Plastic surgery is on the rise

Thursday in Paris, the IMCAS, a congress dedicated to plastic surgeons and dermatologists, kicked off its annual meeting, and, in conjunction with the event, has released the latest industry figures.

The global market for plastic surgery and anti-aging techniques -- including Botox and fillers, lasers and equipment for body contouring, and breast implants -- was about €4.4 billion in 2012, up by 10 percent compared to 2011. The world market is expected to hit as high as €5.2 billion this year, according to the report.

From 2013 to 2017, estimates show that Europe's interest in plastic surgery will continue to grow, despite a tough economic climate, by about 6.6 percent. The US and Latin America market will grow at a rate closer to 10 percent a year, while Asia-Pacific region will grow at a rate of more than 14 percent per year.

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reported this month that men account for almost 10 percent of plastic surgery procedures in the US, a 121 percent increase from 15 years ago.

According to a recent Los Angeles Times article, plastic surgeons in Kabul, Afghanistan, are seeing an increasing number of patients who want a nip and tuck. Plastic surgery clinics are reportedly a growing trend, reflecting both a rise in independence for women and the influence of Bollywood.

Anti-aging surgery has soared in the UK as well, according to The Guardian this week. A total of 43,172 surgical procedures were carried out last year, according to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons. The majority of those procedures were breast augmentation surgeries, but last year saw a rise in brow lifts and face and neck lifts.