Saturday 6 July 2013

Cosmetic Surgery Debate | Make Me, