While surgeons have made incredible strides in the past few decades, don't expect plastic surgery to be even moderately inexpensive. Even the simplest procedure requires careful planning and the deft hand of a master surgeon to achieve the best possible results.

One way to improve your appearance is through a chemical peel. But be cautious: this is a dangerous process using nasty chemicals, and it should always be performed in a medical environment by plastic surgery professionals -- not by cosmetologists.

Before going under the knife, ask your surgeon to give you a good idea of how you'd look after a particular procedure. Most plastic surgery professionals should have software that they can use to show you the expected results of an surgical procedure.