By Plastic Surgeon Dr Dirk Kremer. 

A few weeks ago, married couple David and Heather Robertson hit the headlines for getting plastic surgery as a couple together. The couple had been together 18 years, and when Heather decided to have a tummy-tuck, David didn't hesitate to also go under the knife and get a chin lift.

David and Heather have four children, something that David says has taken a toll on their bodies. “If anyone deserves to get a tummy tuck, I think she deserves to get one done”, he says. David has gained 50 pounds and a double-chin, and chose to have a chin lift to turn back time on his appearance.

They are not unique: recent research from a large plastic surgery clinic showed that 24 of their patients had also undergone some sort of treatment.  One reason for this is that a spouse might have doubts about plastic surgery, but sees the positive effect surgery has for their partner’s appearance and confidence, and chooses to get surgery themselves. Others like David and Heather opt to have surgery together: it’s a shared experience, like having children or buying a house or going on holiday together.

According to social matching theory, we tend to be psychologically attracted to those with similar characteristics and levels of attractiveness as ourselves. Plastic surgery can be a way of maintaining or improving that match, helping a couple to be satisfied and excited by their appearance.

There is also an aspirational aspect. The cosmetic surgery couples trend has been nicknamed “Dosh and Pecs”, with couples aspiring to the bodies and celebrity lifestyle of Victoria (“Posh Spice”) and David Beckham. People don’t just want to be beautiful themselves, but share their lives with someone beautiful.

In a healthy marriage, your spouse is ideally your definition of beauty. Growing old together is part of the ideal of making a lifelong commitment to someone you love. Cosmetic surgery should not be seen as a way of changing your spouse, fixing problems in a marriage, or of preserving youth forever. But plastic surgery can help you as a couple grow old gracefully together, smoothing out the effects of time and age. It can be an exciting and positive shared experience as a couple.

Heather Robertson put it best when she said, "I know we are still young but we are getting older, and [plastic surgery is] just another new chapter, another new adventure."