Cosmetic surgery - the in-thing of the 'noughties'

Cosmetic surgery has taken on a whole new image in body-conscious 2006. Once the domain of ageing, and aged, Hollywood actresses, plastic surgery is now attracting an altogether more main stream audience. Whether its botox to erase those annoying frown lines or an injection to plump up your pout, plastic surgery is becoming the middle-classes' best friend.

You can even swap your ham and cheese baguette for breast augmentation in your lunch hour at certain London clinics.

Banker Beth, 35, who lives in north London, explained the attraction for her: "After having two children and working full time I suddenly looked in the mirror one day and saw my mother staring back at me. I'd always taken care of my image and never wanted to be one of those women who didn't give a damn about what they looked like, but there I was looking like a tired old version of the self I wanted to be.

"A friend of mine had invested in botox and a chemical peel when she reached forty and she looked fantastic. So I thought, look I'm working for the money why shouldn't I treat myself. I'm glad I did."

The most popular procedures are breast implants, eyelid surgery, breast reduction, face and neck lifts, and nose jobs (in that order).

Even men are at it - now 11% of the procedures are carried out on men (whose favourite work is a nose job).

Note that it is important to use registered clinics and practitioners. The Department of Health has an important website on the issue.