About a decade ago, Nicole Kidman’s button nose, Pamela Anderson’s sinfully large breasts, Angelina Jolie’s pouty lips and Jennifer Lopez’s bountiful bottom were the most coveted body parts amongst women.

Recently, a couple of American plastic surgeons have hit upon what they believe to be the “ultimate woman”, although she is in fact made up of more than just one woman. In 2011, Beverly Hills plastic surgeons Dr. Richard Fleming and Dr. Toby Mayer surveyed 1,200 of their patients to find which celebrity features compose this “perfect woman”.

Over the past few years, some have remained on the list, while others, like Jolie’s lips, fell off the charts. According to the Fleming-Mayer survey, today’s perfect woman would have Anne Hathaway’s eyes, Natalie Portman’s nose, Scarlett Johansson’s lips, January Jones’ cheeks, Halle Berry’s jawline, Taylor Swift’s hair, Amy Adam’s complexion, Jennifer Aniston’s breasts, and Penelope Cruz’ body. Perfect men would have Hugh Jackman’s eyes, Ashton Kutcher’s lips, Leonardo Dicaprio’s cheeks, Jon Hamm’s jawline, Jude Law’s nose, George Clooney’s hair and Mark Wahlberg’s body.

According to Dr. Fleming, it is typical for patients to reference a celebrity when asking about a procedure during their initial consultation. Rhinoplasty is the most popular procedure, and the most requested nose belongs to Hollywood’s Natalie Portman. Angelina Jolie “wasn’t anywhere on the list this year”, says the Beverly Hills Institute of Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery practitioner, although she has always been on previous years’ lists. Pamela Anderson’s over-inflated and false-looking breasts have also been forgotten and not once asked for in the clinic. Right now, soft natural beauty is what people want.

Motivated by Hollywood celebrities who have avoided a regular nip and tuck and prefer to look natural, Australians also increasingly want a more natural look. More people are now turning to non- or minimally-invasive cosmetic enhancement treatments to diminish the appearance of wrinkles and look a little younger and fresher.

Women in their forties and beyond are increasingly living and enjoying life as much as women do in their twenties and early thirties. People of all ages exude confidence no matter how old they are. Shows like “Cougar Town” and other representations of middle-aged women sends a clear message that it is in fact acceptable to age.

Current beauty trends lean toward less invasive cosmetic treatments than before, but that doesn’t mean people are less interested in looking more beautiful. The cosmetic enhancement industry continues to rocket in spite of the current economic crisis. But women (and men) are beginning to realise that bigger is not necessarily better, and that it makes more sense to enhance their own features than to borrow from the stars.