Michael Jackson is reportedly planning to revamp his image with even more cosmetic surgery in preparation for his big comeback this summer. The popstar, who is due to start a residency of 50 dates at London’s O2 Arena in July, has reportedly been in consultation with a number of surgeons and cosmetologists to work out his latest new look.

It’s not as if Michael Jackson hasn’t had enough surgery already, but it’s not really surprising to hear that he’s planning to go under the knife again. It’s one of the things he’s most famous for after all. It seems, though, that for the immediate future at least he will remain in the minority. The worrying trend towards a nip/tuck culture where anyone can just pop in for a nose job or breast enlargement and no one bats an eyelid, appears to be coming to an end.

It could just be that the recession means people don’t have the money to spare for expensive procedures, or it could be that people are starting to take heed of the ever increasing list of horror stories and disastrous experiences related to cosmetic surgery. Whatever the reason, the fact remains that the number of cosmetic operations performed in the final three months of 2008 had dropped by at least 25 per cent.

This might be bad news for cosmetic surgeons but it’s surely great news for the rest of the beauty industry. Without the choice of just getting your body issues ‘fixed’ by going under the knife, people who want to retain their youthful looks are having to look elsewhere for an answer. And the only alternative is to make sure you always take proper care of yourself and look after your body and your skin.

Specialist cosmetic companies like NV Perricone and Elemis produce a huge selection of creams and moisturisers specifically designed to target problem areas and deal with common problems. These ‘cosmeceuticals’ combine cosmetic benefits with pharmaceutical ones. If you prefer something a bit more home-grown Aesop use botanical ingredients in their huge range of skincare products. Treating your skin properly and maintaining a healthy diet and exercise means that you can always look your best, without running the risk of ending up looking like Jacko.