The History, Recent Trends and Future of Cosmetic Surgery

Plastic and cosmetic surgery has been practiced by surgeons since 800 BC. A surgery procedure, now known as rhinoplasty, was performed to restore noses of people in India. But Plastic surgery didn't become popular until 20th century when surgeons used this procedure to restore physical deformities caused by war. Cosmetic surgery, a procedure that's reshapes and enhances perfectly normal body is consequential to plastic surgery. The wars caused too much damaged that it increased the innovation of plastic surgery and this gave the window of opportunity for cosmetic to surgery to boom in the industry. The surgeon's realized that aside from fixing deformities, they could also enhance beauty through surgery. They then developed body enhancement techniques such as breast augmentation, liposuction, and tummy tuck, in addition to facial surgeries.

There is a wide variety of cosmetic surgeries from facelifts, tummy tuck to rhinoplasty. Almost every part of the human body can be enhanced through it. Before, this procedure was for the rich and elite and was then considered as a taboo. Overtime it has been socially accepted and is even performed on a wide variety of social classes. It has increased its popularity due to the demand and the need for people to look better and improve their current physical state. With this reason, it is now a billion dollar industry.

Plastic and cosmetic surgery in Denmark, or "plastik og kosmetisk kirurgi", as it is termed in local parlance, is gaining increasing popularity in the country. It is, but one, of the myriad manifestations of the health and fitness drive. The economic boom witnessed by the country, in the past few years, has also made the affordability factor less of a consideration. Indulgence in cosmetic beautification has gripped the young and elderly, both men and women, and touched towns, cities and the countryside, all alike.

Already about 320,000 Danes have been under the knife, in other words, 8 % of the total adult population of Denmark - and the numbers are projected to rise even further. Latest research indicates a 20 % to 30 % projected increase in the coming years of the number of Danes looking for cosmetic surgery. Interestingly, every fifth female over the age of 17 is actively considering getting cosmetic surgery done, whereas every tenth female has already had cosmetic surgery done. Eighty percent of all Danes find the notion of cosmetic surgery fully acceptable. At present, about 30,000 cosmetic surgeries, per annum, are performed nationwide.

There are issues and concerns raised as to whether it should be banned. If it will be legally banned, some experts say that it will still continue in the black market and this is because cosmetic surgery has now become the solution for every problem in the aspect of beauty. While some people who are in favor of plastic surgery feel that the actions taken to improve the aesthetic part of the human body is just a form of vanity, there are people who's lives are changed because of cosmetic surgery. But then the issue of cosmetic surgery boils down to freedom of choice. As long as people desire to achieve perfection, the cosmetic and plastic surgery industry will continue to evolve.