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.

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.

(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.

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.

When Cronin attended a plastic surgery meeting, one of his colleagues told him about a new company which had a new product that can be made into solid and liquid form, with a variety of viscosity.  Another great thing about the device was the extreme compatibility with the human tissue.

The medical-grade silicone can be turned into a solid form which will serve as the shell, while the cohesive silicone gel will act as the filling.  This material then paved way for the invention of silicone-filled breast implant, one of the most commonly used devices in cosmetic plastic surgery to date.

After creating the first prototype of silicone breast implant, the device was implanted into a dog.  The trial worked okay and so Cronin and his colleagues started to look for a woman who would be interested to have the first breast augmentation surgery through the new device.

The plastic surgeons found a willing test subject: Timmy Lindsey.  Now she is 80 years old and working in a care home in Texas.

At the time, no one would have ever imagined that breast augmentation surgery would become one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries worldwide.  In fact, a 2010 survey conducted by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons showed that 296,000 procedures were performed in the US.

It has been estimated that 5 to 10 million women worldwide had breast augmentation surgery for cosmetic reasons, although a significant number also had it to reconstruct their breasts after mastectomy (or cancer surgery), and for transsexual people to transition from male to female.

While breast augmentation is popular in the US and UK, this is not the case in some countries which have their own standard of beauty.  For example, the procedure is not as popular in Brazil because most people there prefer large buttocks rather than big breasts.

Today, most women who seek for cosmetic breast augmentation are categorized into two groups: those with small breasts who want to increase their bust size, and those mothers who have deflated-looking bosoms which are caused by childbirth.

In the US and most European countries, breast augmentation for cosmetic reasons can only be conducted for patients aged 18 years and older.

One of the most common concerns of patients considering breast augmentation is stretch mark, which happens when the skin tissue is stretched to its limit, resulting to purplish, reddish, or whitish stripes.  This often occurs after a significant weight gain/lose and pregnancy.

In some cases, breast implants can cause stretch marks although a patient’s predisposition to have them depends on many factors including the implant size.  The rule of thumb is that the larger the device is, the higher the risk of developing the whitish or purplish stripes on the skin.

One effective way to lower the chance of having stretch marks after breast augmentation surgery is to use smaller implants.  Most plastic surgeons will likely agree that a 300 to 350 cubic centimeter (cc) range is a reasonable size.

By contrast, breast implants that come in 500cc size and above are often considered relatively large especially if these are going to be used on petite patients.

Aside from large breast implants, the age also seems to affect the likelihood of developing stretch marks.  According to some surveys, the problem is more common on younger women (those who are in their 20s and younger) than adult patients.

Plastic surgeons have also noticed that placing the implants on top of the muscle (subglandular technique) can increase the risk of stretch marks than positioning the devices below the muscle (submuscular technique).

Perhaps the reason why the subglandular implant placement increases the risk of stretch marks is that only the skin and tissue provide support to the weight of the device.  On the other hand, the submuscular technique offers more coverage and support to the implant, preventing the skin from stretching too much.

Also, most patients who developed stretch marks after breast augmentation have previously experienced the problem, although choosing a reasonable implant size and using the proper implant placement can reduce their risk.

By contrast, it is very unlikely for patients who have not experienced stretch marks to have the problem after breast augmentation surgery.

Fortunately, most patients who have developed stretch marks after breast augmentation reported that the purplish stripes turned white and became barely noticeable within three to four months.

Just recently, a Californian woman has filed a lawsuit against a plastic surgeon who had lost his medical license a year ago.  The victim said she woke up with a bust size significantly larger from the C cup that she had asked prior to her breast augmentation surgery.

Going back to the plastic surgeon, the reason why he lost his medical license was quite comical.  According to reports, a husband of his patient found them having sex in an examination room.

Mark Anthony Knight is not new from sexual misconduct.  Reports show that the doctor has also been accused of kissing a female patient twice during an examination without her consent.

Elisa Geraci, the victim who filed the medical malpractice suit, said she went to Knight for a breast lift after she lost a significant amount of weight.  But instead, the surgeon recommended breast implant surgery last December.

