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.

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.

The study, which involved 2,500 respondents, revealed that women are still more eager to have some nip and tucks than men; however, it does not mean that male patients are quite rare in cosmetic plastic surgery. In fact, they accounted for about 10 percent of all cosmetic surgeries in the US.

According to the finding, 28 percent of female respondents said they would consider cosmetic surgery, while 18 percent men favored the procedure.  Meanwhile, the study was conducted between January 5 and 9 on US adults aged 18 years and older.

In addition, 9 percent of women aged between 18 and 44 said they have used online coupon to enjoy discounts on cosmetic procedures such as Botox injection, laser skin resurfacing, and other non-invasive treatments.  On the other hand, about 22 percent of respondents who have not used “daily deal” said they would consider using it.

About 31 percent of women between 18 and 44 years old said they would consider online coupon to enjoy discounts of cosmetic procedures compared to 23 percent of men in the same age bracket.

While non-invasive procedures are usually offered by online companies that promote discounts vouchers, surgical treatments such as breast augmentation and facelift are quite rare.  However, it did not stop Groupon from offering up to 50 percent discounts on aesthetic surgeries.

But in November 2011, the popular online company has been accused of being irresponsible as it seemed to pressure consumers to buy vouchers for a limited time period.  According to Advertising Standards Authority, the practice clearly violated a provision by the British Association for Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) prohibiting cosmetic doctors from offering “date-linked” incentives.

While people have different views on plastic surgery, it is important to remember that the procedure is a serious decision to make; in fact, any ethical doctor would require a lengthy consultation to determine if a patient is qualified or not to receive a certain procedure.

A qualified patient should be physically healthy, emotionally mature, and well-rounded individual who can understand the ramifications of plastic surgery, including not just the benefits but also the potential risks.  It is also important that he or she has realistic goals and expectations with a certain procedure.

Perhaps one of the growing trends in plastic surgery is the minimally invasive facelift, which is ideal for patients aged between 35 and 45 who have “isolated” sagging and wrinkles.  The procedure—which is usually conducted under local anesthesia and is combined with laser treatment to tighten skin and other minor surgeries—allows older people to postpone a more invasive facial rejuvenation surgery.

The good thing about mini facelift is the shorter recovery period; in fact, patients can resume most of their normal activities just four to five days after the surgery.

Another new breakthrough and growing trend is the use of a very fine tube that allows plastic surgeons to conduct lip augmentation and soft tissue filler for the aging face with little to no downtime and less bruising.  And because of the device’s precision, it would be easier to achieve the best results possible.

During the previous years, breast augmentation, more often than not, was performed as a way to achieve the “larger than life look.”  But nowadays, plastic surgeons have noticed that a growing number of women choose smaller breast implants and previous patients who are asking to downsize their implants.

Experts believe that most women nowadays seek the natural appearance rather than the “heavy” top look.  In fact, this growing trend can be seen in the way Hollywood celebrities make their decision; for instance, Kate Hudson has chosen small breast implants in 2010 that no one would even know she had surgery if not for her previous pictures.

As with the previous years, breast augmentation will still remain one of the most sought-after procedures in 2012 especially with the introduction of a new 3D technology called Vectra, which allows the patients to visualize the final result of the procedure.

The good thing about Vectra is that it can also be applied to a wide range of cosmetic plastic surgery including rhinoplasty (“nose job”), liposuction, and body contouring surgeries.

But still, stem cell is seen as the most promising development in cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery.  While the potential of this type of cell has not been fully harnessed, scientists and plastic surgeons are expected to further focus their attention on how to make the technology work more effectively and safer to their patients.

Fortunately, the defective silicone implants were not approved and sold in the United States.  In fact, the US Food and Drug Administration has warned PIP in 2000—10 years before the scandal broke—about its failure to follow “good manufacturing practices.”

However, reports show that 80 percent of PIP breast implants were exported to other countries including UK, Chile, Germany, Venezuela, Spain, Argentina, Colombia, and Brazil.

According to the FDA warning sent to PIP founder Jean-Claude Mas, the company’s plant in La Seyne-sur-Mer in the south France has 11 deviations from “good manufacturing practices.”

The organization also warned him about the “adulterated” saline breast implants, and cited his company’s failure to investigate the deflation of its products in addition to failure to report 120 complaints in France and other countries.  Currently, there is global manhunt for the 72-year-old company founder who is a former butcher.

With the FDA warnings, consumer groups in France ask why their authorities did not conduct an investigation on the safety of PIP’s breast implants.

The US is one of the countries that require very strict guidelines when it comes to implants and devices used in cosmetic plastic surgery.  In fact, Mentor and Allergan Natrelle are the only two companies allowed to manufacture and sell breast implants in the country.

