It is often difficult for people to fully understand the motivations behind a person's decision to undergo some form of cosmetic enhancement. The desire for plastic surgery can often be mistaken as a sign of low self-esteem or lack of confidence by friends and family.

However, with the increasing popularity of cosmetic treatments, it seems that the reasons to have a nip ‘n’ tuck are now more varied than once thought. The boom in availability, coupled with the inevitable fall competitive prices, has meant that more and more people are considering cosmetic augmentation as a way to have the body they always wanted.

A study in October's 'Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery', the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), looked at two measures of body image and satisfaction, ‘self-rated attractiveness’ and ‘comfort in a swimsuit’. Overall body satisfaction in people interested in plastic surgery, other than liposuction, did not differ from people who were not interested.

"This study shows the majority of people who want plastic surgery have a normal level of body satisfaction," said Richard D'Amico, MD, ASPS President-Elect. "We use the term 'look as good as you feel' often and it is good to know this is why the average plastic surgery patient has a cosmetic procedure. They are not, in fact, suffering from low or poor self-esteem."

Both men and women who were interested in Liposuction did however report lower levels of satisfaction in their bodies than other participants. Test carried out to measure the body mass index (BMI) of participants found that people with a higher BMI, who felt that they were too heavy, were more likely to express an interest in Liposuction. However, this may suggest that these individuals looked upon Liposuction as a viable option for weight-loss.

"It is critical to remember that liposuction is not appropriate for weight loss," said Dr. D'Amico. "Liposuction is ideal for people who are at or near their ideal body weight, and have stubborn, localized deposits of fat they want removed."

The study, which surveyed more than 52,000 people, also investigated people’s attitude towards plastic surgery against their relationship status. The study found that women between 56 and 65 were more likely to consider surgery if they were dating or cohabiting than women who were married or single of the same age.

If you are considering having any form of cosmetic changes done to your body it can often be invaluable to consult your local GP first to get an unbiased second-opinion. This will allow a medical professional to assess your physical, as well as mental, suitability for the treatment.

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