Both surgical and non-surgical procedures contributed to this growth, but surgical procedures grew at a faster rate.
Published Aug 15, 2025 | 6:00 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 15, 2025 | 6:00 AM
Cosmetic surgery.
Synopsis: India’s cosmetic surgery market experienced a 25.3 percent increase, which positions the country as one of the fastest-growing markets in the global aesthetic medicine industry. India is also emerging as a destination for medical tourism in cosmetic surgery.
India’s cosmetic surgery market experienced an unprecedented growth — a 25.3 percent increase — positioning the country as one of the fastest-growing markets in the global aesthetic medicine industry, according to the latest data from the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS). The total number of aesthetic procedures jumped from 1,028,723 in 2023 to 1,288,840 in 2024.
Both surgical and non-surgical procedures contributed to this growth, but surgical procedures grew at a faster rate — 27.3 percent compared to 23.1 percent for non-surgical ones. This goes against the global trend, where non-surgical treatments usually grow faster.
In 2024, India saw 6,77,040 surgical procedures, up from 5,31,792 in 2023. Surgical procedures made up 52.5 percent of all aesthetic treatments in the country.
The body and extremities category grew the most, by 55.1 percent to 2,74,120 procedures. A major factor was the addition of scar revision as a key treatment.
Scar revision became the top surgical procedure in 2024 with 106,120 cases, making up 15.7 percent of surgical treatments. It was not listed in the 2023 data, which may suggest a new classification or a major rise in procedures that serve both medical and cosmetic purposes.
In 2024, facial procedures in India increased by 17.9 percent, reaching 2,65,440 cases, according to ISAPS data. Rhinoplasty remained the most performed facial surgery with 67,760 cases. However, there was a 4.9 percent decrease from 71,256 in 2023.
Some facial surgeries showed significant growth. Ear surgery increased by 46.4 percent, from 21,619 to 31,640 cases. Face lifts and neck lifts both reached 11,200 cases, with growth rates of 30.7 percent and 28.9 percent, respectively.
Two facial procedures appeared in the data for the first time in 2024: Buccal fat removal (10,360 cases) and dimple creation (8,680 cases). Their inclusion suggests changing preferences and rising demand for newer procedures.
Eyelid surgery increased by 15.6 percent to 46,760 cases, and fat grafting to the face grew 20.7 percent to 41,440. In contrast, lip enhancement procedures declined by 17.7 percent to 19,320 cases, indicating reduced interest in this procedure.
In the breast surgery category, total procedures rose 5.9 percent to 137,480 in 2024. Breast augmentation remained stable at 47,600 cases, a 0.2 percent drop from 2023, possibly pointing to market saturation.
Gynecomastia treatment increased by 10.8 percent to 47,320 cases, suggesting more acceptance of male cosmetic surgery. Breast reduction surgeries rose 9.2 percent to 22,400, and breast implant removals rose 16.1 percent to 4,200.
A new tracked procedure, inverted nipple correction, recorded 2,520 cases in 2024. This indicates a growing variety of surgical options being offered in the Indian aesthetic market.
India’s non-surgical cosmetic procedure market reached 6,11,800 cases in 2024, growing 23.1 percent from 2023. Despite the overall increase, the market saw notable shifts in procedure preferences.
Hair removal procedures increased by 114 percent, rising from 97,601 in 2023 to 2,08,880 in 2024. This made hair removal the most performed non-surgical procedure, accounting for 34.1 percent of the non-surgical total — up from 19.6 percent the previous year. The sharp rise suggests wider adoption of the procedure, possibly due to easier access and changing grooming norms.
Injectable treatments saw declines. Botulinum toxin procedures fell 33.4 percent to 76,720, dropping from the top position in 2023 to fourth in 2024. Hyaluronic acid treatments declined by 9.3 percent to 97,160, though they remained the second most common non-surgical procedure.
The facial rejuvenation segment grew 21.6 percent overall. Full field ablative procedures increased 105.9 percent, from 24,075 to 49,560. Chemical peels rose 21.3 percent to 85,120 cases.
In contrast, non-surgical skin tightening procedures declined 22.4 percent to 35,280. This may indicate a preference shift toward more intensive skin treatments or surgical options.
Although the ISAPS data does not provide regional or demographic breakdowns within India, the overall patterns point to several key changes.
The rise in male-oriented procedures such as gynecomastia treatment, along with the addition of new procedures, shows wider acceptance of cosmetic surgery across different genders and age groups.
The drop in injectable treatments — often considered initial steps into cosmetic procedures — combined with the rise in surgical procedures, suggests that consumers are opting for longer-lasting results and are more informed about their choices.
The sharp rise in hair removal treatments may reflect better access to laser technology and more clinics offering these services in major Indian cities. The addition of new procedure types also points to the quick uptake of international methods and tools.
The growth in scar revision surgeries could mean more people can access reconstructive treatments, possibly due to lower costs or insurance coverage.
The data indicates that India’s cosmetic surgery market is moving toward a more mature phase. The broader range of procedures and the demand for more permanent surgical options show both growing trust in local providers and increased expectations from patients.
