I LOVE how makeovers can cause quite the stir.

Just look at Britain's Got Talent hot favourite, Susan Boyle.

A small tweezer job to the muppet uni-brow, a dye job and some new togs, and suddenly, folks are debating whether she should be going the drab to fab route.

As an English friend surmises: 'It's a case of rooting for the underdog. If she wasn't so butt ugly, her vocals would just be good, not necessarily phenomenal.'

Then there was the recent news about how 50-year-old Janet Cunliffe dropped about 20 grand on plastic surgery to look like her 22-year-old daughter Jane.

The British duo now look like identical twins, which of course would irk the younger Cunliffe (although I think she's really pissed because mum didn't loan her a few notes to fix her smile - the girl has horrible teeth).

If that isn't extreme enough, how about Cindy Jackson, who holds the Guinness World Records title for having the most cosmetic surgery done?

She's had more than 50 procedures, which have cost her close to $150,000 in all, and looks like a life-size Barbie doll?

Incidentally, extreme makeovers are not exclusive to the fairer sex. Just Google Miles Kendall (nee Tim Whitfield-Lynn), who's morphed himself into a real-life Ken doll after loads of plastic surgery.

Interestingly, the pair have hooked up (albeit not romantically). Ms Jackson and Mr Kendall occasionally hang out and tour on behalf of the former's Plastic Surgery Referral Network company.

And if you can't get enough of revamps, there's Tim Gunn's House Of Style on late night Wednesday TV.

A recent episode saw a 41-year-old woman, who was in need of an age-appropriate makeover.

My heart first went out to her little girl - nobody wants mummy dearest to dress like a skank.

Next it went out to Tim Gunn, who looked like he was going to have a coronary trying to get the lady to part with her slutty, barely-there wardrobe from her 20s.

The episode reminded me of what a stylist friend here said about a socialite.

He often lamented how this client would always botch the stylish looks he put together for her, by throwing on her gaudy jewellery in excess.

So where do makeovers go wrong? When it borders on excess and becomes vulgar and crass.

If Susan Boyle were to suddenly sport the luscious hair extensions and fake tan favoured by football Wags, she would look absolutely freakish, and the crowd would definitely turn on her.

A successful makeover should bring out your potential good looks. In other words: You, just infinitely better. Keep these tips in mind:

1) Be honest about your body shape

That's the You now, not in your teens or 20s.

This will help you figure out your figure flaws, what to hide, and what to accent.

If you have heavy thighs, a mini-skirt is never going to make you look sexy.

Far more flattering would be A-line or bias-cut skirts with hemlines that hide those thunder thighs.

2) Never fixate on an image

Most women want to come across as sexy, but there are so many interpretations of sexy.

Baring flesh and lots of it is skanky, not sexy.

A boyfriend sweater-dress with the right weave (snug to hold you in, but not tight that you'll see bulges) with a short hemline that makes your legs go on forever when paired with sleek pumps, is hot yet classy.

If Jessica Simpson or Mariah Carey is your style icon, go back to the drawing board.

3) You should still recognise yourself in the mirror

Being open to change is good. But you also need filters. If something doesn't make you feel comfy, you won't be able to pull it off.

Tell your stylist - this applies to clothes, make-up and hair - what your reservations are, and it would also help to give him/her an idea of your lifestyle, so they can make recommendations accordingly.

If you can't see yourself recreating these looks without assistance, then the look probably isn't for you.

This article was first published in The New Paper