Over the last decade, the number of cosmetic surgery operations has been soaring.
It is now more socially acceptable for people who are unhappy with their appearance or an aspect of their image to go the extra mile to achieve a look they are comfortable with.
There are very conflicting opinions on cosmetic surgery, but when it comes down to it a person unhappy with their appearance is just that.
If you had the option to better your self-esteem, why wouldn't you take it? There are many different types of cosmetic surgery people choose for a multitude of reasons.
There are plenty of different procedures to correct abnormalities or to enhance one's perception of self.
Face lifts to fight the more dramatic effects of aging, breast augmentation because of self-consciousness or to reduce back and shoulder pain, lower body lifts to get rid of excess skin after weight loss, rhinoplasty to correct nose abnormalities, liposuction to aid fat removal - there are plenty of procedures that can help with different body issues.
Massive developments in technique and technology mean that cosmetic surgeries now look more natural than ever before.
Breast augmentation isn't always about 'gaining a cup-size'.
In fact, quite often, mammoplasty procedures are performed to reduce breast size to improve comfort, ease back pain and make everyday life a little bit easier.
Practical, elective cosmetic surgery can sometimes take on a stigma by association.
Breast surgery is also being used to improve life for patients who have had to go through mastectomy procedures because of breast cancer.
Cosmetic surgery is being used more and more to heal the damage physically and, more importantly, emotionally from those who have suffered major accidents or gone through trauma where there would otherwise be a major change in physical appearance.
Being able to soften the blow from something that may already be life altering is a very special gift that we are able to medically offer people today.
Even if a person hasn't suffered through a major event that caused physical scars, emotional ones can hurt just as much.
Those with untreatable self-image issues can benefit tremendously from cosmetic surgery.
It may seem vain to those outside of a situation, but those who have suffered from bullying based on the way they look can feel like a new person after dealing with their own image issues.
It's important to ignore the views of others when you are considering something like cosmetic surgery.
Working through body issues isn't about other people; it is about you.