Thankfully, society's understanding of plastic surgery has matured as the practice has demonstrated its ability to improve human well-being, as told to us by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. John Zannis.

"Decades ago, I think it's fair to say there was a stigma that plastic surgery was for those with too much money and vanity, but now it's known to help people who have perfectly healthy reasons to alter their bodies -- from breast cancer survivors to people with breathing obstructions," Zannis said, who is head of the Zannis Center for Plastic Surgery.

"However, plastic surgery is a multi-billion dollar industry in the United States, and some of the doctors performing these procedures are not certified," the expert warned.

"Their patients are at risk not only of botched surgeries, but of undergoing unnecessary procedures for the wrong reasons."

Zannis, who studied art and art history in Florence, Italy, says context is extremely important in plastic surgery. He offers his prerequisites for plastic and cosmetic surgery.

Of his many tips, Zannis stresses the first:

Don't undergo a procedure that makes you unrecognizable, unless you're correcting disfigurement. Whether you want to gain more confidence because you've recently reentered the dating scene or you've decided upon aesthetic improvements for your career, there's something distinctly American about continued self-improvement throughout one's life," Zannis explained.

Recently, actress Renee Zellweger shocked much of the public with her new, post-surgical look.

"Zellweger has since stated that she embraces her new look, adding that change is the purpose of her surgery," Zannis said.

"However, many patients prefer to remain recognizable to their friends and family. Make sure to choose a procedure with a surgeon who grasps the idea of undergoing improvements while maintaining a recognizable appearance."

Look out for more of Dr. Zannis' plastic surgery advice tomorrow.