To allay the concern of patients in the US who had breast augmentation surgery, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) has released a statement saying that the defective implants did not reach the country.  The organization added that only those who had the procedure outside the US should be concerned with the defective product.

Because of the fiasco, the French government has promised it will pay for the implant removal surgery of women affected by the defective products.  It has been estimated that 30,000 patients in the country had the PIP silicone-filled implants.

Reports show that PIP’s cheap silicone implants were filled with an industrial silicone gel designed for mattress rather than for human.

On the other hand, the British government still insists that there is no need to require all women with PIP’s silicone implants to undergo implant removal surgery although they are advised to immediately consult their doctor to determine if there is a leak.

In the US, only the saline- and silicone-filled implants have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration due to the proliferation of clinical data showing their safety to a significant number of women.  However, patients should remember that breasts implants, while designed to stay up to 25 years inside the body without any problem, may not last a lifetime which means that they will most likely undergo a revision plastic surgery in later years.

For women who want to achieve a more natural result, plastic surgeons generally recommend the silicone-filled implant as it contains a cohesive gel material noted for simulating the movement and feel of a real tissue.  But since it involves more risks compared to the saline, this can only be used on patients 22 years and older.

On the other hand, the saline-filled implant, which is allowed to patients aged at least 18 years old, are noted for its safety as it contains a sterile saltwater that can be absorbed by the body without any problem in case of a leak.  And since the solution is immediately absorbed by the tissue just after few hours of leaking, thus resulting to a deflated breast, patients can ask for a revision plastic surgery right away.

However, this is not the case for silicone implants with leaks that may go undetected for years since the cohesive gel stays around the tissue and may even travels to other parts of the body such as in the underarm, lymph nodes, and even organs.  For such reasons, plastic surgeons require women to undergo a regular MRI screening which should be conducted three years after the surgery and subsequently every two years to identify leaks and immediately address the problem.

Both the saline and silicone implants come either in teardrop or round shape.  For women who want to have a prominent cleavage and achieve fullness in the upper poles, most plastic surgeons recommend the round implant.  And because of its symmetrical shape, this type of implant has no risk of becoming distorted due to implant rotation.

Some women think that the round-shaped implants may look unnatural because of their round, augmented look.  For this reason, some doctors recommend the teardrop implants which have a “gentle” slope similarly to the natural shape of breasts.

But since the teardrop implants involve risk of having a distorted breast, these always come with a textured surface to prevent implant rotation.

For patients who want to achieve a significant result, going for silicone implant surgery is one of the most recommended options.  In this procedure, plastic surgeons place an incision along the area where the “cheek” and back of the thigh meets, or along the butt crease where the scars are not as noticeable.

Once the incisions are made, plastic surgeons will create a pocket for each “cheek” where they can position the butt implants.  Ideally, these synthetic materials are placed under the muscle (instead behind the tissue) so there will be more tissue and skin that can serve as a “padding,” thus resulting to a more natural appearance.

After making sure that the implants have created symmetrical cheeks, plastic surgery specialists will then close the incisions with sutures and put compression garment to protect the surgical site.

As with any cosmetic plastic surgery, butt implant procedure requires recovery which may extend for several months, although most patients can resume to their work several days after the operation as long as it is not physically demanding.

Since there is a risk of implant rejection, some patients prefer fat grafting to augment their buttocks.  Called as the Brazilian butt lift, this involves collecting enough fats from the abdomen (or other parts of the body where fats accumulate) and then injecting these to the “back side.”

To increase the survivability rate of the transferred fats, doctors perform purification method that can separate the tissue and blood from the fats.  However, it is important to note that some of the grafted fats will be reabsorbed by the body, which makes the result sometimes unpredictable.

With this consideration, the Brazilian butt lift is only ideal for patients who want to slightly augment their buttocks.

Meanwhile, plastic surgeons also “liquid implants” to increase the butt size.  Some doctors agree that this procedure is safer than using solid silicone implants because there is no incision made in the butt area while providing a permanent solution.  In this procedure, doctors inject the “cheeks” with “liquid implants” through small needles, and as a result, there is no risk of visible scarring.

As its name suggests, breast augmentation is used to “augment” or increase the bust size of women who think that their breasts are small or “underdeveloped.”  However, the same plastic surgery procedure has also been used to restore the breast volume after major weight loss or pregnancy.  (The before-and-after picture below is singer Kelly Rowland who is said to have received implants.)

Many plastic surgeons believe that the increasing popularity of breast augmentation is due to the introduction of implants which have thicker and sturdier shell or have double lumens (a shell within a shell) to accommodate higher levels of impact and force.  In fact, a significant number of patients can have these synthetic biocompatible materials inside their body for 25 years without experiencing any problem.

