Around 40% of teenage girls would be willing to go under the knife to achieve the look of their celebrity idol, according to a new survey.

But is the result really the 21st century tragedy it is being branded or merely a sign of the times?

Whether it's the size of her bum, the shape of her nose or the roundness of her belly, it appears the average young female is increasingly unhappy with Mother Nature's gifts. Teen magazine Bliss recently conducted a survey that revealed 40per cent of teenage girls would consider plastic surgery as a solution to these image imperfections. Bliss editor, Chantelle Horton, deemed the results to be "a 21st century tragedy" encouraged by the media's obsession with Jordan and Pamela Anderson, who have become image idols.

So, is this really the beginnings of a modern day catastrophe or merely a sign of the times?

In a year when nose jobs top the birthday lists of California's sweet 16-year-olds, is it right for British girls to start asking for similarly surgical presents?

The debate In 2001, British teenager Jenna Franklin sparked a media frenzy when she intended to get a [pounds]3250 boob job for her 16th birthday.

According to Jenna, her breast enlargement, from a size 34A to a 34D, would guarantee her success in life. Her mother, a qualified plastic surgeon, supported her. Jenna's request may have seemed exceptional in 2001, but if the Bliss survey represents the national situation, the teens of 2005 could soon follow suit.

Such a prospect disturbs anti-cosmetic surgery campaigners such as Catherine Stihler, Scottish Labour Minister for the European Parliament. She is saddened by the findings of the Bliss investigation and believes it highlights a major social problem in Britain. "I think it's absolutely shocking and says a lot about what children are being subjected to in our society, " she says.

Under current UK legislation, anyone over the age of 16 can undergo cosmetic surgery without parental consent. In some cases, young people under 16 can be operated on providing the plastic surgeon feels the patient fully appreciates all the risks involved.

Catherine wants to see government regulation tightened and believes that a new age restriction of 18 for cosmetic surgery could help discourage young girls.

But the modern "quick fix" mentality towards plastic surgery - popping into a clinic, going under the knife and emerging hours later with boobs as big as Jordan's and a stomach as flat as a pancake - seems to attract more and more girls towards the idea.

Fifteen-year-old Sharon from Edinburgh can't wait to see the results of her planned surgery.

"I'm definitely getting it done, " she says. "I'm a size eight in my waist now so I'd probably not get a tummy tuck but I'm definitely getting my face and boobs done when I'm 18. I just want to be able to look into the mirror and be happy."

And 13-year-old Emma says her peers have no problems with going plastic. "A lot of my friends would love to have it done but just can't afford it, " she says.

Yet in spite of this sudden increase in interest, professionals within the British cosmetic surgery industry have yet to notice a significant surge in teenage patients' levels. According to Douglas McGeorge, president of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, the findings of the Bliss report don't represent the reality of teenage cosmetic surgery.

He says: "Lots of kids talk about it but talking about cosmetic surgery is a long way from actually going and having it done yourself."

He is keen to highlight the less glamourous side of teen cosmetic surgery, dominated by ear pinnings, breast reductions and mole removals. Thankfully, none of these issues affect 12-year-old Fiona Ross who is definitely not getting caught up in the recent cosmetic surgery craze.

"Even if I was bullied I'd still never get plastic surgery, " she says. "It would be so sore and I'd hate to be all plastic and horrible!"

John McGregor, consultant cosmetic surgeon at Edinburgh's Murrayfield Hospital, is morally and professionally opposed to unnecessary teenage plastic surgery and performs less than 30 operations on young patients each year.

"As an experienced surgeon and grandfather myself, I just don't think it's a good idea to sell cosmetic surgery as the solution to all of teenage problems. As a teenager, you're not properly developed to cope with problems, complications and life in general, even though you might think you are."

According to Douglas, in addition to being emotionally equipped, it is essential that all patients are also physically prepared for cosmetic surgery. This is particularly important when it comes to teenage boob jobs. If a young girls gets breast implants before her body is fully developed there is a much greater risk of serious health complications in later life.

The Result In 2001, less than 1per cent of all cosmetic surgery procedures in the UK were performed on teenagers. But today, British teenagers' perception of plastic surgery has changed.

However, as Fresh found out, although the temptation to go under the knife is intensifying, the majority of teens are willing to wait until they are over the age of 20 before considering such procedures.

It seems common sense, high costs and high standards within the professional British cosmetic surgery industry have ensured that we won't be producing a generation of Jordans just yet.