An increasing number are having plastic surgery to correct or improve on nature's handiwork.

"There is a misconception out there that cosmetic surgery is not for African Americans. But the truth is that procedures like liposuction are the same for blacks and whites," said Dr. Monique L. Abner, who performs plastic, hand and reconstructive surgery.

"People also think that it's just for the affluent, which isn't true. For a lot of people, cosmetic surgery is about taking their disposable income and instead of going to Disneyland, buying that motorcycle or new golf clubs, doing something that will make them feel better about themselves."

Abner, who is one of 30 plastic surgeons in the Charlotte area, said her client base has grown in recent years. With the exception of some laser surgeries and face lifts, blacks are pretty much receiving the same services as whites. The most commonly performed surgery, however, is primarily limited to women and is also mostly requested by blacks.

"I do a breast reduction every Thursday, which I would say is the most common surgery," Abner said. "In most cases, the insurance companies pay for it because large breasts can cause medical problems such as back and neck pain."

Breast reduction, or reduction mammaplasty, is the removal of excessive skin and breast tissue while maintaining its contour. The surgery is done by making an incision above the nipple that determines how it will be repositioned. Excess fat, skin and glandular tissue is removed below the incision. The remaining skin is pulled down and around the newly positioned, higher nipple and together on the underside of the breast to create a smaller, higher breast.

The average cost of surgery is $5,000-$6,000, which is usually covered by insurance.

Karen Chambers (not her real name) had breast reduction surgery six years ago at age 26. Prior to surgery, she suffered from back pain, was unable to find clothes that fit and felt uncomfortable with her breast size.

"My back hurt all the time and I had grooves in my shoulders," she said. "Large breasts are sometimes attractive but mine were unsightly. They were so large that when I didn't wear a bra they covered my stomach."

After, surgery which was an overnight experience, Chambers had a surge in confidence.

"It was a wonderful feeling to be able to buy regular clothes. My esteem shot up and I felt better about myself," she said.

After breast reduction, the most common type of cosmetic surgery is liposuction. The procedure, which Abner describes as a major surgery, involves inserting a cannula, a thin, hollow tube attached to a vacuum that pulls out fat. Because the procedure involves a loss of body fluids, patients' blood pressure could drop. Abner counters that by inserting a proportionate amount of fluid to the amount of fat removed.

"I see a lot of blacks getting liposuction because there is nothing genetically different for us that makes us poor candidates for the procedure," Abner said. "To me, liposuction is about body structure, not body reduction."

Abner said with the increase in cosmetic surgery, she has also encountered people who go under the knife for the wrong reasons. She cautions against people getting the surgery to adhere to a standard of beauty that isn't their own.

"You have to work on the inside as well as the outside. I always talk to my patients about exercise and eating right," Abner said. "Beauty comes in all shapes, sizes and figures. I can make you look better, but I can't change who you are and how you feel about yourself. "