Cosmetic surgery is an elective operation that alters or enhances a part of your face or body that you want to change. If you're considering cosmetic surgery, make sure you know what's involved before you decide.
"Cosmetic surgery changes a person's unwanted, normal appearance," says Professor Simon Kay, consultant plastic surgeon and member of the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS).
“If someone is born with a large nose, this is still normal, but they might feel it is undesirable.”
Surgery to change your appearance carries the same risks as any surgery. It's important to think carefully before deciding to have it. Read our guide to considering whether cosmetic surgery is right for you.
"The most common cosmetic surgery procedure in the UK is breast augmentation [enlargement or enhancement]," says Professor Kay. "After that, I would say the most popular procedure is eyelid surgery, or some form of facial rejuvenation [making the face look younger]."
Other procedures include rhinoplasty (nose job), liposuction (removal of unwanted fat by surgical vacuum), abdominoplasty (removing skin and fat from the abdomen, also known as a tummy tuck) and labiaplasty (reshaping of the labia that surround the vagina).