Cosmetic surgery is not a new phenomenon. It has been around in one form or another for hundreds, if not thousands of years.

It has always been a medical or quasi-medical procedure to improve a person’s appearance.

Nowadays however, it seems there is a trend for people opting to pursue plastic surgery, not just to enhance a particular part of the body or repair damaged tissue, but to change their physical appearance completely.

So, is cosmetic surgery being used for different purposes, other than the reasons it was originally intended for? It seems so.

For instance, Katella Dash, who was born male and underwent gender transformation, has reportedly spent around £60,000 to transform herself into what’s been described as a ‘living sex doll.’

She told reporters that she does have an obsession with cosmetic surgery. However, she doesn’t feel that it is a problem.

Whilst there are many incidents of both men and women undergoing surgery in order to achieve bodily perfection, the next case is rather an unusual one.

A USA navy veteran wanted to undergo a complete facial change. He didn’t just want a nose job or a facelift, but a complete transformation into a tiger. Unfortunately, the 54- year-old, who had no less than 14 operations in order to create this look, committed suicide in 2012.

Another rather unusual case is that of supermodel Bar Refaeli who wanted to get a facial of a different sort – a vampire facial.

This procedure involves the patient’s own blood being drawn from their face. Doctors then separate the blood into components. Platelet-rich plasma is then re-injected back into the face.

The treatment is said to rejuvenate the skin, at a cost of £450.

Younger generations, too, are considering surgery as a way of improving their appearance. Growing numbers of parents are actively encouraging their children to undergo cosmetic treatment.

Botox treatment and other traditional surgical procedures are becoming the norm for many young people. In some cases, there are medical reasons for teenagers to undergo plastic surgery, but now more young people are having surgery purely for cosmetic purposes.

The question that has to be asked is: what is the real purpose of cosmetic surgery?