Hi Alicia,

I'm a freelance copywriter and, in 2006 and 2007, I wrote over 500 pages of Web copy for over 30 plastic surgeons in 16 different states. I wrote many, many times about pretty much all of the popular cosmetic surgical and cosmetic minimally invasive procedures, including both p lastic surgery for men, women and, in the case of ear surgery, for children as well. Obviously, yes, although plastic surgery is elective, it's still surgery and comes with real risks. Obviously these risks can be minimized by the patient... one, being honest with the surgeon re: their medical history (including their family's) and, two, by adhering to their doctor's pre- and post-operative instructions. Now, like I say, I'm not a plastic surgeon; just a freelance copywriter. But, as you know, I'm sure, plastic surgery has been on the rise both here and in the U.K., for both men and women. In fact, in 2006, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) reports that 16,248,526 procedures were performed here in the U.S. It seems to me that if all of these men and women - or even a decent amount - were either passing away or contending with an excruciating recovery, then their families, friends and co-workers would be spreading the word about the dangers. Instead, apparently, more and more people are interested in the various procedures. Of course, there are no guarantees in life (there's no guarantees that your new car won't be a lemon, for instance). Anyway, I think it's good that you remind people that, yes, there are risks and there is a recovery period with plastic surgery, but that risks are small. Lastly, besides being honest about your medical history, and adhering to the doctor's instructions, selecting a board certified plastic surgeon, in my opinion, is a must. Finally, I would advise your readers to really think about why they're considering having plastic surgery. The only correct answer (outside of reconstructive surgery) is to feel better about themselves; they should never consider plastic surgery to please someone else.