Extreme makeovers seem to be the item du' jour on reality television these days. With all of the shows about cosmetic surgery, everyone seems to be eager for "quick fixes", never really weighing the very real, and sometimes extremely dangerous, risks. Take, for instance, the television show Extreme Makeover. While many people do opt for cosmetic surgery, the decision to do so does not mean that it was made hastily or without weighing all of the options and dangers. Shows like Extreme Makeover and The Swan don't like to advertise the fact that no one plastic surgeon should perform all types of plastic surgery. Each type of surgery should be done by a surgeon who specializes in that particular type of surgery, and even then there are serious risks. Even routine cosmetic procedures have serious consequences and in rare cases can be life-threatening, so before choosing a surgeon, really do your homework to make sure you find the best one.

Experts like Wendy Lewis at Wendy Lewis & Co., Ltd. specialize in keeping up to date on new procedures, which doctors provide which services, and which doctors are the best at what they do. If you are seriously considering shelling out the money for a cosmetic procedure, invest in the advice of someone like Lewis who works independently and will give you the most unbiased information.

These shows also fail to address the emotional and psychological issues that often go along with the desire to have extreme cosmetic procedures. Issues of self-esteem are most often to blame, yet these types of shows do not portray that many self-esteem issues will not just disappear when given a new nose or breasts. Often a person is not confident in themselves for more reasons than just an imperfect body - there is usually an overall lack of healthy self-image.

"Working on one's entire image and self-confidence is the real key to feeling like a new person," says Elena Castaneda, owner of Manhattan's image consulting company New York Image Consultant. Castaneda works with clients to better their overall, everyday appearance to give them the self-confidence they often lack in both business and social situations. Many times adjustments to wardrobe, hairstyle, or makeup will make all the difference in the confidence someone has about the way he or she looks. If a person is wearing clothes that are not tailored to their body type or colors that don't flatter them, they may not even be aware that this is what is bothering them. Often they just have a gut feeling of unhappiness with their appearance when they look in a mirror, and since it is in their subconscious that they know what is wrong, they decide that it must be one of their physical features that ruin their appearance.

Many people who have plastic surgery should have seen an image consultant first. Knowing how to play up your best features and camouflage your imperfections is a much safer way to change your appearance and gain self-confidence than having surgery. It's also a lot less expensive and painful. Call today to get started - (212) 879-5790.

If you would like to see their site, click here for the Extreme Makeover on ABC.