Winter's the nip-tuck season. But when should you go under the knife
to guarantee looking your best in time for summer? Lifestyle investigates.
This time of year, thanks to forgiving winter fashion, it's easy to
'forget' about the extra pounds you gained over Christmas. But fast
forward six months and jiggling thighs and love handles are less easy
to disguise in a string bikini. Whilst crash dieting and a punishing
gym regime are always an option, experts agree that for those who aren't
squeamish about going under the scalpel, surgery offers a quicker, more
effective and longer-lasting solution to shaping up for summer. And
it seems more and more women are choosing their surgeon over their trainer
in the battle of the bikini-body bulge. A Mintel survey commissioned
by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) last
year revealed a 40% rise in the number of cosmetic procedures, resulting
in a staggering £539 million spent on face and figure-improving nips
and tucks. "The Christmas period is a very busy time for all types of
surgery.' explains leading London plastic surgeon Rajiv Grover. "This
is because people have more time to hide away and recover. From February
consultations and surgery increase significantly as people have had
time to get over the festive period and return from their holidays.