Plastic or cosmetic surgery was once seen as an extravagant luxury afforded by rich Americans, movie stars, and aging rockers trying to convince themselves they weren't yet over the hill. It has sat uneasily with the glitzy world of fake glamour and personal vanity and as such has maybe not received the press it truly deserves.

But with plastic surgery now more affordable than ever before, it is no longer just the rich and famous that benefit. The average man or woman in the street are taking advantage of this unprecedented availability with a never before seen enthusiasm.

It boils down to the fact we live in a world obsessed with looks and body shape. Whether this is a good thing or a bad thing is for the academics to debate, the fact of the matter is that's how things stand.

But what is so wrong with looking good?

If a person feels good about themselves they project this onto the world around them. It boosts their own confidence and exudes a message that they are happy and striving to be successful within the scope of their personal goals. That is why there has been such a rise in minor operations for this type of surgery.

But plastic surgery isn't just about so-called 'nip and tuck vanity surgery'. It plays an important medical role too.

Reconstructive surgery helps people that have suffered sometimes crippling disfigurements. This can be through burns; infections and diseases; bone fractures; birth abnormalities; or most commonly as a result of the removal of cancerous tissue.

So the cult of 'looking good' isn't as black and white as you might first imagine. Plastic surgery can give back the confidence that has been so cruelly taken away.

With cosmetic surgery on the rise at the rate it currently enjoys, it is worth noting that it is something that shouldn't be entered into lightly. At the end of the day you will be making a change to your appearance, so you must really want it. That said, if you are absolutely sure the choice is the right one, then it can be a change you will enjoy for the rest of your life.

Mrs Chien C Kat specialises in breast enlargement surgery and runs a leading cosmetic surgery in the UK.