But despite criticism against Groupon, two websites in UK follow its example.  Just recently, needloans.org.uk and Cheapfastloans.co.uk have started offering short-term, unsecured loans to help patients pay the cosmetic surgeries including facelift, breast augmentation, tummy tuck, and liposuction.

However, not everyone is happy with growing trend of offering discounted vouchers and unsecured loans to patients considering having cosmetic plastic surgery.  Some experts argue that it is an “unhealthy practice.”

Dr. Tarick Smaili, one of the leading Los Angeles plastic surgeons, said that patients should not rush their decision of having a cosmetic procedure and should spend more time considering its ramifications and the also the viability of their expectations and goals.

“My definition of a good patient is someone who has been thinking and considering plastic surgery for at least a year.  And of course, the desire to have this should come from you and not because someone asks you to change the way you look.  I also say to my patients that any cosmetic procedure is a highly-individualized treatment which should be taken seriously,” Smaili said.

Asked if discount vouchers and unsecured loans offered to plastic surgery patients are acceptable, Smaili believes that what is important is their “financial preparedness.”

“Plastic surgery is not cheap, unless you will get it from unqualified practitioner.  When choosing a doctor, his fees should not be your focus but his experience and qualifications you must strictly look at,” he said.

“For me, discount vouchers in particular seem to focus on getting the cheapest procedure, and as I mentioned earlier, fees should not be the sole consideration when choosing your surgeon,” Smaili added.

However, the surgeon said that “traditional” financing companies that offer “secured loans” to patients are different from websites that give discount vouchers and unsecured loans.

“The problem with unsecured loans is that because of the risk the websites have to accept, the tradeoff is the higher interest rate and large fees, while discount vouchers may result to patients focusing on the cheap procedure, not on the qualifications of the surgeon,” he added.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), men accounted for about 10 percent of all cosmetic plastic surgeries performed in the US.  But while women still make up for the vast majority of patients, experts believe that males may catch up sooner with the growing number of middle-aged workers.

Over the past couple of years, nose job has been the most popular cosmetic procedures for men.  The procedure typically involves manipulating and reshaping the cartilage, which is the flexible tissue inside the nose, to reduce or increase the projection, correct nostril flare, and address other aesthetic problems.

Aside from nose jobs, Smaili says he sees a growing number of male patients seeking liposuction, a procedure to remove the excess fats underneath the skin.  This is not surprising since the surgery was the third most popular cosmetic procedure for men in 2010, according to ASPS data.

“Contrary to popular belief, most men, especially those working in the corporate industry, are conscious with the way they look.  This doesn’t surprise me as several studies have shown that male bosses who are pleasing to the eyes—not necessarily those drop-dead-gorgeous superiors—appear to be more credible and trustworthy,” Smaili says.

And with the growing number of baby boomers and middle-aged men, some experts suggest that facial rejuvenation procedures such as facelift, Botox injection, and eyelid lift will continue their popularity.

In fact, a survey released by ASPS showed that eyelid lift was the third most popular cosmetic plastic surgery in 2010.

Employment is often the primary reason of men seeking cosmetic procedures, particularly that more workers these days postpone their retirement, in addition to the fact that older people are living longer and healthier.

But when treating older patients, Smaili says that most of them simply want to regain their youthful appearance, even those who are asking for nose jobs.

“Older men have a well-imprinted body image.  They do not want to drastically change their appearance, for instance, those who are asking for nose jobs just want to correct their drooping nasal tip to make it youthful.  On the other hand, younger patients are more focused on changing the fundamental shape of their nose,” he says.

To date, many countries including the US require patients to be at least 18 years old before they can undergo breast implant surgery.  But take note that this age requirement generally applies if you will have the procedure solely for cosmetic purpose—e.g., you want to increase your bust size.

By contrast, age requirement is not important if you will have the procedure as a way to treat developmental abnormalities.

You have to remember that patients between 18 and 21 can only have saline implants which are filled with a sterile saltwater solution.  But when you reach the age of 22, you would be allowed to use silicone implants during your breast augmentation surgery.

The main reason why silicone implants require a higher age limit is because of the risk of rupture.  To prevent serious complications, you will be required to undergo MRI screening at least every two years.  By contrast, you will not need this if your implants are filled with saline, which in case of a leak, can be safely absorbed by your body, though your breasts will immediately appear somewhat “flat.”

