emergency. These surgeries are not necessarily optional, as they can still significantly enhance patients' lives, but they are not carried out immediately, allowing patients time for preparation and arranging suitable schedules.

This term refers to a measure of the extent to which a patient is content with the care they received, including the period before, during, and after the procedure. In cosmetic surgery, this often includes their satisfaction with the aesthetic results of the operation.

Breast augmentation is a cosmetic procedure that increases breast size and improves shape typically using implants (silicone or saline) or fat transfer. It's among the most common cosmetic surgeries performed.

Liposuction is a cosmetic procedure that removes fat from the body in an attempt to change its shape. It is often chosen to remove fat from areas that have not responded to diet and exercise.

Rhinoplasty, often called a 'nose job’, refers to a cosmetic surgical procedure aimed at changing the shape, size or proportions of the nose for aesthetic purposes or to improve breathing.