If you're one of the many who are considering cosmetic surgery, you probably have several reasons for doing so.

To create a more youthful appearance

Everyone is interested in turning back the hands of time. As the body ages, the skin begins to sag, collagen production begins to slow down, and the entire body begins to show that it is beginning to break down and to slow down.

While this is a fact of life and of the way our bodies were designed, these changes also help to make a person feel older than they actually are.  And in some cases, those who are genetically predisposed to having a greater rate of aging can begin to look older than they actually are.

By having a cosmetic surgery, you can tighten the skin again, reshape it and begin to make the years less apparent. While it's true that you can't stop every sign of aging, you will be able to make yourself look refreshed and more toned than you did prior to the surgery in most cases.

A more youthful appearance can be created in any part of the body, which is why so many people tend to have multiple procedures over the course of their lifetimes � different body parts age at different rates, after all.

To correct a deformity

Some people are born with a problem with their appearance that needs to be corrected with cosmetic surgery. For example, women who have one breast that's larger than the other might want to have the breasts evened out with an augmentation of some sort.

These procedures can be simple or they can be complicated, depending on the severity of the deformity.  Some examples include ears that are flared out from the head, an extra nipple or other body part, reconstruction after a tumor removal or mastectomy, etc.

Many of these deformities will occur early on in life and be corrected early in the patient's life, while others will require the body to mature completely before they can be corrected.

To improve your self esteem

One of the most common reasons that patients give for cosmetic surgery is to feel better about themselves. While this isn't a medical reason, it can still certainly be a valid one.  For example, if you were a woman who had a smaller chest, it might make you feel a little less feminine and that can cause your self esteem to be lessened.

While the surgery itself wouldn't necessary 'reshape' your self esteem, it would help you learn to love your body more. By taking control of your image and of your appearance, you can correct something that you may have been ridiculed for in the past, for example.

To correct a medical problem

In many cases, cosmetic surgery actually isn't an option � it's a necessity.  Nose jobs for deviated septums, for example, are necessary in order to allow the patient to breathe normally.  While the surgery is technically a rhinoplasty, it is also helping the patient have a more normal life.

When people are severely burned or injured in accidents, plastic surgeons are called in to help repair the skin in a way that will minimize scarring and disfigurement.  While the body may not be able to be restored to the exact appearance that the patient had before, the plastic surgery can keep the patient from feeling as though they are going to stand out too much from others who look 'normal.'

To reward themselves

For some people, the use of cosmetic surgery is a sort of gift to themselves for a life of giving to others. Those who have given birth, for example, are now adding tummy tucks to their stay in the hospital as a sort of return to their pre-pregnancy bodies.

After losing a lot of weight, you might want to fix up a few body areas that didn't slim down as much as you want, as another example.  In some women, certain body parts can't be changed by exercise and diet, so surgery is the only way to 'cure' these trouble spots.

Others 'give' plastic surgery to others for birthdays and other special occasions.  While this is often condemned, for those who would like to change their appearance, this might be the perfect gift. And if it is something that is going to help the recipient's appearance in some way and they are aware of the risks, the gift of cosmetic surgery is a practical choice in some situations.

Deciding why you want cosmetic surgery

What you might not realize is that the reasons you want cosmetic surgery are quite important to the process as your surgeon will be asking you that question when you first set up an evaluation and consultation.  They want to know whether or not you are serious about the process that will take place and whether you are actually a good candidate.

Here are some questions you should ask yourself:

• What are my expectations of the surgery?
• Am I willing to follow the doctor's orders?
• Why am I considering the surgery?
• Am I being influenced by anyone else to make this decision?
• Why is this surgery important to me?
• How do I believe my life will change after the surgery?

Take some time to sit with yourself to determine what your personal motivations are for the cosmetic surgery you choose. Again, this should be a decision you make entirely on your own.  You will have to live with the results of the surgery, so only you can make the final call.

Someone who thinks that cosmetic surgery is something that will change their life or their luck in love, for example, are probably not the best candidates for the surgery in the first place. Surgery isn't going to change your life, nor is it the answer to all of your problems.

After all, surgery is only skin deep.