Ever since the first plastic surgery procedure in 1827, a debate has ensued - between those who say we should be happy with what nature has endowed us and those who say there is nothing wrong with using plastic surgery to help us feel better about ourselves.

I believe the debate stems from opposing views about the mind and body.

Proponents of plastic surgery embrace the boost in self-esteem that patients feel after waking up with a slimmer waist or bigger breasts. They believe that such aesthetic makeover on the outside becomes the catalyst for feel-good internal re-wiring.

Doctors who have performed breast augmentation procedures, interviewed for the cover story, all spoke of the psychological transformation of their women patients.

Young wallflowers blossom into extroverts; others happily leave behind their motherhood years to rejuvenate their looks.

Opponents of such plastic surgery fear that remaking one's external appearance for non-medical reasons may paralyse one's internal psyche. They believe that changing someone's looks is merely a quick-fix solution that does not get to the root issue - a sense of inadequacy.

Gaining an hour-glass figure, they say, will not make you happy. Only loving yourself as you are can do that.

This cleavage in viewpoints will not go away, especially now that non-surgical procedures are available and proving popular.

Three years ago, no woman would have dreamt that she could plump up her breasts, albeit temporarily, with a mere filler injection. Today, there are many clinics offering to fulfil the wishes of smaller-breasted women aspiring to upgrade their cup sizes.

In fact, the line separating plastic surgery from cosmetic enhancement is now blurred. Botox, for instance, is now seen as a standard beauty regime for those who are willing to pay for it, rather than as a major facial renovation.

So, I say to both sides of this debate: whatever your stand is, keep it to yourself.

If the body is a temple, it is yours alone to upkeep. Why judge others who want to be the best they can be or are content with the way they are?

This article was first published in Mind Your Body, The Straits Times.