While 18 years old can already have breast augmentation, many plastic surgeons believe that a woman should wait until she has reached her twenties because there is a likelihood that her breasts will further enlarge.

Imagine that if your breasts become larger after having plastic surgery, you may end up with a bust size bigger than what you really want.  While you can always have revisions to downsize your implants or even remove them without replacement, this means additional expenses and possibly more scarring.

If you decide to have breast augmentation in your teenage years, you will likely need revisions sooner than later.  Take note that breast implants are not designed to last a lifetime and are subjected to the natural wear and tear.

According to a data collected by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 65 percent of breast implant surgeries were performed on patients aged between 20 and 38, a clear indication that most women waited until their body has fully matured before they had the procedure.

Because of the stiff job competition and the growing number of men postponing their retirement, leading Los Angeles plastic surgeon Dr. Tarick Smaili sees more male patients going to his office to ask for cosmetic procedures.

“Contrary to popular belief, I think men nowadays are as conscious as women in terms of physical appearance.  In fact, a 2010 data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) has shown that the number of middle-aged men seeking medical enhancement is on the rise,” Smaili added.

Meanwhile, another survey shows men’s growing enthusiasm with plastic surgery.  UCLA has found that 23 percent of US men were interested with the procedure, although only a fraction will push through with their plans.  By contrast, women were about eight times more likely than male patients to go under the knife.

Smaili noticed that many men still view plastic surgery as the last resort to their problems.

“Based on my experience, men will more likely prefer non-invasive procedures such as Botox injection and dermal fillers while women are more willing to go under the knife to achieve the best result possible,” the cosmetic surgeon said.

A significant number of men seeking cosmetic surgery undergo facial rejuvenation procedures such as facelift and eyelid lift.  And with the aging baby boomers who are living longer and healthier, plastic surgeons across the US believe in one thing: more eager patients will fall in line outside their office.

In fact, a 2010 data from ASPS shows that facelift performed on male patients increased by 14 percent.

Aside from employment reasons and Americans’ obsession to looking young, Smaili believes that the increasing number of patients seeking cosmetic procedures is caused by the changing attitude.

“In the past, cosmetic surgery was almost considered taboo, but now, many people would admit it without batting an eyelash.  More men are also open to treatments that would improve their appearance; this is proven by the invention of the term metrosexual, which is used to describe men who spend a lot of time and money for their appearance,” Smaili said.

Aside from facial rejuvenation procedures such as facelift and Botox, Smaili has also noticed an increase in number of male patients seeking liposuction especially in the chest area and abdomen.

On average, respondents claimed that breast enhancement surgery have increased their sex life satisfaction by 34 percent, while 61 percent said they had sex more frequently after the procedure.

By contrast, only 7 percent of the respondents said they had fewer sexual encounters after their breast augmentation or breast lift surgery.

On a scale of one to ten, one being the lowest satisfaction rate, patients experienced more than a two-point increase in their overall sex life satisfaction following their breast enhancement surgery.

Before the procedure, the average sex life satisfaction score was 6.07 and then jumped to 8.13 after the surgery.

While about 70 percent of respondents said that their overall sex life has improved, 28 percent said that breast surgery did not change anything.

Currently, the average cost of breast augmentation and breast lift in the US is $6,000 and $10,000, respectively.  But despite the procedures’ relatively high price, a number of patients seeking them has increased over the past couple of years.

In the US alone, about 296,000 patients had breast implant surgery in 2010.  Meanwhile, it has been estimated that 5 to 10 million people worldwide have augmentation surgery for cosmetic reasons, although a significant number of them also had the procedure to reconstruct their breasts after mastectomy or to transition from male to female gender.

On the other hand, approximately 90,000 breast lift surgeries were performed in the US in 2010 alone.

Dr. Tarick Smaili, one of the leading Los Angeles plastic surgeons, said he is expecting breast enhancements, particularly augmentation surgery, to further increase their popularity in the coming years.

“I think that the changing perception with cosmetic plastic surgery is the main reason why breast enhancements are enjoying their popularity.  Considered to be a taboo in the previous years, people are now more open to the idea that we have the freedom and the right tool to modify and improve our physical appearance,” Smaili said.

However, the cosmetic surgeon warned that not all people who want to have some “physical improvements” are good candidates for cosmetic surgeries.

“Of course there are many things to consider.  Does she have realistic goals and expectations?  Is she physically and psychologically healthy?  These are just some of the factors plastic surgeons would have to consider before taking any surgical step, particularly if it involves elective and cosmetic procedures,” Smaili added.

