At a glance: ISAPS estimated 2,354,513 aesthetic surgical procedures in Brazil in 2024, the highest surgical volume of any country. Including nonsurgical procedures, the total was 3,123,758; the United States led that combined total. These are estimates of procedures performed by plastic surgeons, not a census of every treatment. The figures describe 2024, not 2026, and they do not measure the safety of any clinic or tell you which operation is right for you.
Plastic surgery in Brazil draws a great deal of interest whenever people talk about aesthetics, safety, and medical training. According to the ISAPS Global Survey 2024, published in 2025, Brazil was the country with the highest number of aesthetic surgical procedures performed by plastic surgeons in 2024.
How to read plastic surgery statistics from Brazil
Medical statistics help you understand trends, but they do not replace a clinical evaluation. The ISAPS numbers are international estimates based on responses from plastic surgeons, extrapolation methods, and standardized categories. The report drew on data from 2,975 plastic surgeons, so the totals are projections from that sample. They show the volume and behavior of the field; they do not mean that a given procedure is suitable for a specific person.
It is also important to separate surgical from nonsurgical procedures. Plastic surgery involves anesthesia, healing, risks, recovery, and the need for an appropriate facility. Minimally invasive procedures may carry a different risk profile, but they still require a sound indication and a qualified professional.
Brazil in the ISAPS 2024 global ranking
The ISAPS survey estimated almost 38 million aesthetic procedures worldwide in 2024: 17,415,678 surgical and 20,535,686 nonsurgical. The country breakdown shows two different rankings: leadership in surgical volume and leadership in total volume.
Brazil and the world in ISAPS 2024
| Indicator | Key figure | How to read it |
|---|---|---|
| Aesthetic surgical procedures worldwide | 17,415,678 | Surgical procedures performed by plastic surgeons. |
| Nonsurgical procedures worldwide | 20,535,686 | Includes botulinum toxin, hyaluronic acid, energy-based devices, and other treatments. |
| Brazil | 2,354,513 surgical procedures | First place worldwide in aesthetic surgical procedures. |
| Brazil, total | 3,123,758 procedures | Estimated surgical and nonsurgical procedures combined. |
| United States | More than 6.1 million in total | First place in the overall total, driven by nonsurgical procedures. |
The most common procedures in Brazil
On the Brazil page of the ISAPS 2024 report, liposuction appears as the most frequent aesthetic operation, followed by breast augmentation, blepharoplasty, abdominoplasty, and buttock augmentation. These figures help map demand, but every indication has to take into account the individual’s anatomy, health, expectations, and risk.
Top 5 aesthetic surgical procedures in Brazil, according to ISAPS 2024
| Rank | Procedure | Estimated volume | Share of surgical total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liposuction | 289,766 | 12.3% |
| 2 | Breast augmentation | 232,593 | 9.9% |
| 3 | Blepharoplasty | 231,293 | 9.8% |
| 4 | Abdominoplasty | 192,961 | 8.2% |
| 5 | Buttock augmentation | 168,272 | 7.1% |
What the data say about facial surgery
The 2024 report highlighted global growth in face and head procedures. Blepharoplasty became the most frequently performed aesthetic operation in the world, while rhinoplasty, facial fat grafting, and facelift surgery remained significant within facial surgery as a whole.
In individual planning, the statistic has to become a clinical question: is the concern the skin, the deeper structures, excess eyelid skin, loss of volume, a nasal change, breathing function, or a combination of factors? That is why pages such as deep plane facelift and blepharoplasty should be read as decision guides, not as a catalog of procedures. I no longer perform rhinoplasty, so any reference to it in this article is educational only.
Female intimate surgery in the Brazilian data
ISAPS estimated 29,237 labiaplasties in Brazil in 2024. That volume confirms that female intimate surgery reflects a real demand, but it does not change the central ethical principle: vulvar anatomy varies widely, and the indication for labiaplasty should take into account physical discomfort, asymmetry, functional impact, realistic expectations, and the patient’s autonomy.
To go deeper without turning a statistic into aesthetic pressure, see my comparison of trim, wedge, and laser labiaplasty techniques.
Looking at 2026: planning over trends
The data presented here describe procedures performed in 2024 and published in 2025. They do not allow anyone to say which technique leads demand in 2026. ISAPS has already published its report on procedures performed in 2025, released in September 2026. The 2024 numbers in this article remain a historical reference and should not be confused with the data in that newer survey. For an individual decision, a deep plane facelift should be discussed on the basis of the clinical indication, not on the expectation of following a trend.
