THE public’s acceptance of plastic surgery is like accepting motor cars and gay marriage, a noted cosmetic surgeon said this week.

Renowned cosmetic surgeon Prof Laurence Kirwan was speaking after recent figures showed a significant rise in cosmetic procedures in 2013 compared with the previous year.

He said that despite the PIP scandal which rocked the industry in 2012, it would never have affected people’s perception in surgical procedures.

He said: “I was asked in a BBC interview in 2012 whether I thought the PIP scandal would affect the popularity of breast implants.

“I then said that it would not make any difference. Plastic surgery remains a very reasonable and rewarding option for a large segment of the population. And for obvious reasons.

“We should move the discussion on from the interminable hand wringing as to whether it is morally acceptable and just accept it. Rather like motor cars, electricity and gay marriage.”