(But because the state still has to beef up its tax collection, it has decided to impose a 10 percent tax on indoor tanning services.  If the plan pushes through, it can generate about $2.7 billion over the next 10 years.)

Meanwhile, leading Los Angeles plastic surgeon Dr. Tarick Smaili believes that plastic surgery, both reconstructive and cosmetic procedures, should not be taxed especially that the practice affects the middle-class patients who make up the vast majority of people seeking such treatments.

Smaili said the proposed “Bo-Tax” bill during the previous years in California was based on misconception that cosmetic plastic surgeries are only for rich patients.  But on the contrary, majority of such procedures were performed on middle-class individuals.

Citing the new law in New Jersey, Smaili believes the same thing should be adopted by other states because the “unfair tax” will simply be passed on to patients, in addition to the fact that it would also potentially violate patient privacy.

If the tax would be imposed to patients, Smaili is concerned that they may just seek cosmetic surgery outside the country where medical malpractice law and consumer protection are not as strong and stringent as in the US.

“Unfortunately, many patients choose doctor based on who charge less, and if they find cosmetic surgery to be expensive here because of the unfair tax, they may decide to go abroad to receive the procedure.  That’s where the problem begins; in case of botched surgery, it is possible to go after the foreign surgeon?  In most cases, it isn’t,” Smaili said.

The celebrity mom, who was featured in MTV’s reality show 16 and Pregnant, tweeted: “Thank you USWeekyly for including me on 2011 BEST: Plastic surgeries.”

After giving birth, Abraham underwent breast augmentation surgery to increase her bust size from cup size A to C.  Despite criticism for having the procedure at a relatively young age, she said that she is happy with her decision.

Los Angeles leading plastic surgeon Dr. Tarick Smaili, who did not treat Abraham, said that she is a good example of natural-looking breasts after plastic surgery.

“The good thing about her breast implant size is that it complements her body and perfectly fits her small frame.  She did not go overboard as some celebrities have done in the past by using large implants that often result to the heavy top look,” Smaili said.

During the 1990s, the cosmetic surgeon said the trend in breast augmentation was the “bigger the better,” despite the unnatural look it gave to some patients, particularly those with small frame.

But nowadays, Smaili said that he is seeing more patients asking for revisions to “downsize their breast implant and achieve a more natural look.”

“I think the trend today is the natural bust size.  Just enough volume especially in the upper poles of the breasts to create more cleavage.  People should know that not all patients who ask for breast augmentation solely want to enlarge their breasts; in fact, a significant number of my patients just want to regain the lost volume caused by pregnancy,” Smaili said.

The cosmetic surgeon added that 300 to 350 cubic centimeter (cc) of breast implant size is often enough to create the natural look, although he warned that factors such as waistline, chest width, natural fat and tissue, and overall body frame should also be considered when deciding for the “right” implant size.

Citing Abraham’s breast augmentation, Smaili lauded her decision to stick “to a realistic size considering her small frame and thin arms.”

“Patients like her are easy to work with.  They know their body and consider its limitation.  While we always remind our patients that going for extremely large implants have many disadvantages, there are some who are still persistent about this.  But any self-respecting and ethical surgeons would have to turn these women down because we should not push the body’s limit—that’s my rule,” Smaili said.

Heather Martin said the botched plastic surgery resulted to painful infection, forcing her to extend her time off work.  To date, the victim has not yet filed a medical malpractice suit against her doctor as her lawyer is still determining the exact “damages.”

Martin said the $5,000 worth breast augmentation was conducted by Dr. Robert Rhodes in December 2011.

Several weeks after the surgery, Martin said she received an anonymous letter saying that one of her breast implants had been mistakenly implanted to another female patient; after the doctor realized his mistake, the device was removed and sterilized in an autoclave before it was placed in her chest.

The letter also stated that Martin has to get “testimony of the people in the operating room” or talk to “state licensing agency to get the full truth.”

Martin’s mother, Tammy Bailey, was alarmed after her daughter told her about the anonymous letter and immediately called the surgeon who then allegedly admitted his mistake.

The complainant said Rhodes had admitted that he had reused a breast implant that was mistakenly implanted to another patient because doing so was “cost-effective.”

Because of the incident, Martin said she developed chronic infection in the incision of her left breast.  However, she admitted that she was not sure if the affected area was the one that received the used implant.

