A Cape Town financial services firm claims the popularity of cosmetic surgery is on the rise.

First Finance Health specialises in granting loans for plastic surgery not covered by medical aids.

It said there has been a major increase in the number of people requesting finance to fund so-called "nips and tucks" in the past year.

The company said it receives close to 1000 applications every month.

The company?s director Jason Sive is of the opinion the trend will continue to grow.

"The whole industry itself is definitely changing. The industry is no longer taboo so it?s becoming a lot more accepted."