The iVillage guide to cosmetic surgery

Effects and side effects: 'There is a quite high instance of leaking with the saline implants, and they wrinkle a lot,' says Professor Sharpe. 'And because they have to be over-inflated, so that the internal edges of the shell don't fracture, they can have a slightly unnatural appearance,' he adds.

All other implants, including the soya and hydrogen gel types, have been banned in the UK due to risk, non-reliability or lack of information about their long-term effects.

Breast reduction (mammaplasty)

How it works: The most common technique involves moving the nipple up, reducing the breast tissue and tightening the skin underneath. Scarring is more prominent with reduction than with breast augmentation. An anchor-shaped incision is made around the areola, to look like a keyhole. The nipple is then moved, yet still attached to the breast, and fat is removed from underneath. Then, the whole shape is restitched, leaving an anchor-shaped scar. Risks include loss of nipple sensation and infection, and women can't breastfeed afterwards.

Breast lift (mastopexy)

How it works: This usually involves lifting breast tissue and skin, and it can cause the same prominent anchor-shaped scarring as in reduction. The idea is to sling the breast up by removing tissue from underneath the breast itself. For very minor lifts, the surgeon may choose a donut mastopexy, involving a circular incision around the nipple. The skin around the nipple will then be pleated and bunched up, but will eventually iron itself out naturally. Both procedures can cause alteration in nipple sensation.

Nose job (rhinoplasty)

How it works: A favourite among twenty-somethings who've been saving their pennies to spite their nose. Results of this surgery depend on how much the nose needs remoulding, so scarring will vary. For nose-reshaping, cartilage and bone will be cut and discarded in order to reshape the nose's bridge line. In most cases the nose will then be broken in four places, and cartilage will then be chiselled into shape around the breaks. Finally, the tip of the nose will be altered by moving cartilage around in the nostrils.

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