The patient said she underwent breast augmentation to be “happier,” but with the botched surgery, the procedure made her “upset.”

Meanwhile, Martin has yet to file a case against her doctor as Richard Harris, her attorney, is still investigating the situation and estimating the “damages” caused by the alleged botched plastic surgery.

Harris cited several studies showing that reusing implants and even certain medical devices may cause dangers to patients that it is not a standard procedure for plastic surgeons.  He mentioned a case in Las Vegas in which more than a hundred patients contracted hepatitis C at a local endoscopy clinic.

Currently, Martin is consulting with another plastic surgeon to replace her breast implants with a new pair.  In addition, the victim was subjected to a wide range of examinations that would determine if she contracted blood-borne pathogens like hepatitis and HIV; these tests will continue for the next several months.

In 2010, 13.1 million cosmetic procedures were performed in the country, with about 88 percent accounting to non-invasive treatments.  Meanwhile, almost half of the patients were in their 40s and 50s, a clear manifestation of Americans’ obsession to youthful beauty.

One advantage of non-invasive cosmetic procedures over surgical ones is that they involve no recovery or require little downtime.  However, one consideration is that they often need maintenance so the patients can preserve their youthful appearance; for instance, Botox and collagen injection must be repeated at least every six months.

The International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine (IAPAM) is expecting that non-invasive cosmetic procedures especially those treating the signs of aging will increase in numbers.  Botox and Dysport, which both uses neurotoxin in small dosage, will continue their popularity.

Dermal fillers such as Restylane and Juvederm will also continue their popularity.  These treatments are used to “fill in” hollowed facial areas such as the cheeks although certain types can also used in lip augmentation.

In addition, non-surgical body contouring procedures such as VelaSmooth and Zerona will continue their popularity.

Over the past couple of years, liposuction has been one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries in the US.  But nowadays, new technologies have made it possible to perform the procedure without using incisions; in fact, some doctors simply inject a concoction of drugs to the fatty areas to melt these away, allowing the body to naturally flush these out.

These are the advantages of minimally invasive procedures over cosmetic plastic surgery:

• The treatments are performed quickly.
• Most procedures are relatively painless or at least the discomfort can be minimized by local anesthesia.
• Bed rest is not required because there is little or no downtime.
• Side effects are minor.  But in case the patients develop some swelling, redness, and bruising, these symptoms will likely subside a day or two.
• The procedures are ideal for patients who do not want the idea of going under the knife.
• Most non-invasive treatments provide instantaneous results because there is little or no symptom such as swelling and bruising.
• The non-invasive cosmetic procedures are much cheaper than plastic surgery.

Classic rock radio station WLUP “The Loop” held a contest requiring listeners to submit written reasons why they want to undergo breast augmentation surgery, and a photograph of their natural breasts.

One of the winners, Carrie, has shared her stories of why she desires to undergo the cosmetic plastic surgery.  Three years ago, the bank teller gave her husband her kidney, and as a way to thank her wife, the husband said he wants to “give her breast augmentation in return.”

The second winner, Alishia, is a cancer survivor who at a young age received radiation therapy to save her life; however, the treatment inhibited her to have normal breast development.

According to the radio station’s website, Alishia became a nurse as her way to heal others who are dealing with the same medical issues she had experienced during her struggle with cancer.

This is not the first time a radio station offers breast surgery vouchers to listeners.  Just recently, Calgary station Amp Radio also raffled off breast augmentation which was won by a transgender woman.

Also, a casino in Atlantic city offered jackpots in the form of cosmetic procedures including liposuction, cheek implants, and Botox injection.  The contest dubbed as the “Tuck and Lift Sweepstakes” raffled off $25,000 worth of plastic surgery and non-invasive procedures.

Meanwhile, some board-certified plastic surgeons are not happy with the growing trend of using cosmetic surgery vouchers as a prize for contest as it may mislead people to believe the procedure does not involve serious ramifications.

Dr. Tarick Smaili, one of the leading Los Angeles plastic surgeons, said that plastic surgery is a “serious decision to make and involves lengthy consultation between a doctor and his patient.”

“I always require lengthy consultation and physical examination before I proceed with a certain procedure to determine a patient’s qualification not just in terms of physical health but also emotional and psychological health.  Of course, I also consider my patient’s expectations and goals—whether these are achievable or not,” Smaili said.