When it comes to embracing boob jobs and facelifts, young Australians are still far more cautious than their American counterparts, new research shows.
The study of Melbourne university students found that most were familiar with a huge range of cosmetic procedures, from botox injections to nose jobs and liposuction, but only 1% had actually gone under the knife.
And overall, the sample of 284 students was negative about the procedures, with half saying they would be "fearful" about the surgery.
A third said it was a waste of money and about the same number said it was wrong to get the operations to boost self esteem.
"Most respondents indicated they would be embarrassed to let others know if they had had such surgery," University of Melbourne researcher Dr David Castle wrote in the Medical Journal of Australia.
"And the majority - 70% - would not consider cosmetic surgery in later years, even if their partner wished them too."
The results are in stark contrast to a new US study of female students.
The Australian research found the one third of those questioned knew someone who had had surgery, and 11% said a family member had had a procedure.
But in the US, 5% had had it themselves, 67% knew someone else who had, and for 33% this included a family member.
"Overall their attitudes to cosmetic procedures were much more
favourable, which might reflect a greater acceptance, availability
and prevalence of cosmetic surgery in the US," Castle said.
