Does Demand for Breast Augmentation Reflect National Financial Trends?

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Health Economics

Background:

• Aesthetic plastic surgery is consumer-driven and influenced by financial forces.
• Economic shifts can impact surgical demand.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore trends in bilateral breast augmentation (BBA) demand over 11 years.
• To examine the correlation between BBA trends and Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Main Methods:

• Analysis of consecutively presenting patients undergoing BBA over an 11-year period.
• Correlation analysis between annual BBA procedures and GDP values.
• Comparison of predicted BBA procedures based on predicted GDP growth with actual procedures.

Main Results:

• A correlation was found between the annual number of breast augmentation procedures and GDP (r² = 0.34, p=0.059).
• Predicted BBA procedures based on predicted Irish GDP growth strongly correlated with actual procedures (r² = 0.93, p=0.000001).

Conclusions:

• Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is a potential predictor of bilateral breast augmentation (BBA) demand.
• Predicted GDP growth can forecast future BBA demand, enabling surgeons to adjust practice.
• Economic indicators offer valuable insights into aesthetic surgery market trends.