This age group are nicknamed the ‘Skiers’, which stands for Spending the Kids Inheritance, as they are having fun with their well-earned money, rather than saving it to leave it to their children. The Skiers are already thought to be responsible for a boom in retail and travel, and now it seems that they may do the same for plastic surgery.

With silver celebrities such as Jane Fonda, Madonna and Sharon Osbourne still boasting a youthful-looking appearance, the research shows that many women over-50 want to look just as glamorous. It demonstrated that a quarter of the 7,000 over-50s surveyed would consider plastic surgery to retain their youthful appearance. When asked to comment on the findings, a number of plastic surgeons agreed and suggested that women as old as 82 are now booking themselves in for a sneaky nip and tuck.

The research found that eyelifts were the most sought-after surgical procedure, followed by facelifts. Other popular procedures with the respondents were breast reductions and liposuction, particularly SmartLipo. However, only two per cent of those surveyed said they would undertake a breast enlargement, which is a much more popular procedure with younger patients.

Emma Soames of Saga Magazine believes this rise in ‘silver surgery’ is because surgical procedures and treatments have become more socially acceptable due to TV programmes such as 10 Years Younger. She said: "Cosmetic surgery is not such the taboo it might once have been, and for the over 50s, it is certainly an option.”

A Bupa spokesperson also subscribed to this view, they said: “It isn't just about covering up grey hair anymore. With an ever-ageing population and more emphasis on trying to look our best for longer, cosmetic surgery for those in their later years is likely to become more commonplace.”