Cosmetic surgery is a rapidly growing medical specialty both in the numbers of patients treated and in the techniques and approaches available. This review consolidates the information available on cosmetic surgery from popular literature, the media, and advisory services.

Doctors differ in their attitude to surgery for cosmetic reasons only. Patients requesting such surgery are usually normal individuals, but with a heightened consciousness about their looks. A proportion of them may seek advice on what, to them, seems an unsatisfactory appearance. They deserve the same professional approach and empathy as patients seeking help for clinical disorders. I would like to encourage the non-specialist to approach cosmetic surgery objectively. By understanding what may be achieved cosmetically, patients can receive invaluable advice, and appropriate referrals can be organised.