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DO YOU TAKE PLASTIC? 

CINDY, 40, pops out at lunch time to go to her dermatologist's office for an injection - of her own fat cells! These were removed from her own thighs, and kept in a deep freeze. Now, every few weeks, she pops along to have some of them injected into her cheeks, to ease away a few wrinkles. She says: "It's like a trip to the dentist."

Plastic surgery on demand.

MANDY is approaching graduation at school. Her graduation present? Breast augmentation (enlargement)! Several of her peers have the same - others are having breast reduction (68% of under-18 breast procedures are reductions.)

Cosmetic or 'plastic' surgery has become very common - and is set to rocket. Among twenty-somethings and up, 'Nips' and 'tucks' are joining many personal care 'shopping-lists' - right after hair styling and manicure. And many 16 year olds are looking forward to liposuction and breast reduction or augmentation. In 1998, over 3,500 under-18s had these operations in America.

How young is too young? Europeans point the finger at America and grimace. But they all know you only need to look at America if you want to see Europe in five to ten years time.

ALL CHANGE
Like it or hate it - the plastic surgery industry is set to boom. Advertising is everywhere - in American magazines, and on TV and radio. In 1998, women in America had a total of 1,000,000 cosmetic procedures, and men had around 100,000.

Is it sick?

Or is it just like touching up the scratches on your car? (Or giving it a total respray?)

IS UGLINESS IN THE BRAIN?
In 1960, in his ground-breaking 'new psychology' book "Psycho Cybernetics", Matthew Maltz describes his experience of qualifying in what was a new branch of medicine, plastic surgery.
He waited for his first client.

And waited.

And waited.

Eventually - his first client walked in - he was in business!

But Maltz's practice lead him to question the role of his patients' self esteem in their desire to look different.

He found that two patients could have exactly the same procedure.
* Number one would be ecstatic!

* Number two - could still be down in the dumps. Number two could even look in the mirror - and see no change at all, though the change was there for others to see.

Changing your face or thighs does not necessarily change the way
you feel.


SOCIETY PREFERS PERFECTION
In certain sectors, society seems to be demanding perfection. A Canadian survey (admittedly from a cosmetic surgery firm...) found that 84% of men thought that physical attractiveness was important for power and success in their job.

In fact, one busy plastic surgeon in London says that 40% of his patients are men, and 60% are from the business world. And Europeans pay around 30% more than Americans for the procedures - so it's good business for him.


ARE THEY QUALIFIED?
Certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery takes three years. But many of the 50,000, or so, plastic surgeons practising in America have picked up their skills in short courses. A bit like UK doctors 'learning' Acupuncture in a few weekends.

Most procedures are carried out successfully. But 'most' may mean just over half... Until recently, there have been no national statistics. Scare stories are plenty. One woman had her lips messed with three times unsuccessfully by the same surgeon, before a $2,500 patch-up job elsewhere corrected the errors, and relieved her stress. Was she then 'lucky' to have found a fix?

In this area of rapid development, many procedures are relatively new - so can be more risky.

[Next: What Should You Do about Plastic Surgery?]

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO ABOUT PLASTIC SURGERY?
Cosmetic surgery is on the increase - that is certain. But is it for you?

If you've got a major decision to make - eg regarding a sex change, you've got enough to think about without me putting in my five pennyworth.

If we are talking about more cosmetic reasons - adding a 'cup' size, or removing a few wrinkles - I suppose it comes down to at what point you call it vanity. And whether being vain is OK for you!

If it is - go for it!

But basically, I think any surgery is best avoided. Added to which I'd recommend you try to live with what you've got.

As for promotion at work - if you really think you'd be passed over if you didn't submit to the surgeon's 'Hoover', I'd get out anyway. Who wants to be held to ransom? Go somewhere where they value you for what you are - not what you look like.


ME TOO SOCIETY?
I say "Be proud of your difference!"

After all, if we all looked the same - we'd have to have name badges to tell each other apart. Life would be like one big conference!

If you want to get rid of wrinkles or a paunch, don't ignore the obvious:

Improve your diet , living and exercise habits.

Surgery cannot be a substitute for good health. A patch-up job, which may come back to haunt you! (Just the same as sun beds - you DO know they will eventually lead to wrinkly skin, don't you?)


THINK - 'SELF ESTEEM'
Back to Matthew Maltz. Why did he move out of plastic surgery, and
into his 'Psycho Cybernetics'? He cared for people - he wanted to make a difference.

His insight was that, if you can change how you feel about a certain physical feature, you don't need the surgery. This ends up safer (no anaesthetic), cheaper and longer lasting. And, not least, more satisfying.

And, conversely, if you do have the surgery - you may feel no different, so you'd be wasting your money.

There are circumstances in which plastic surgery can work wonders. I acknowledge that, and support anyone 100% who consciously chooses cosmetic surgery as being their best option.

But surgery will never cover up low self-esteem, so don't think it will.
To raise self esteem is always hard work - but that is what makes
it so valuable.

So have a good think before you decide plastic has the answer!

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