April 3, 2001 -- Alexis Davey and Sheryl Tory, two up-and-coming supermodels who room together in New York’s East Village, had a lot to catch up on after a summer back home. First there was Sheryl’s breast implants, and then there was Sheryl’s liposuction, the popular cosmetic surgery in which body fat is suctioned out through a tube to get rid of pot bellies, love handles and other undesirable body bulges.

Alexis and Sheryl are part of a new breed of supermodels that are seeking cosmetic surgery in record numbers. Very few models we see strolling the catwalk are 100 percent natural. Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell and the reigning “super”, Gisele Bundchen are all rumoured to have had various types of cosmetic surgery to try to improve their market value. “Having the perfect smile or perfect breasts can be the difference to becoming a top model,” says Miami model scout Vincent Lopiccola. “It’s almost impossible today to be all natural and be successful in this business. The best models take advantage of the high level cosmetic surgery available today to make them look perfect. I’ve been around all the top supermodels and very few have not had some sort of work done on them.”

It has never been easier, or more tempting to have cosmetic surgery and other beauty-enhancing procedures than now. More cosmetic surgeons and “esthetic” dentists are setting up shop as potential clients like models are looking longer in the mirror and finding flaws. In one top New York prosthodontist’s office, it’s common to see models like Naomi Campbell and Gisele sitting in waiting rooms. According to one of these top New York prosthodontists, Campbell may have spent up to a hundred thousands of dollars over the past five years in an attempt to get a perfect smile.

“A smile says it all,” says British medical reporter Celia Whyte. “If a model does not have a perfect smile there’s no way that they will get to be on the cover of Vogue and Elle. They need perfect whites - perfect bite."

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