Are you considering cosmetic surgery? If your answer is yes, have you spoken to your General Practitioner about it? A survey suggests that only one in eight people considering cosmetic surgery consults their GP about the risks and benefits before going ahead with the surgery.

Consumer group ‘Which?’ questioned more than 300 people and warned that getting independent advice was vital. With a whopping increase in the number of cosmetic surgeries, it’s extremely important to speak to your GP while making up your mind about the surgery. Your GP can advice you about the procedure and recommend well-qualified plastic surgeons for cosmetic surgery.

But not many people choose to consult with their GPs. They prefer to rely on the advice of friends and trust adverts in magazines. While many cosmetic operations are minor in nature, carried out under local anesthetic, some are classed as major operations, and carry a significant risk of complications or poor results.  It is imperative that you speak to your GP and let him/her onto your plans of cosmetic surgery.

Every person considering cosmetic surgery should also go through the mandatory ‘cooling-off’ period – a slab of time following any decision to go ahead with surgery.