However, it is important to note that breast implants are not designed to last a lifetime and there are instances when women may experience complications and aesthetic problems due to the natural changes in the body.  With this, most patients with breast implants will need a revision plastic surgery at some point in their lives.

Currently, there are only two breast implants approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA): the saline implants which are filled with a sterile saltwater, and the silicone implants which are filled with a cohesive gel noted for simulating the natural feel and movement of tissue.

When it comes to providing a natural result, most plastic surgeons believe that the silicone-filled implants are slightly better than the saline version.  However, one downside of this implant type is that women are required to undergo a periodic MRI screening (every two years) since a leak may go undetected for years and predispose them to serious complications.

Meanwhile, the saline-filled implants are noted for their safety since the saltwater can be absorbed by the surrounding tissue without any risks in case of a rupture.  There are also visible manifestations (deflated or asymmetrical breasts) which will allow patients to immediately seek revision surgery.

But despite the safety of saline implants, surgeons have found that they have a natural deflation rate of 1 percent every year (due to evaporation and other factors), and as a result, patients may lose about 10 percent of their breast volume a decade after their surgery.  This is not the case for women with silicone implants who are rest assured that they can maintain their breast volume unless there is a leak.

However, there is a new type of breast implant which may be introduced in the US market in case the clinical trial and studies can prove its safety and effectiveness in breast augmentation and breast reconstructive plastic surgery.

The gummy bear breast implant, which is a biocompatible material that is already being used in other countries, is said to combine the safety of saline implants and the natural feel of silicone implants.

According to plastic surgeons, this type of implant is filled with a silicone gel which is more cohesive than the one used in the currently available silicone implants.  With this feature, the implant exhibits “shape memory” which means that it can go back to its original form, resulting to a very natural feel and movement of the breast.

Some plastic surgery specialists claim that gummy bear breast implants are safer than the silicone implants since the highly cohesive gel will not migrate to other parts of the body in case of a rupture.  In fact, this implant can be cut in half and the filling will still not leak.

Another reason why some plastic surgeons believe that the gummy bear implant is safer than the silicone and saline version is that there is a less risk of capsular contracture, a painful and disfiguring condition which happens when the tissue forms around the implants (the exact cause of this complication is still unknown).

When it comes to giving a natural result, some plastic surgeons believe that the gummy bear implant is better than the saline- and silicone-filled implant as it can maintain its anatomical teardrop shape while its edges can perfectly blend into the surrounding tissue which means to visible implant line (which may occur with the use of saline implants).  For these reasons, patients can enjoy a very natural-looking bust.

While this new type of breast implant has several advantages, it also comes with some downsides.  For example, the implant requires a longer incision which means more scarring.

And if the gummy bear implant is used for breast augmentation and reconstruction, the areola, navel, and armpit cannot be used as an incision site, leaving the breast crease incision the only viable choice, according to plastic surgery specialists.

These are the most common breast problems and their corresponding solution, according to LA plastic surgeons:

• Drooping breasts

Due to aging, pregnancy, and major weight loss, some women develop drooping breasts with nipples pointing downwards.  To treat this problem, plastic surgery experts use breast lift which involves removing the excess skin, manipulating the underlying muscles, and raising the bust to a higher position.  In some cases, they complement this surgery with implants to further make the breast, particularly the upper pole, appear fuller.

• “Swooping” breasts

While the breasts do not have a pronounced droopiness, they bend inward above the areola resulting to a “swooping” appearance.  To treat this aesthetic problem, most plastic surgeons use breast implant surgery to improve the contour of the bust.

• Smaller breasts

Due to genetic predisposition, some women have extremely small breasts almost comparable to men’s.  Fortunately, breast augmentation through the use of saline or silicone implants can increase their bust size.

For women who do not want to use synthetic materials to increase their breast size, they can opt for fat grafting, a procedure in which doctors collect fats from their tummy (or areas where fats tend to accumulate), which are purified to separate the blood and tissue and then re-injected to the breasts.

However, fat grafting can only increase the breast with less than a cup, which means that it is not ideal for women who want to significantly augment their bust.

• Tuberous-shaped breasts

In this problem, the breasts have a prominent outward projection from the chest wall and are very narrow at the base, thus resulting to a tubular shape.  This condition usually happens on women who have small breasts with noticeable droopiness due to skin and tissue laxity.

In cosmetic plastic surgery, most doctors treat this problem through breast implant surgery that is usually combined with breast lift especially for women with extremely sagging bust.

• Enlarged areola

In some cases, women who need breast lift or breast reduction will also benefit from areola reduction surgery to further create a more natural-looking appearance.  Fortunately, combining this procedure with other breast surgeries does not require additional incisions because they usually have the same surgical site, according to LA plastic surgeons.