They're close sisters, but there is one subject that divides them - cosmetic surgery.  Linda 56, has spent £30,000 on procedures and believes her life is all the better for it.  But her younger sister Debbie, 46, would never go under the knife for vanity.  So, asks SADIE NICHOLAS, whose side are you one?

LINDA SAYS...
LINDA BRIGGS is a former lawyer who now runs her own independent cosmetic surgery advisory and booking service.  She lives in Welney, Norfolk, with husband Michael, 64, who is retired from the RAF.  They have one son.  She says:

Given her views on the subject, it's Ironic it was my sister’s wedding in 1999 finally sent me running to a plastic surgeon.  At 45, I'd been aware that I'd not been looking my best, thanks to my stressful career as a lawyer.

In the three weeks leading up to the wedding I’d spent a fortune trying to look more youthful.  I’d had expensive electronic facial treatments, my eyelashes permed and dyed and a new haircut. But it wasn't enough.  One friend of Debbie’s - who is 10 years younger than me - asked if I was the bride’s mum. It was the last straw.

I didn’t tell my husband Michael that I was having a facelift until I’d booked an appointment with a surgeon.  I’d also decided to have my upper and lower eyelids sorted at the same time – hooded lids are a family trait and they were so ageing.

Michael sulked for a couple of hours, and said he liked me as I was.  But my mind was made up  The only other person who knew about my plans was the women at the bank who granted me the £5,000 loan to pay for the  surgery – we were having a house built at the time so it was draining our cash.

I waited until a few weeks after the procedure before  telling my mother and sister. Mum was angry and her way of showing that was to tell me I didn’t look any different. Debbie just peered at my face.

But I didn’t care what anyone thought - I was delighted.  It knocked years off me.  . I’d always had a fear of growing old.  My first grey hair and wrinkle appeared when I was 25. When I turned 30, I cried all day. I got a new hairstyle, my shelves were full of health and beauty books and I started doing more exercise than ever – circuit training to competition standard, plus hockey and running.

Then in June 1997, I read a newspaper story about the now infamous, American cosmetic surgery devotee Cindy Jackson, whose had more surgery than anyone else.

She’s 14 months younger than me and she looked amazing. Inspired by her , I stepped up my fitness regime and followed a programme of facial exercises, contorting my face for hours in front of the mirror.  I was convinced that people had begun to treat me differently at work. I felt I was fading into the background.  It’s wrong, but society treats women differently if they lose their looks.

Since having that first facelift, my attitude has been that if something needs sorting, I talk to a surgeon.  In 9 years I have spent over £30,000 on surgery - all with world class surgeons abroad (it would have cost £75,000 in the UK).  The list of procedures includes everything from liposuction on the thighs and bottom, to fillers injection into the back of my hands.

Debbie’s now a year older than I was when I had my first facelift and that's fair to say she’s worn better than me. At her age, I didn't have an ounce of fat on me, which made my face look drawn.

Having said that, Debbie went mumsy overnight when she had her first baby, which surprised me as she’d been a high-flying accountant before.  And while there are things she could do to improve her appearance (more flattering clothes and a chemical peel, I still think she would benefit from surgery.

She should get her eyes done because she’s also got hooded lids and I think she might need the under eye bags removed too.  After 2 kids , she should definitely think about having a tummy tuck. That’s one operation I don’t need because I had only one child,  so my stomach snapped back into shape. I don’t need a boob job either, as they are big enough naturally at 36D although I may have a reduction in the future and a  breast lift in a few years.

Don't get me wrong, I don't take surgery lightly.  I have to be at a stage where I am desperate to change something.  If a surgeon advised me not to have something done, I would take that advice.

Would I ever stop having surgery? Yes, if I started to look like one of those women who’s obviously had too much work.

But that first facelift was the best decision I ever made and  it's changed my life in more ways than I could ever have imagined.  After having more surgery, I started advising other women  about the best surgeons and treatments.

Several years later, it was taking so much of my time that I decided to give up law - which was too stressful - and start my own advisory business.

Its true that having surgery makes you scrutinise yourself more.  The neck lift I had in June has highlighted a bit of extra fat under my chin that needs liposuction again, and my lips need more filler to even them out.

The fact is we live in a shallow society - I don't want to be over looked because people see me as old.  That's just the way it is.  Of course, I would have preferred to have looked this way naturally, but it isn't possible.  So I am prepared to suffer for the cause.

DEBBIE SAYS...
Debbie Bell, 46, works for Linda managing her online beauty product
shop. She lives in Hertford with husband Dave, 46, an IT consultant, and
their children Rachel, 10, and Jason, six.  She says

IF LINDA called me and said she had yet another face lift, I'd be horrified.  Your skin can only stretch so far and I think she has reached her limit now.

I’ve watched cosmetic surgery operations on TV and I’ve seen how rough the surgeons can
be, pulling your skin around.  I think that surgery is a terrible waste of money - I can't believe how much Linda has spent.  Naively, I thought Linda's original face lift, 11 years ago would be a one off.  I could never have known how it would snowball and change Linda's whole life, including her career.

She set up her business after realising there wasn't any advice out there for people thinking about surgery.

When Linda had more surgery, I worried it was becoming a habit.

I'd tell her I didn't think she should go under the knife - and still do - but her response is always that she can't send other people to a surgeon if she hasn't tried them out herself.

I especially didn't agree with the liposuction Linda has had.  She eats a lots of sweets and cakes and if she kept off them and spent more time in the gym she wouldn't need the liposuction.

I also think that having laser treatment to erase her freckles illustrates how excessive this has become.

Nothing would make me have plastic surgery, and especially not Linda constantly telling me that I need it. I was complaining a few weeks ago that I’ve put a bit of weight on and her solution was that I should go for liposuction.

I'll be doing nothing of the sort. I’ve got a bike and I'll  start going out on that regularly.  I’d rather get fit than see a surgeon.

Linda also thinks I should get my hooded eyelids sorted and tells me that I pull so many expressive faces that I’m going to need botox.  Not a chance.

I can remember when Linda really started worrying about ageing.  She was miserable, wasn’t enjoying her job and had problems with a house she’d bought. She never smiled.

I remember the day I found out she’d had her facelift –  We were sitting in the living room at my mum’s house a few weeks after her operation and I recall thinking that she looked a bit funny and her face was tinged yellow.

But what I noticed most was that she was smiling for the first time in ages.

I didn't think that facelift had altered her looks, but it did alter her mindset - She walked taller

Her interest in appearance even rubbed off on her home.

I can't deny Linda definitely has fewer wrinkles than she would have had if she'd not been under the knife.  But most important to me is the fact that she looks happier.

As for me, I have no desire to look like I’m in my 20s.  a few lines give your face character.

There is nothing that would make me have surgery and, worryingly, probably not much that will make Linda stop.