Cosmetic surgery: That's how the Germans tick

Berlin - Female, over 40 and with the desire for larger breasts: This is the typical patient for cosmetic surgery.

Better chances when looking for a partner only play a small role.

Larger breasts, tighter eyelids or a smoother forehead: there are many reasons for plastic surgery.

A representative survey by the German Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (DGÄPC) reveals who wants to go under the knife in Germany and why - and what the trends are.

Breast augmentation: Women go for naturalness

According to the survey, breast augmentation with implants is the most popular cosmetic surgery in Germany.

However, as a result of the scandal surrounding cheap implants by the French company PIP, the demand for DGÄPC information declined for a number of years.

In 2015 it rose again for the first time.

Many women also rely on naturalness: In 2015, more female patients planned breast augmentation with autologous fat than in the previous year.

If you decide to have cosmetic surgery, it is best to look for a surgeon within a radius of 200 kilometers.

Because in addition to the consultations beforehand and the procedure itself, many follow-up examinations are also necessary, explains Jens H. Baetge from the German Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (DGÄPC).

Baetge checks the result eight times after breast surgery in the first twelve months after the procedure.

This includes checking the wound healing and the fit of the bra.

This is one of the reasons why Baetge advises against surgery abroad.

You should also exercise caution when choosing a surgeon in Germany: "Cosmetic surgeon", "Cosmetic surgeon" or "Aesthetic surgeon" are not protected professional titles.

On the other hand, physicians may only call themselves "specialist for plastic surgery", "plastic surgeon", "specialist for plastic and aesthetic surgery" or "plastic and aesthetic surgeon" if they have the appropriate training.

Specialist societies such as the DGÄPC also send out lists of their members on request.

The average age of those interested is increasing

AGE: The patients of aesthetic plastic surgeons are getting older.

Most recently, they were 42 years and six months old on average.

For comparison: in 2010 they were four years younger.

When it comes to breast augmentation, DGÄPC President Sven von Saldern observes two age groups in particular: "The young woman who finds out after puberty: Nothing grows anymore".

And the mother in her mid/late thirties who wants her breast shape back to her former self.

Patients planning breast augmentation are the youngest on average at 31.7 years.

The highest average age is 56.9 years for people who want to have their neck, forehead or face lifted.

Which procedures do men prefer?

"Men want tight eyelids and little fat," summarizes DGÄPC President von Saldern.

Such interventions are most in demand from them.

Overall, however, cosmetic surgeries are not as popular with men as with women: the proportion of men in aesthetic plastic surgery was 13.5 percent in 2015.

risk and reasons

Nice for the partner, for yourself or for the courtship?

According to the survey, almost 60 percent of female patients were not looking recently: they stated that they were married or in a relationship.

For men, too, the proportion of those who were permanently assigned was 54.2 percent.

According to a survey, Germans want to play it safe when it comes to cosmetic surgery: Four out of five women and almost 72 percent of men said they had informed themselves about the risks.

However, specialist Jean Baetge from the Nuremberg Clinic for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery warns: “This does not release specialists from their duty to provide information.”

dpa