Cosmetic Surgery – Facts and Figures :

1988 : cosmetic surgery is recognized as a medical specialisation in France qualified as « plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery ».

4000 : minimum number of doctors insured to practice aesthetic surgery (sources: professional insurance companies).

780 : number surgeons qualified to practice aesthetic surgery by the National Council of the French Medical Association.

7 years : number of additional years of medical school required after the initial GP formation to obtain qualification as specialist in aesthetic surgery (2 years as intern in general and orthopaedic surgery, plus 2 years as hospital intern and 3 years in a clinic specialising in aesthetic surgery clinic).

250 000 : estimated number aesthetic surgery operations performed each year in France.

40 % : percentage of cosmetic surgery in France performed in the Paris metropolitan area.

10 à 15 % : percentage of male aesthetic surgery clientele.

14 % : percentage of the French population (approximately 8,400,000 people) is planning to have cosmetic surgery (IFOP pole September, 2002).

1996 : report by the DGCCRF (French government department of free-trade, consumer legislation and fraud suppression) and another from the National Council on Consumption underscores the lack of transparency in patient information, safety and advertising.

17 october, 1996 : legislation regarding price information requires detailed estimate in three situations: when the value of the intervention is equal or more than 305 € (around 2,000 F), for interventions requiring general anaesthesia, or when the patient requests one.

4 march, 2002 : a new law to improve the health system and reinforce patients' rights. The law of 4 March, 2002 reinforces two previous laws concerning the content and type of information required about medical interventions.

11 july, 2005 : publication of decrees concerning the authorisations and technical requirements of cosmetic surgery equipment.