words by Gabi Logan
In what country do they perform the most chin implants? Botox injections? Breast enlargements? A study from the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery revealed trends in surgical and non-surgical procedures around the world. Italy ranked third for the highest total number of procedures, adjusted by population.
In the initial data from 2010, the United States and Brazil clearly lead the pack for the most procedures, each with over 1.5 million, but then there is a sharp drop. China, the next entry on the ranking list, has nearly a third of that number. But these figures do not compare the number of procedures to the population to show how commonplace these cosmetic procedures are.
The Economist produced an infograph that expands the study’s findings. When population is taken into account, the U.S. and Brazil drop out of the top three, and South Korea, Greece, and Italy rank for the highest number of cosmetic procedures per person.
The Italian press frequently speculates which television, film, and music stars have had work done, but few will admit to it. As Vogue Italia recently pointed out, Alba Parietti is one of the few Italian stars willing to reveal the truth on the matter. This study suggests, however, that the practice extends far beyond celebrities.
By number of procedures alone, Italy ranked seventh in 2010, rising from ninth in 2009. Italy also ranked fourth for the most breast augmentations performed and fifth for the most eye lifts. Nearly half of the procedures performed in Italy in 2012 were non-invasive, a category that includes botox injections, chemical peels, and laser hair removal.
