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No longer just for the rich and famous, cosmetic surgery is now being used by an increasing number of Britons who want to look and feel better.

Having a nip or tuck has now become the second most popular reason for taking out a bank loan after buying a car, which is no surprise considering the UK market is worth around £200million annually.

Although some operations are available on the NHS, it is usually only for reconstructive purposes, so don't expect to get breast implants at your local general hospital. There are more than 72,000 operations performed every year - so find out more about the most popular procedures.

Breast Augmentation
By far the most popular cosmetic operation, breast augmentation (technically known as augmentation mammoplasty) is used to increase the shape and size of the bust by one or two bra cup sizes.

The average cost is between £3,500 and £4,000, and takes roughly two hours. The surgeon makes an incision either at the armpit or where the breast meets the chest, and inserts implants behind each breast. Implants are either filled with saline solution or silicone and, although the safety of the silicone implants has long been a controversial subject, studies have still not provided scientific evidence that they pose a serious risk.

The patient is usually able to get out of bed after two days, and it's possible to return to work a week later, but vigorous exercise isn't recommended until at least two weeks after surgery.

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Liposuction
In a relatively straightforward operation, the surgeon makes a small incision in the skin and uses a suction instrument to remove the fat. Costing between £1,000 and £5,000, the procedure usually takes two hours or more, with patients able to return to work after a couple of weeks (depending on how much fat is removed).

Commonly seen as a way to help people with obesity or weight problems, in truth, liposuction is really only effective in reducing smaller pockets of fat, and people with loose or thin skin can be left with sagging rolls. What's more, there is a 30 per cent chance of requiring a follow-up operation.

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Rhinoplasty
Commonly known as a nose job, this operation can cost between £2,000 and £3,500. The effectiveness of the operation and the level of scarring will depend entirely on how much work has to be done. During surgery, cartilage and bone is removed in order to reshape the bridge line.

Often the nose will be broken in four places and cartilage chiselled into shape around the breaks and, to finish, the surgeon will move cartilage in the nostrils to alter the tip of the nose. Bruising can last up to a week, but the worst is usually over in the three days following the operation. After about three weeks everything should return to normal.

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Lip Augmentation
Costing anywhere from £250 up to £1,000, there are two main types of procedure: temporary and permanent.

Temporary procedures involve injecting collagen, hyaluronic gel or even the patient's own fat into the lip. The most favoured technique requires no anaesthetic, injecting collagen into the upper lip. Recovery takes up to two days, and the results can last up to six months, although maintaining the desired look will need a follow-up injection.

Permanent results can be achieved using the patient's own tissue. This is extracted from a tendon, or even leftover skin from another operation, and then threaded into the lip. Risks associated include infection or fat becoming lumpy, and recovery can take up to two weeks.

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Facelift (Rhytidectomy)
A favourite procedure with ageing film stars, here the skin is tightened across the face to remove the effects of wrinkles and sagging skin. Costing around £6,000, a typical facelift will take several hours and usually involve a short stay.

During the operation, an incision is made behind the ear, the skin pulled back and 'redraped'. Excess skin is then removed before being stitched back into its new position. During the first few days of recovery, patients are advised to do very little, and bruising takes roughly two weeks to subside. The operation is actually more complex than it sounds, and there is a risk of damage to nerves that control facial muscles.

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Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
Costing between £3,500 and £4,500, this operation is designed to tuck away unwanted rolls of skin. Making an incision across the body from one hip bone to the other, the surgeon then lifts up the skin and cuts out the fat underneath. The loose skin is then pulled tight, and any excess removed.

The operation usually takes between two and five hours, and recovery times can vary from two to four weeks (though patients in good physical condition often recover faster). There is a possibility of a long scar across the stomach, and it can take up to three years for any scars to subside.

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Botox Injections
Increasingly popular and certainly the quickest fix, Botox can decrease lines around the eyes, between the eyebrows and on the forehead. The injections are of a toxin called botulinum, which relaxes face muscles and prevents wrinkles and creases in the skin caused by smiling or frowning. Patients have a series of small injections in the area they wish to firm up, paralysing local nerves and muscles.

Possibly the safest of all the cosmetic procedures, there is no cutting involved and injections will take around 30 minutes to complete. However, it's often two to three days before the full effect is seen and sometimes it doesn't work at all. On top of this, maintaining that smooth but slightly emotionless look will require injections every three months.

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