New procedures such as dimple creation and buccal fat removal suggest that Indian consumers are following international aesthetic trends. The rise of scar revision points to a mix of cosmetic and corrective goals, indicating a shift toward a more inclusive view of aesthetic medicine.
ISAPS global data places India in seventh position worldwide in cosmetic surgery, with 12,88,840 total procedures in 2024. This accounts for 3.4 percent of all aesthetic procedures conducted globally. India is just behind Germany, which recorded 13,03,528 procedures, and ahead of Turkey, which had 11,10,306.
In surgical procedures alone, India performed 6,77,040 operations, making up 3.9 percent of the global surgical market. This also places India seventh in surgical rankings. The United States leads with 19,99,528 procedures (11.5%), followed by Brazil with 23,54,513 (13.5%).
India ranked second globally in scar revision procedures, performing 1,06,120 surgeries, which is 9.2 percent of the global total. The United States is the only country with a higher number, reporting 1,90,854 cases (16.5%).
India ranked first in hair removal procedures, with 2,08,880 cases, accounting for 14 percent of the global total. This is higher than the United States at 1,57,756 (10.6%) and Japan at 1,33,200 (9.0%).
In rhinoplasty, India performed 67,760 procedures, representing 6.3 percent of the global share, placing it second only behind Brazil’s 102,653 (9.5%).
In chemical peels, India ranks third with 85,120 procedures, making up 10.4 percent of the global market. The United States leads with 1,70,203 (20.8%), followed by Japan with 1,31,200 (16.0%).
India holds sixth place globally in face and head surgeries with 265,440 procedures (3.5% share), fourth in body and extremities with 274,120 (4.6%), and seventh in breast surgeries with 137,480 (3.5%). In facial rejuvenation, India is third with 169,960 procedures (6.0%), and in liposuction, India ranks fifth with 97,160 (4.7%).
In the non-surgical segment, India ranks 10th globally with 6,11,800 procedures, which is 3 percent of the global non-surgical market. This lower ranking shows India’s stronger presence in surgical procedures compared to non-surgical ones. In countries like the United States, non-surgical treatments make up a larger share of the market.
India does not appear in the top 10 globally for injectable procedures. The domestic decline in botulinum toxin and hyaluronic acid treatments may explain this absence and suggest reduced global competitiveness in this category.
India has around 2,800 plastic surgeons, ranking sixth globally and accounting for 4.8 percent of the world’s total. With an average of 460 procedures per surgeon annually, the country shows high demand and productivity.
ISAPS data reveal that Indian surgeons have strong participation in areas where the country leads globally. Scar revision is performed by 91.3 percent of surgeons, and rhinoplasty by 81.2 percent, aligning with India’s 2nd-place global ranks in both procedures.
India also leads in newer procedures. Over half of Indian surgeons perform dimple creation (55.8%) and buccal fat removal (55.1%) — far higher than global averages — showing early adoption of aesthetic trends.
Core procedures remain widely offered: 94.2 percent perform gynecomastia surgery, 85.5 percent offer eyelid surgery and liposuction, and 81.9 percent perform ear surgery. In breast surgery, 80.4 percent offer reductions, while lifts (60.1%) and implant removals (49.3%) are less common.
Facial fat grafting is offered by 80.4 percent of surgeons, but fewer perform face lifts (46.4%) or neck lifts (39.9%), pointing to a preference for selective or less invasive treatments.
Reconstructive and gender-affirming care is also well established. Sex reassignment surgery is offered by 30.4 percent of surgeons. Labiaplasty (52.9%), vaginal rejuvenation (41.3%), and other genital procedures (37.0%) see higher participation than in many global markets.
In non-surgical services, 50 percent of surgeons offer tattoo removal. Hair removal is provided by 49.3 percent, but injectables see lower adoption: 61.6 percent for Botulinum toxin and 52.9 percent for hyaluronic acid — reflecting India’s weaker global position in this category.
These practice patterns highlight a market that blends strong foundations in reconstructive care with early adoption of new trends. India’s growth in scar revision, dimple creation, and hair removal signals a focused and evolving cosmetic surgery landscape.
India’s cosmetic surgery sector operates mainly through hospitals, with 67.3 percent of procedures performed in hospital settings — well above the global average of 52.6 percent. This is one of the highest hospital utilisation rates worldwide. In contrast, office-based procedures make up only 18.1 percent in India, compared to the global average of 29.9 percent.
Free-standing surgical centres account for 14 percent, and other locations 0.5 percent.
This hospital-heavy model differs from countries like Chinese Taipei (72.0% office-based) and Germany (49.4% office-based). The reliance on hospitals in India may reflect regulatory norms, patient preference, insurance structures, or the higher complexity of many procedures, such as scar revision.
India is also emerging as a destination for medical tourism in cosmetic surgery. On average, 7.7 percent of patients are from other countries, with a median of 5 percent, matching the global median.
The top source countries are the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom, suggesting India attracts English-speaking patients likely due to lower costs, skilled surgeons, and language accessibility.
Though the international patient share is lower than in countries like Colombia (30.0%), India’s growing appeal in developed markets points to a steady rise in its global reputation for quality and affordable cosmetic care.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
