KUALA LUMPUR, May 23 — A leading UK cosmetic surgeon claims that increases in demand for liposuction are linked to women wanting to have a body which looks good in gym wear.
Latest UK data shows that liposuction procedures have gone up 12 percent within just one year, namely from 2,039 in 2017 to 2,286 in 2018, says Rajiv Grover, of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons.
In 2018, more than 28,000 plastic surgery procedures were conducted, an increase of 0.1 percent from the previous year. Women had 92 percent of those procedures.
The three most popular procedures for women were breast augmentation, breast reduction and blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery).
The biggest increases were for liposuction.
Mr Grover told the BBC, “The rise comes at a time where a fashion trend for women is athleisure clothing, showing what kind of physique you have rather than covering up.”
Athleisure includes clothing which are often figure-hugging or close-fitting, such as leggings and bra tops, suitable for exercise and everyday wear.
He also said that the rise in liposuction could also be more women seeking fat loss surgery over less invasive methods.
“People should know that liposuction is not risk-free,” he emphasised, “An operation is not something that can simply be returned to the shop if you have second thoughts.”
“And it is not a cure for being overweight. There is no shortcut, although it can help with stubborn areas of fat.”
“My advice? Eat a healthy diet and exercise if you want to get that gym body.”