Discover the difference cosmetic surgery can make to your looks, and your self-confidence

It'S believed that more than half of women aged 25 to 45 in Britain intend to have cosmetic surgery at some stage in their lives. From breast enlargement or uplift to botox and facelifts, more and more women are choosing to change their appearance to boost their confidence, pursue a younger look and feel more attractive and happier.



An increasing market



An increasing menu of cosmetic procedures are now on the table, allowing people to banish wrinkles, get rid of blemishes, shift excess weight and alter parts of the body they might feel unhappy with. Surgery could involve short and simple procedures, or longer more detailed work to the body, while prices can vary from under hundreds to thousands of pounds. The choice is with the individual and dependent upon what they would like.



Not just women

And it's not just women taking a wide range of cosmetic procedures - an increasing number of men are also changing the way they look, including liposuction and ear correction.

Cosmetic surgery can also be a life-changing option for people afflicted by major wounds or injuries. In fact, this is the very reason the procedure came into being in the first place - thanks to an operation carried out on a World War One hero.



How cosmetic surgery originated, and where it is now

Walter Yeo was a British sailor who suffered horrific facial wounds in World War One. In 1917 he was treated with a skin graft and is thought to have been the first person to ever benefit from cosmetic surgery.



Fast forward from 1917 and the medical world has evolved - and will continue to do so.

Today the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (known as BAAPS), which was established in 1982, seeks to regulate the world of cosmetic surgery and is stringent on proper training. It plays a key advisory role to the public, explaining the benefits and dangers of choosing different procedures to change the way we look. It sticks to the following motto it asks its members to adhere to - "Be Safe, Be Sure!"



Experienced clinicians



That mantra is repeated by BAAPS throughout its work as it asks people considering surgery to ensure they sufficiently check the experience and training of prospective surgeons, as well as to fully assess the risks associated. It warns that no treatment is risk free.

A women's magazine survey found that more than 70 per cent of people interviewed who had undertaken cosmetic surgery said it had improved their lives, while almost half had changed their job afterwards.



Down to the individual



But at the end of the day, away from the world of statistics and public feeling, the choice is with the individual. What would make you happy? It goes without saying that cosmetic surgery is a major procedure - the impacts of which could change your life forever. So remember - "Be Safe, Be Sure!" Oh, and be happy!