US cosmetic surgery procedures reach 11.7m

Nearly 11.7 million surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures were performed in the US last year, according to new figures.

Research by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, reports that since it began collecting statistics in 1997, cosmetic surgery procedures have increased by 457 per cent.

In 2007, the most frequently performed treatments were liposuction and Botox injection, it adds.

"Out statistics confirm that aesthetic plastic surgery is not defined by race or gender," said Foad Nahai, president of the society. "22 per cent of the aesthetic procedures were performed on traditional racial and ethnic minorities."

Male patients increased by 17 per cent between 2006 and 2007, with just over one million men seeking cosmetic enhancements last year.

Around 10.6 million procedures were performed on female patients, a one per cent rise on 2006′s figures.

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons reports that there were 32,453 procedures performed in the UK last year, compared to 28,921 in 2006.