Heads Up English | ESL Lessons - Have Bonus, Will Botox

Have Bonus, Will Botox

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Details: Parent Category: Upper-Intermediate News Lessons; Category: Business Lessons; Written by Chris Cotter

City of London bankers have discovered the perfect way to spend their annual bonuses. They are choosing cosmetic surgery to stay young looking in a very cutthroat job market. Business is booming in nose jobs, wrinkle fillers, liposuction, and botox injections as a means to repair or slow the effects of age.

Operations rose by one-third to over 22,000 last year, and it isn't just woman who are getting cosmetic surgery. Men make up eleven percent of this total, and the number has been rising steadily. Mel Braham, chairman of the Harley Medical Group, said there is a greater overall awareness that men have as much right as women to look good.

But there's more to it. Braham explained that a man who is approaching 50, but looks more like 60, is worried about job stability. He doesn't wanted to be fired in favor of someone younger, and so cosmetic surgery would give him another 10 years. Even better is to start treatments early rather than late, to give yourself the best chance of looking good. "Better to attack the small blemish first," he added.

Although the most requested surgeries are nose reshaping and the removal of love handles, there next may be an effective remedy for baldness. It would give the already strong industry an enormous boost. There are already trials in Britain for a hair-growth treatment. The challenge is to make sure the hair grows quick enough, and thick enough.

Prices range from £200 for botox injections to £6,000 for a facelift.

Preview some of the lesson material:

Warm Up: Do you agree or disagree? Why?

I'm very concerned with my appearance. I don't want to grow old!
I would consider cosmetic surgery to make myself more attractive to the opposite sex.
Research shows that beautiful people have better-paid, more stable jobs. I would consider cosmetic surgery if I could get paid more.
Cosmetic surgery is a waste of money!
Only someone who is shallow and vain would consider cosmetic surgery.

Fragments: Remember how the fragments were used, and complete the sentence from today's article.

City of London bankers have discovered the perfect way to...
Operations rose by one-third to over 22,000 last year, and...
Even better is to start treatments early rather than late, to...
It would give...
Prices range from...

post-Comprehension: Talk about the following questions in pairs/groups. Remember to support your answers!

What are your feelings about a job that would force you to consider cosmetic surgery?
Would you ever elect to have cosmetic surgery (or have you)? Why/not?
Do you know anyone who has ever had cosmetic surgery? If yes, what was your opinion about the decision?
Michael Jackson had a lot of cosmetic surgery. Do you think it helped or harmed his career? Why?
Isn't it fair that older people step aside for the next generation to take control? Isn't plastic surgery upsetting the balance? Why/not?

Google Search: Type "cosmetic surgery" into Google. Look at the websites, and/or read additional articles on this topic. Discuss or write an essay about your findings.