iPhone app lets you try plastic surgery

Thinking of a tummy tuck? Need bigger breasts? There's an App for that.

In fact, there are now two plastic surgery applications, or apps, for Apple's iPhone that offer users information, games and the chance for people to envisage what they would look like with a new nose, face lift or many other procedures.

The Shafer Plastic Surgery App was launched in October as the first such product among the more than 85,000 offerings in Apple's iPhone App Store.

Created by New York-based Dr. David Shafer, it is aimed at modern patients who are "sophisticated, inquisitive and information seeking", and it taps into a database of more than 1,000 questions and answers about specific cosmetic surgery procedures.

The Shafer app will soon be joined by iSurgeon, developed by Miami cosmetic surgeon Dr. Michael Salzhauer, who authored the 2008 book "My Beautiful Mommy" aimed at helping 4-7 year-old children cope with plastic surgery.

iSurgeon combines a game mode allowing users to try their hand at surgery with a feature that gives people the chance to instantly modify images of themselves - or their friends - through lip enhancements, breast augmentations and dozens of other improvements.

"iSurgeon serves a dual purpose, providing those interested in cosmetic surgery treatments with a clear visual of what they would look like post-surgery, while also providing a fun entertaining game tool," Salzhauer said in a statement.

The Shafer Plastic Surgery App costs US$2.99 (NZ$4.23) in its full version, while iSurgeon will be free during its first month of release later in November.

The two Apps will join thousands of others, including a Virgin Atlantic airline app for people afraid of flying, a zombie pizza game and a Barista app for making exotic coffees at home.

Among the more controversial recent offerings was one launched and swiftly removed in October called "AMP UP Before You Score" which provided pick-up lines for men looking to seduce 24 kinds of female stereotypes, including cougars, bookworms and nerds.

- Reuters