Beauty delusion in Vienna: Illegal interventions on the advance!

Beauty delusion in Vienna: Illegal interventions on the advance!

In Austria, the range of aesthetic interventions is increasingly controversial, since the market for cosmetic operations continues to grow and at the same time the risk of illegal practices increases. Every year up to 100,000 aesthetic interventions are carried out in the Alpine Republic, whereby the quality and safety are left behind in many procedures. The demand for popular treatments such as botox, hyaluronic acid, laser treatments and self -blood therapies is constantly increasing. Operative interventions such as fat suction, breast enlargements, eyelid lifts and nose corrections are particularly popular, which, according to 5min.at, are among the most common species.

The expenditure on beauty treatments has exploded in recent years. In 2024, the costs rose by 172 % compared to a decade ago, with the average expenses at 68 euros per person per year. This illustrates how strongly society is characterized by ideals of beauty. Despite the high demand, there are massive concerns about illegal treatments: the number of unreported cases is estimated to be high, and interventions are often offered by unqualified people. Johannes Matiasek from the Vienna Medical Association speaks of a not inconsiderable number of illegal interventions.

illegal practices and risks

Reality looks dark: Two documented cases of illegal clinics in Vienna show how serious the problem is. Treatments without permission were offered in a clinic in Vienna-Simmering, which affected at least 500 customers. A Georgian amateur surgeon also injured a patient during an illegal procedure and received a 20-month part-related prison sentence. According to Matiasek, the complications rate for aesthetic treatments carried out properly is very low, but there are also 20 to 30 cases of failed interventions annually that the Viennese patient's office is reported.

customers should inform themselves well in the selection process for treatment and make sure that only trained specialists may carry out such interventions. Special warning signals represent extremely affordable prices, attracting offers or express treatments, which often indicate unqualified providers. Treatments abroad also pose additional risks, such as other legal situations, linguistic barriers and inadequate aftercare.

global trends in cosmetic surgery

The discussion about cosmetic operations in Austria is part of a global trend. According to [Statista] (https://de.statista.com/themen/1058/schoenheits operations/), fat suction are the most common intervention worldwide, followed by breast enlargements and other cosmetic operations. South America and the USA lead the statistics of cosmetic operations. Brazil and the USA alone make up a quarter of all interventions carried out worldwide. In Germany, for example, where about 463,000 aesthetic interventions are carried out annually, liposauces also dominate. Around 85 % of the patients are women and popular interventions are botox treatments and wrinkles.

The increasing commercialization of aesthetic interventions focuses on the need for critical handling of the offers in the health sector. The clarification of the risks and protection of consumers is becoming increasingly important in order not to get into the catches of dubious providers.