After waking up from anesthesia, Geraci said she was shocked to discover that her doctor used “extremely large breast implants.”

According to Geraci’s lawsuit, the botched surgery made her feel “she looked like a monster.”  Meanwhile, she said that she asked Knight to correct the $3,500 procedure but the doctor has declined her request.

Fleur-de-lis tummy tuck is ideal for massive weight loss patients whose pannus may even reach their pubic area, resulting to foul odor, poor hygiene, back pain, limited physical movement, and skin irritation because the flap of tissue is trapping moisture and sweat.

While the traditional tummy tuck’s horizontal incision can narrow the waist, this is not enough for MWL patients who also need a vertical incision in the middle to further contour the midsection.  For this reason, the incision pattern with fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty looks like an inverted T.

The procedure is designed to remove more amounts of excess skin and fats and narrow the midsection.  It can also reduce and lift the outer thighs and to some extent the inner area, abdomen, and buttocks.

Because the technique involves the extensive use of incision, the ideal candidates are patients who already have a vertical scar from a bypass or weight loss surgery.  Meanwhile, women are more likely to be interested with the inverted T-shaped incision pattern more than men because they often need more contouring.

The fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty is only reserved for people who need substantial amounts of hanging skin removed and a lot of lifting and tightening around the waist area.

Plastic surgeons use tummy tuck technique that requires the smallest incision possible so the scars are less noticeable and the healing time is shorter.  However, MWL patients will likely need longer excisions because of the severe body disfigurement.

In many cases, patients with moderate to severe redundant skin will need to have their navels repositioned or their plastic surgeons may even create a new one.

As with any body contouring surgery, all types of tummy tuck can provide a long-lasting result as long as the patients will maintain a stable weight for the rest of their lives.  For this reason, the surgeons also consider a person’s willingness and determination to live a healthy life and engage in regular exercises and moderate diet.

While fleur-de-lis can significantly improve the body shape and help patients fit better into their clothes, it may be difficult to achieve a “near perfect figure” because obesity has already stretched and weaken their skin.  But still, the procedure is worth it especially if the hanging skin and fats cause irritation, back pain, foul odor, and other problems.

Just previously, Burge said that she gave her daughter a £6,000-voucher for breast augmentation as a present for her birthday.

First and foremost, plastic surgery should never be imposed by parents to their children unless these are purely done for reconstructive purposes—and apparently, liposuction and breast augmentation are not.

Dr. Tarick Smaili, one of the leading Los Angeles plastic surgeons, said that cosmetic surgery should only be conducted on patients who are physically and emotionally mature, adding that “such procedures should never be brought up by parents to their children, especially those who are not bothered by their appearance.”

“The desire to have cosmetic surgery should only come from the patients themselves, not from anyone else.  Even your parent, husband, wife, or friend should not dictate what you have to do with your appearance,” Smaili said.

However, Burge claimed that she just want to “invest in her daughter’s future” and even compared the plastic surgery vouchers to something like “an investment for education.”

Burge, who has been reported to spend nearly $1 million for cosmetic plastic surgery, disproves accusation that she is a bad mother and defends her stance by saying that “good looks is important and there should be no stigma for anyone wanting to be beautiful.”

But despite her claims, Smaili believes Burge’s presents to her daughter can send a bad message to her young mind.

“Any ethical, self-respecting cosmetic surgeon would not recommend such thing.  First and foremost, board-certified plastic surgeons like me would not perform procedures if there is really no flaw or if the patients are too young to understand the ramifications of such procedures,” he said.

Last year, Burge gave her daughter a breast augmentation voucher and claimed that it has always been a request of her child.  (In the UK, the legal age for this procedure is 16, while in the US the Food and Drug Administration requires a patient to be at least 18 if she will choose saline implants, or 22 if she wants to have silicone implants.)

Meanwhile, perhaps Burge has to realize that the best gift she can give her daughter is letting her develop physically and emotionally at an appropriate rate for her age.