The iVillage guide to cosmetic surgery

How it works: The technique is pretty simple - a small incision is made in the skin, then a hoover-like instrument sucks out the fat. It sounds disgusting and it isn't always successful. 'There are those it works well on and those it can't help at all,' says Dr. Percival. He warns that if you have very loose, thin skin and you take out a lot of fat, you're left with several sagging rolls of skin. What's more, the older or heavier you are, the less likely your skin is to spring back into shape.

Dr. Percival adds: 'there's a common misconception that liposuction can help people who are obese or overweight, when it's really only for reducing localised areas of fat.'

Effects and side effects: With a 30 per cent chance of needing a follow-up operation, liposuction is commonly regarded among industry professionals as the cosmetic operation most likely to disappoint.

Face lifts (rhytidectomy)

How it works: An incision is usually made around the back of the ear, from the hair line down to the lobe in between the groove between the back of the ear and the bone behind. The skin is then pulled back and 'redraped.' Excess skin is removed, and the tightened skin is sewn back into its new position.

Effects and side effects: The procedure will tighten loose skin in the neck, face and around the corners of the mouth. Glamorous granny images notwithstanding, this is a surprisingly complex operation, and there's risk of damage to the fine nerves that work the facial muscles.

Breast augmentation

How it works: This is by far the most controversial of all cosmetic surgery procedures, and there is much debate about the safety of silicone implants. After lots of studies and a short-term US embargo on the use of this most popular procedure, there's still no scientific evidence that they're harmful. 'The worst complication is a seven to eight per cent risk of scar tissue thickening, which hardens the implant,' says Dr Percival. Other known risks include decreased nipple sensation, and the operation usually needs repeating every 10 years.

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