Cosmetic surgery on the rise
By Felicity Hetherington
MORE than half of Australians are thinking about going under the knife or having their face injected with chemicals to look better.
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.
Special treat
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.
Stigma falling
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.
"Plastic surgery has gone mainstream which is largely media driven," Dr Webster said.
"Cosmetic surgery stories are covered extensively in the media and shows like Nip/Tuck and Extreme Makeover have made it so much more accessible to people - many people don't feel ashamed discussing it."
Looking the part
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.
"I'm surprised by this result as there are very few surgeons undertaking penis enlargement," Mr Webster said.
"It has poor results generally and is unlikely to become popular. Few surgeons think it worthwhile to offer in their practice."
Pesky wrinkles
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.
Cosmetic Physicians Society of Australia's Dr Gabrielle Caswell said men liked the quick-fix approach to looking good and preferred wrinkles to be "softened" rather than erased like women.
"The aim of the procedure is to make men look polished and rugged but still retain an air of youth," Dr Caswell said.
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.
"The technology has only recently become available, therefore limited knowledge about what's on the market is probably a factor," Dr Caswell said.
Fear factor
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.
The majority of respondents feared operations going wrong, while half rated looking worse than before - think Jocelyn "Cat Woman" Wildestein - as the worst possible outcome.
Then there's the financial cost, with most respondents spending between $5000 to $10,000 on plastic surgery and $3000 or less on non-surgical treatments.
Dr Webster said the results were indicative of human nature.
"Obviously there are potential social and personal downsides and risks, as well as the costs, but there will always be big differences between thinking of doing something and doing it, not just in cosmetic surgery," he said.
"It would be interesting to ask how many men and women have thought of visiting a brothel versus how many actually have."
Celebrity looks
Respondents voted Hollywood actress Demi Moore the best looking surgically-enhanced celebrity, followed by Ashlee Simpson and Jennifer Aniston.
Going over the top and ordering massive breasts didn't impress those surveyed, with Pamela Anderson and Jordan among the least admired celebrities.
Not surprisingly, Michael Jackson was the number one worst-looking celebrity, followed by Jocelyn Wildestein and Melanie Griffith.
Reality check
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.