In rhinoplasty, which I discuss here for education only, a structured approach aims to respect nasal support, breathing function, and facial harmony. With fat grafting and nanofat, the goal should be individualized: restoring volume, refining contour, and improving tissue quality within biological limits, without any promise of automatic rejuvenation.
Medical travel: an opportunity that calls for caution
Brazil attracts patients from other states and other countries, but medical travel should not be treated as a quick purchase of a procedure. Surgery requires evaluation, planning, tests, a minimum length of stay, postoperative follow-up, and a plan for complications. When you are coming from far away, the main question is not just “how much does it cost?” but whether safe logistics are in place before and after surgery.
In my practice, patients from other cities can begin the conversation by video call, but an in-person consultation and clinical evaluation are mandatory before any surgical recommendation.
How to choose a plastic surgeon in Brazil
Choosing the surgeon is one of the most important decisions in the process. In Brazil, you should check that the physician has an RQE in Plastic Surgery (the Specialist Qualification Registration that records a formally recognized specialty), active registration with the CRM (the Regional Council of Medicine), recognized training, experience consistent with the procedure you want, and an appropriate facility in which to operate.
- CRM and RQE: confirm the medical registration and the Specialist Qualification Registration.
- SBCP: check the surgeon’s relationship with the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery.
- Surgical setting: confirm the hospital, anesthesia, team, and support for complications.
- A responsible consultation: be wary of absolute promises, pressure to decide quickly, or a casual attitude toward risk.
- Postoperative care: ask about follow-up visits, how to reach the team, warning signs, and the plan for patients from out of town.
Context of my clinical practice
I am a plastic surgeon in Londrina, in the state of Paraná, Brazil (CRM-PR 17.388, RQE 15.688), a Full Member of the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery and a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. I have performed more than 8,000 operations over two decades of practice; today, by deliberate choice, more than 90% of my surgeries are deep plane facelifts with fat grafting, about three per week (roughly 150 a year). My current clinical practice focuses on facelift surgery, eyelid surgery, facial fat grafting, and female intimate surgery. More about my background is on my profile page.
These credentials help put the authorship in context, but they do not replace a consultation. A surgical recommendation should only be made after a medical history, a physical examination, a risk assessment, appropriate documentation, and an honest discussion of the procedure’s limits.
Frequently asked questions
Is Brazil the country that performs the most plastic surgery in the world?
Yes, for surgery. Brazil had the highest number of aesthetic surgical procedures in 2024, with 2,354,513 operations estimated by ISAPS. When surgical and nonsurgical procedures are added together, the United States leads the overall total.
What was the most common plastic surgery procedure in Brazil?
Liposuction was the most frequently performed aesthetic operation in Brazil in 2024, with 289,766 procedures estimated by ISAPS. It was followed by breast augmentation, blepharoplasty, abdominoplasty, and buttock augmentation.
Are these the latest figures?
No. The numbers in this article describe procedures performed in 2024. ISAPS released a newer report on 2025 procedures in September 2026; its figures are not used here and should not be mixed with the 2024 data.
Does the ISAPS ranking mean plastic surgery is simple?
No. The ISAPS ranking shows procedure volume, but plastic surgery is still surgery, with risks, anesthesia, healing, and the need for follow-up. Safety depends on a correct indication, a qualified surgeon, and an appropriate facility.
How can I tell whether a plastic surgeon in Brazil is a specialist?
Check the surgeon’s CRM registration, their RQE in Plastic Surgery, and their relationship with the SBCP. The RQE is the public registration that identifies a recognized medical specialty.
Is it worth traveling to Brazil for plastic surgery?
Traveling to Brazil for plastic surgery may be possible, but it requires medical and logistical planning. You need to account for an in-person consultation, tests, length of stay, follow-up visits, the risk of complications, and support after you return home.
Sources
- International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS). ISAPS Global Survey 2024 (PDF).
- International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS). Global Survey 2024: full report and press releases.
- International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS). Global Survey on procedures performed in 2025 (PDF); referenced for context only, its figures are not used in this article.
Read Also
This page in other languages: Português (BR)
Dr. Walter Zamarian Jr.
Plastic surgeon in Londrina, Brazil (CRM-PR 17.388 | RQE 15.688), full member of SBCP and ASPS. He has worked in plastic surgery for more than 20 years, with a focus on individualized planning, patient safety, Deep Plane facelift, eyelid surgery, facial fat grafting, and female intimate surgery.
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