Brits indebted for sake of vanity

Posted 2007-12-8

In the pursuit of physical “perfection” many Britons are now finding themselves in debt to pay for plastic surgery, liposuction (the removal of fat), breast augmentation, tummy tucks, rhinoplasty (nose-jobs), and so on. 

According to research findings from Abbey, Britons are willing to take on loans worth a collective £1.4 billion for the multi-purposes of cosmetic or plastic surgery. 

“We are seeing an increase in requests to borrow for plastic surgery. Whether striving for visible perfection or as part of a medical treatment, plastic surgery is getting more and more popular among Britons,” offered Paul Morrish, Head of Abbey Loans. 

Apparently, nearly one million adults in the UK are now considering taking on debt in an attempt to either achieve a quick fix on their bodies, or undergo a corrective surgical procedure. Additionally, Axa has announced that with the growing popularity of plastic surgery, nearly a quarter of a million retirees are also considering some form of plastic surgery.

The most popular procedures for which such loans are being sought are breast augmentations, the bank states - being 27% of all plastic surgery operations performed. Following breast augmentation by popularity, are tummy tucks and nose jobs. 

Rhinoplasty can be performed to meet aesthetic goals or for reconstructive purposes to correct birth defects or breathing problems. It is sometimes combined with a chin augmentation to enhance the over-all aesthetic results. 

Liposuction, also known as lipoplasty (fat modeling) is a cosmetic surgery that removes fat from many different places on the body. The fat is usually removed via a cannula (a hollow tube) and aspirator (a suction device). The amount of fat removed varies by each procedure, but the average amount is typically less 5 kg. 

No surgical procedure is a low-effort alternative to exercise, diet, or self-esteem. Therefore, all individuals should carefully consider the significant personal and financial risks involved in elective procedures, before making the decision to go under the knife and anesthesia, or under the laser. 

But in cases where plastic or cosmetic surgery is assured, very careful examination of physicians’ experiences, past results and levels of education should be closely examined to ensure the best possible outcome.

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