Global Trends in Aesthetic Procedures: The Latest International Survey

The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) publishes a yearly estimate of how many aesthetic procedures are performed worldwide. Its survey of procedures done in 2024 estimated nearly 38 million in total, slightly more than half of them non-surgical, with botulinum toxin type A and hyaluronic acid filler again the most common. These figures describe broad trends; they say nothing about whether any procedure is right for a particular person.

Why this survey exists

There is no global registry that counts every aesthetic procedure. To estimate trends, ISAPS surveys plastic surgeons each year and scales up their answers to estimate totals by country and worldwide. Researchers, professional bodies and journalists use the results to follow changes over time.

How the estimates were made

For the 2024 data, about 17,000 plastic surgeons were invited and 2,975 responded, almost double the previous year. Their reported numbers were projected across the estimated number of practising plastic surgeons in each country. Where up-to-date surgeon numbers were missing, a statistical model based on population and national income filled the gap, and unusually high or low answers were adjusted. Only 32 countries or regions had enough responses to be reported separately. Canada is not among the figures highlighted in the summary.

What the survey found

The estimated worldwide total was about 37.95 million procedures: roughly 17.4 million surgical and 20.5 million non-surgical. Compared with procedures counted the same way in 2023, ISAPS reported a decline of about 7% in surgical procedures and about 3% in non-surgical ones.

The most common non-surgical procedures were:

1. Botulinum toxin type A, about 7.9 million procedures, down roughly 17% from the previous year
2. Hyaluronic acid filler, about 6.3 million, up roughly 5%
3. Hair removal, about 1.5 million
4. Non-surgical skin tightening, about 1.2 million, up roughly 39%
5. Chemical peels, about 820,000, up roughly 33%

Among surgical procedures, eyelid surgery narrowly overtook liposuction as the most common, followed by breast augmentation, scar revision and nose reshaping. Women accounted for most procedures, but men also had substantial numbers, most often neuromodulator and filler on the non-surgical side and eyelid surgery and male breast reduction on the surgical side. Across adult age groups from 18 to over 65, botulinum toxin type A was the single most common procedure. The United States reported the largest total number of procedures, followed by Brazil and Japan.

How strong is this evidence?

This is an industry survey, and its numbers are projections rather than counts. Some important cautions:

• Only plastic surgeons were surveyed. Many non-surgical treatments are done by dermatologists, family physicians, nurses and others, so non-surgical numbers may be undercounted or estimated unevenly.
• Response rates are modest. Fewer than one in five invited surgeons responded, and those who did may not represent all practices.
• Changes in method affect comparisons. New procedures and countries were added, and the number of respondents nearly doubled, which can shift totals. Year-to-year percentage changes should be read with care.
• No information on outcomes. The survey counts procedures. It tells us nothing about results, satisfaction or safety.

It is also worth separating the big picture from the details. Worldwide totals are built from many assumptions, so the broad pattern, that wrinkle-relaxing injections and hyaluronic acid filler are the most common non-surgical procedures, is more reliable than any exact figure or small percentage change. Country rankings mostly reflect population size, the number of surgeons and how many responded, rather than how "popular" aesthetics is with individuals in each place.

What it means for you

Popularity is not a reason to have a treatment, and a decline in numbers does not mean a treatment has become less safe or effective. Trends are shaped by cost, fashion, media attention and access as much as by medical evidence. What matters for you is whether a treatment addresses your own concern, whether your health makes it suitable, and whether you are comfortable with the risks.

A few points worth noting from the data:

• Growth in skin tightening and peels may reflect interest in skin quality rather than volume alone. Our article on chemical peels explains what they can and cannot do.
• Neuromodulators remain common across all adult ages. Our article on what a neuromodulator is covers how it works and its side effects.
• Common does not mean minor. Every procedure in this list carries risks and should be done by trained professionals with proper assessment and aftercare.

If you are considering any procedure, think about your reasons, your timing and your budget, and give yourself room to decide without pressure. Social media and celebrity trends can make a procedure seem routine, but your face, health history and goals are your own, and a careful assessment should always come before any decision. Pregnancy, active skin infection, some medical conditions and some medications may mean a treatment should wait or is not suitable.

Questions to ask at your consultation

• What is the main cause of the change I have noticed, and which options address it?
• What are the most common side effects, and what are the rare but serious ones?
• How long would results typically last, and what happens if I stop?
• Would skincare, a non-injectable option or no treatment serve me just as well?

Frequently asked questions

Does this survey include Canada?

Canadian surgeons may have contributed responses, but Canada was not among the figures highlighted in the summary. Trends here may differ from global ones.

Why did neuromodulator numbers drop?

The survey does not explain the reasons. Changes in who responded and how procedures were counted may play a part, so a single year's change should not be over-interpreted.

Should I choose a treatment because it is popular?

No. The right choice depends on your concerns, health and goals, and sometimes the right choice is no treatment.

If you would like to talk about whether any treatment fits your goals, a consultation at HealthPark Medical Aesthetics offers a balanced look at options, risks and alternatives.

Source

International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. ISAPS International Survey on Aesthetic/Cosmetic Procedures Performed in 2024. ISAPS, 2025. Read the report