Looking into the mirror, Ben* hated what he saw. He lacked confidence about his physical appearance and detested people looking at him directly in the face.  Instead of growing out of his insecurities Ben retreated further and further into himself. At just 18 he had enough and decided to go under the knife.

After two painful operations, one to pin back his ears and the other to reshape his nose, he began to feel hopeful about starting a new life at Kingston University.

“Before the surgery I found it so hard to be me, I hated my photo being taken and people would always make remarks about the way that I looked. I was initially worried about reactions after the surgery but I needn’t have been, they were positive and it was such a confidence boost.”

Ben is part of a new generation of men going under the knife in a bid to rid themselves of their aesthetic flaws. Whilst the naughties saw a flourish in the number of women turning to surgical procedures it is now more acceptable than ever for men to strive for perfection too.

Despite the recession, 2009 saw more than 3,600 men turn to cosmetic surgery, an increase of 21 per cent  on the previous year. Mr Rajiv Grover, a consultant plastic surgeon said the growth was ‘dramatic’. As the Secretary for The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) he said: “The rise in the number of male procedures is probably due to the heightened media attention, which has allowed men to realise the positive outcomes that can be achieved.”

Long gone are the days when plastic surgery was confined to bleach blonde Barbies, or Hollywood starlets. Today’s metrosexual men are also getting in on the action and giving the females a run for their money in the beauty stakes.

Yet, as we become a nation ever obsessed with our appearance are we in danger of losing our perspective on the human body, and in this environment are we ever going to be really happy about the way we look?

Feeling pressure to look flawless means many young people would consider surgery if money were no object. Lauranne Heres, a Creative writing and English Literature student said: “I would consider lipo, or a tummy-tuck that sort of thing. Magazines use skinny models on their fashion pages and I think there is a pressure to look a certain way.”

It also appears that there is a growing nonchalant attitude to undergoing such major operations.  Jessica Rowe, a Dance and Drama student said she would consider age preventative surgery but said: “Whether I thought about safety or not would be dependent on how much I wanted the surgery.”

Cosmetic procedures, as with any surgery carries a risk, and can be fatal. Would you be willing to die for perfection?

The risks may not be obvious particularly when celebrities create the illusion of easy and pain-free transformation. 23 year old Hills star Heidi Montag recently underwent 10 procedures in one day in a complete body makeover.

First year Rebecca Coles had breast enlargement surgery at the age of 18 but had felt insecure about her figure from the age of 11. She said: “ I hated going out to parties at school, and when I got to college it got much worse. I didn’t want to go out and I could never find any clothes  that would cover up my chest.”

“I told me parents I wanted the surgery although I think they saw it coming I had been moaning about it since I was 11.”

Rebecca saved up most of the money she needed for surgery and obtained a six month finance deal  which allowed her to pay off the rest.

“After the surgery, I couldn’t believe I had gone through with it. I felt so happy and I have never regretted a thing. Although if I got anything else done it would just be pointless and a waste of money, I can see the thrill of plastic surgery, as it is life changing and instant.”

Addiction to plastic surgery is of growing concern as procedures have become cheaper with financing deals like the one Rebecca secured allows those on more modest budgets to acquire a new pair nose or a flatter stomach fairly easily.

Whilst second year student Ben feels his surgery has corrected his body issues and does not want any more, he does acknowledge the dangers of addiction. He said: “ If I did consider more surgery it may become too excessive and there is the worry of not knowing where to stop. You would start looking at the smallest imperfection and would be constantly unhappy.”

The figures however speak for themselves, 2009 saw plastic surgery procedures increase to a total of 36,400, up by more than two thirds since 2002 and the rise is expected to continue.

*name has been changed