We all know how men’s perception of beauty has grown through the years. Before, six-pack abs are the rarity, but today, more and more men are going to fitness gyms in order to enhance their physique. The term ‘metrosexual’ has also been created to refer to heterosexual men who just love pampering themselves with cosmetic treatments and who love expensive and fashionable clothes and gadgets.

The most popular plastic surgery procedures among men today are the ones that belong to the body-contouring category. Liposuction and tummy tuck have always been the surgery choice for men as they target one of the most problematic areas of a man’s body – the stomach and love handles.

It is undeniable that cosmetic surgery has extremely become popular thanks to the continued patronage of celebrities and middle-class women. And now that a great number of men are embracing both the invasive and non-invasive aspects of the cosmetic surgery industry, there's no other way to go but up.

However, in Britain, the cosmetic surgery industry is experiencing quite a disturbance to its otherwise smooth flow. The industry has been criticized for using illegal advertisements and employing hard-sell tactics that seem to imply that everyone is out there for profit and not for patient welfare.

Botched plastic surgeries are all over the place these days. This happens due to a large number of plastic surgery clinics who allow unqualified staff to perform cosmetic procedures that are beyond their skills and expertise.

Perhaps this is also what happened to 'Knots Landing' actress Joan Var Ark. Reports say that the actress was seen at a recent Hollywood benefit wearing a heavy makeup in order to conceal what appeared to be several cosmetic surgeries gone wrong.

The Daily Mail says that Van Ark was spotted wearing mask-like makeup which barely hid the fact that she appeared to have had several cosmetic surgeries. Her painted-on eyebrows and heavy eye makeup did nothing to put life into her appearance. Unfortunately, they helped her look more like a cadaverous. Add to the fact that she didn’t wear lipstick on her highly plumped lips.

The British cosmetic surgery industry is under stress lately. It has been accused of using illegal advertisements and hard sell tactics, all showing that it is pursuing profit over patient safety.

A leading consumer organization has conducted an investigation on plastic surgery clinics. They found out that some of those clinics are violating the law by allowing unqualified staff to prescribe Botox injections to patients. Other clinics officiate plastic surgery procedures without giving their patients enough time to make a decision.

The investigation was conducted by Which?, a leading consumer organization that aims to helps consumers get the best value for their money’s worth. Which? collated 20 examples of alleged wrongdoing by cosmetic surgery films that exhibited at the recent Body Beautiful trade fair in London.

Another woman followed the tragic fate of Donda West, the mother of Kanye West who died after a major plastic surgery operation.

An Emirati woman died after undergoing plastic surgery in Dubai. She recently went into a coma first before she died. Health authorities in Dubai are now investigating the death and results of the investigation is set to come out very soon.

The woman had allegedly undergone a laser liposuction which costs about 90,000 dirhams at a private plastic surgery clinic. But the clinic didn’t have all the necessary facilities to conduct the operation, so the procedure was later done in a private hospital.

There is a new study saying that there has been an increase of amounts of botched cosmetic work done by British plastic surgeons lately. These botched cosmetic surgery procedures are said to be coming from countries such as South Africa. However, South African surgeons dismiss the study as just a case of sourgraping from those who responded the study.

The survey was conducted by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons. According to the survey, half of the respondents have seen at least ‘a little more’ repair work than before while a third have seen ‘much more’ than previously.

Because of the alarming increase in cases of botched plastic surgery procedures, the government of Ontario is tightening the rules of plastic surgery in the area.

Ontario’s governing body on medical profession, the Council of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, has cooked up several recommendations in order to tighten regulations implemented on cosmetic surgery procedures. The recommendations were directed on high-risk cosmetic surgery procedures and treatments since these are the ones that naturally high a high turnout in terms of botched plastic surgery.

One of the most important recommendations given by the governing body is assessing doctors especially those who are not qualified in performing high-risk procedures. The body stressed that this move will address the concerns about the growing number of unlicensed physicians performing cosmetic surgery procedures in Ontario.

According to Consultant plastic surgeon Dr. Purmina Ayer, many women who have undergone breast reduction surgery are ‘extremely satisfied’ with the results. Breast reduction surgery is the fifth most popular plastic surgery procedure in 2006 according to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Ayer told Sri Lanka’s Sunday Times that going under the knife is one of the best options out there for women who are suffering from macromastia or abnormally large breasts.

Women with macromastia complain about the discomfort brought about by the condition. While other women would kill for large breasts, those who actually have them suffer from back pains among other things.

X Factor and American Idol fierce judge Simon Cowell has finally put to rest rumors about his plastic surgery makeover. In an interview with the Daily Mail, Cowell confirmed that he has had Botox but he has never had cosmetic surgery.

Simon Cowell is one of Britain’s wealthiest men with a fortune of around £100 million. He also has five palatial homes and has been in the entertainment for quite a long time. Because of his remarkable financial status, many have speculated that Cowell’s youthful appearance is a product of cosmetic surgery.

"No, absolutely not. I have not had cosmetic surgery," Cowell tells the Daily Mail. "Yes, I've had Botox, but not in an obsessive way. Then again, every guy I know who works in the City has had it now... I like to take care of myself. I work out, I take lots of vitamins. What can I say? I think I look good for my age."

The Pop Princess is still not satisfied with the alleged lip enhancement. She still wants to do more cosmetic enhancement in order to do the ultimate comeback.

Indeed, Britney Spears is planning to spend up to £80,000 on cosmetic surgery and diet appointments. That’s a huge amount of money for a total makeover but since it is Britney Spears we are talking about so it really isn’t that surprising. The singer needs a total overhaul before she could ever come close to what she was in the past.

Closer Magazine reveals that the star plans to splash out £15,000 on dental work, £15,000 on a tummy tuck, £12,000 on a boob job, £5,000 on chemical peels and £8,000 on liposuction on her thighs and chin.