Liposuction

How it works: The technique is pretty simple - a small incision is made in the skin, then a hoover-like instrument sucks out the fat. It sounds disgusting and it isn't always successful. 'There are those it works well on and those it can't help at all,' says Dr. Percival. He warns that if you have very loose, thin skin and you take out a lot of fat, you're left with several sagging rolls of skin. What's more, the older or heavier you are, the less likely your skin is to spring back into shape.

Dr. Percival adds: 'there's a common misconception that liposuction can help people who are obese or overweight, when it's really only for reducing localised areas of fat.'

Effects and side effects: With a 30 per cent chance of needing a follow-up operation, liposuction is commonly regarded among industry professionals as the cosmetic operation most likely to disappoint.