Other key findings of the study include:

* 60 percent of women (an 18% increase) and 59 percent of men

(a 40% increase) said they generally approve of cosmetic surgery.

* Men and women with children in their households were more likely to consider cosmetic surgery (30 percent), as compared to people without a child in their household who would consider plastic surgery

(26 percent).

* Among all Americans, 82 percent of women and 79 percent of men said they would not be embarrassed if others knew they had cosmetic surgery.

* Most people (72 percent) said their attitude toward cosmetic surgery

hadn't changed in the last five years, though 20 percent said it was "more favorable" and 8 percent said "less favorable." Women were slightly more likely than men to have developed a more favorable attitude toward cosmetic surgery than in the past.

The study was commissioned by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) and conducted by the independent research firm Synovate.

According to 2004 ASAPS Cosmetic Surgery Statistics, last year women had nearly 10.7 million cosmetic procedures (90 percent of total), and men had nearly 1.2 million procedures (10 percent of total). Overall, the number of surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures increased 44 percent from 2003. To access the complete 2004 ASAPS Statistics, go to: http://www.surgery.org/press/statistics-2004.php

The 2200-member American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) is the leading organization of plastic surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) who specialize in cosmetic surgery of the face and body.

Toll-free referral line: 1-888-ASAPS-11 (272-7711). Web site: http://www.surgery.org/.

Source: American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Web site: http://www.surgery.org/

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