Your LIFE: Cosmetic Surgery: KNOW THE RISKS; Newsreader Kate Silverton Was off Work for Two Weeks When Surgery on Acne Scars Left Her Face Swollen. So How Can We Prepare Ourselves for the Risks If We Go for a Quick Fix?

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Byline: BY KIA HANSEN

WE had a total of 577,000 cosmetic operations and treatments last year, 200,000 more than in 2005.

But while more of us are undergoing procedures, we may not be fully aware of the potential risks, as the BBC's Kate Silverton, 37, discovered when laser treatment to remove acne scars on her cheeks left her face covered in painful swellings. Kate says: "The treatment caused a massive skin reaction."

Here is our guide to what to watch out for...

DO..

..your research

Get a personal recommendation if possible, and research the procedure, doctor and clinic thoroughly. Rajiv Grover, consultant plastic surgeon and secretary of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), says: "Some people spend longer choosing their bathroom tiles than they do their surgeon. It is …