Global Study Finds Post-COVID Surge in Cosmetic Procedures, Led by Nonsurgical Fat Reduction
A global analysis of aesthetic procedure trends suggests the COVID-19 pandemic produced both immediate and sustained shifts in cosmetic procedure demand, with notable regional differences in surgical and nonsurgical treatments.
In a study published in British Journal of Plastic Surgery, investigators analyzed procedural data from the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) annual surveys spanning 2017 through 2024.¹ Marlynn P. Lopez, MD, and colleagues conducted an interrupted time-series analysis to compare observed post-pandemic procedural volumes with projected trends based on pre-pandemic data across four regions: the United States, Latin America, Europe, and Asia.
The analysis focused on the five leading surgical procedures (eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), rhinoplasty, abdominoplasty, liposuction, and breast augmentation) and five leading nonsurgical procedures (chemical peels, botulinum toxin injections, hyaluronic acid fillers, laser hair removal, and nonsurgical fat reduction).
Among nonsurgical procedures, nonsurgical fat reduction was the only intervention that increased in at least one country across all four regions. Net increases included 100,713 procedures in the United States, 38,822 in Latin America, 100,065 in Asia, and 8,030 in Europe. Other nonsurgical procedures remained relatively stable globally; however, Europe experienced significant declines in botulinum toxin injections (−33,122 procedures, P < .05) and chemical peels (−18,577 procedures).
Surgical procedure trends varied by region. Abdominoplasty volumes increased substantially in the United States (+92,018 procedures) and Latin America (+28,534). Latin America also saw increases in blepharoplasty (+14,218) and rhinoplasty (+19,323). Meanwhile, Europe demonstrated declines in surgical liposuction (−6399 procedures).
Despite these regional differences, investigators reported a consistent global rebound in aesthetic procedures after pandemic-related disruptions, followed by a continued upward trajectory in cumulative procedural volumes.
“Despite economic uncertainty and strained healthcare systems during the pandemic, the number of elective aesthetic procedures rebounded as restrictions eased in 2021,” the authors wrote. “The most notable finding was the consistent rise in nonsurgical fat reduction across all regions, which paralleled widespread pandemic-related weight gain, often referred to as ‘Quarantine 15.’”¹
Lopez MP, Kim T, Kozlowski KA, Adam TH, Galiano RD. Global post-COVID shifts in leading cosmetic procedures: a multiregional time-series analysis. Br J Plast Surg. Published online February 2026. doi:10.1016/j.bjps.2026.02.059