As recently as fifty years ago, as the rich and famous began opting for elective cosmetic surgery and non-surgical prodedures, the subject was whispered about and considered taboo.

When electing cosmetic surgery, celebrities and others in elite circles would disappear for months and then emerge after secret procedure looking younger, prettier, and thinner. Over time, cosmetic surgery has become accepted and even encouraged in some circles.

Today there is open acceptance of cosmetic procedures to the point that there are even television reality shows about it. There are a wide range of choices for cosmetic procedures, from non-surgical injections to tiny tucks and snips to full-blown face or body lifts.

Some of the more popular forms of cosmetic surgery are liposuction, in which excessive fat is sucked out of the body with a tube and vacuum device; laser facial resurfacing, which smoothes lines on the face around the eyes and mouth and eliminates facial blemishes; facelift, which pulls back the skin around the face, jowls and neck; breast enlargement, which enhances the size of the breasts using saline implants; and hair replacement surgery, which fills in balding areas using a patient's own hair.