days, plastic surgery to correct a real or perceived imperfection or to eliminate the signs of ageing, has become quite common.  It used to be that plastic surgery was only used for medical purposes such as to repair structural damage caused by an accident or to correct a congenital defect.

The term “plastikos” is a Greek word which can be translated into “to form”, “to mold”.  This word was chosen because what this type of surgery does is reshape parts of the body with the purpose of improving their appearance as well as increasing their functionality.

Reconstructive surgery deals with abnormalities such as birth defects, and problems resulting from accidents, diseases and ageing.  Cosmetic surgery on the other hand, involves the reshaping of an existing part of the body, keeping close to its original form but with the aim of enhancing or improving its appearance.

Many people are attracted to the idea of looking better by going under the knife because the results are instant and when the surgery is well done, the results can really be amazing.   Aside from this people believe that an improved appearance would boost their self-confidence allowing them to feel good.

There are several types of plastic surgeries that are designed to make you look younger and these include:

1. abdominoplasty or tummy tuck: takes out the excess fat in the abdomen and tightens the muscles of the abdominal wall

2. liposuction: literally sucks out excess fat from various parts of the body

3. breast enlargement: increases the size of the breast through the use of implants

4. breast lift: involves the removal of excess skin, the reshaping and raising of the breast to restore its youthful lift and firmness

5. ear reshaping: involves the reduction in size of the ears; this surgery is performed only on  individuals between the ages of 4 and 14

6. eyelid surgery: involves the removal of skin, fat and sometimes muscles from the upper and lower eyelids

7. nose reshaping or rhinoplasty: involves altering the size of the nose to make it more proportional to the rest of the face, or to improve the angle between it and the upper lip; this surgery is also done to correct breathing problems

8. face and forehead lift: this involves the redrapping of the skin and the removal of excess fat to take away that sagging look which is a result of ageing; this surgery is usually performed on individuals above the age of 40
9. facial implant: this surgery aims to improve the contour or the face or make a particular part more proportional to the rest of the face by reshaping it through the use of implants
10. laser facial resurfacing: the outer skin ,particularly around the eyes and mouth is vaporized in order to encourage the formation of a new layer
11. injections with fat or collagen: diminishes the visibility of wrinkles by injecting them with fat or collagen 
12. Botox injections: induced paralysis of muscles in the face in order to eliminate frown lines, crow’s feet (around the eye area) and forehead lines
13. chemical peel, dermabrasion: the removal of skin layers in order to make wrinkles less visible and to allow the growth of a new layer

According to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons or BAAPS, the number of plastic surgeries is steadily increasing in the U.K.  Among women breast enlargement surgery, face lifts, Botox injections, and eye surgery are popular while men go for nose reshaping and the reduction of chest fat.