Supriya Dravid, New Delhi: Beauty has become a national obsession, and people within the age group of 25 and 45 are fueling a surge in demand for cosmetic surgery.

In fact, 2008 will witness a 25% growth in this trend. Today, several affluent and middle class Indians are seeking salvation in physical perfection.

Many patients visit the American Laser Centre with the desire and desperation for a little nip here and a tuck there.

Dermatologist, Dr MM Omer Azad, says, "Fraxel skin treatment or skin Fraxel treatment is the latest in the world. It's two to three years old in the world and it's just two to three months old in India."

Patient, Dharmwir Yadav, says, "I am 60 years old, but physically I feel I’ am not more than 35-40, so I want to look as young as I feel. I don’t want to look not more than 35-40."

Its not just about creams and ointments to look young. The quick relatively painless procedures have reduced the fear of surgeries among many worshipers of beauty.

Fraxel treatment is able to target microscopic areas of the skin by using focused laser beams to eliminate old and damaged skin cell.

By treating skin below the surface, the treatment stimulates the body's own natural healing process and replaces damaged skin with fresh, growing and healthy skin.

The best part is that there are no side effects and the results can be seen in just three weeks. But the cost of looking younger comes at a price. It starts at Rs 25,000 per sitting and you are looking at, up to three to five sessions.

There is still some more uplifting news when it comes to face lift, for those who don't like what they see in the mirror.

HOD, Aesthetic Surgery, Max, Dr Sunil Choudhary says, "The latest in facelift procedures is a minimally invasive technique called Mid-Face Suture which will use small wrinkle filler paper that will be placed on the hairline instead of the traditional way."

He further explains the procedure "The stitches have knots and cones which basically get stuck in the tissue, which is underneath the face and is inserted through a small cut in the hairline so the scar is not visible, and they are inserted into the face just underneath the skin and then they are just pulled up."

Dr Choudhary also adds, "The other advancement is in the new silicon implants that have been made available to us just a week ago. The new implants have cohesive gel unlike what we had earlier which basically means that the silicon gel which used to be there in the implant is now cohesive and does not flow out even if the breast implant ruptures, now even the size of the implants can be adjusted during the surgery."

For India's beauty conscious urbanites, it's not just about looking good. It's about looking absolutely fabulously perfect at every age. Which only means that in today's India, beauty governs health rather than the other way around.