Aussies choose to go Under the Knife

Aussies choose to go Under the Knife

By Chandana Banerjee

More and more Aussies are considering going in for cosmetic surgery, an independent survey into cosmetic intervention has revealed. A survey of 2211 people by NEWS.com.au and research company CoreData found 60.8 per cent of respondents have thought about having plastic surgery while 58.5 per cent have considered non-surgical procedures such as wrinkle treatments and laser hair removal.

Feelings of self-worth and confidence are the biggest drivers of cosmetic surgery and non-surgical treatments, with the majority of respondents doing it to feel better about themselves, followed by looking more attractive for their partner.

Improving appearances in a bid to further careers was the least popular reason for both types of procedures.

Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons president Dr Howard Webster said a number of studies had shown "appropriate" plastic surgery had long-term positive effects on self esteem, with less than 1 per cent of people becoming addicted to it.

The stigma associated with plastic surgery has also fallen, with the majority of respondents not shy of telling their fiends and family that they had work done.

The lure of big breasts hasn’t lost its grip, with breast enlargement the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure, followed by rhinoplasty and liposuction. Penis enlargements also scored a mention with 17.9 per cent of males who have undergone plastic surgery braving the operation.

Wrinkle treatment is the most popular non-surgical treatment for both sexes, with not a great deal of difference between the percentage of men and woman who have had it.

Treatments to reduce acne scarring or “skin needling” where the skin is punctured with small needles to inject collagen and improve scars and wrinkles were by far the least popular procedures with only 5.6 per cent of people having them done.

Despite many of us secretly considering cosmetic treatments, the leap from thought to action is a big one with only 10 per cent of respondents actually undergoing cosmetic surgery and non-surgical procedures.

While many Australians are considering cosmetic intervention, when it comes to paying for it only 3.3 per cent would consider spending their tax return on enhancements.

The majority of respondents, or 53.4 per cent, preferred to spend their money on reducing debt, followed by improving their homes.

Credit from http://www.surgerywatch.com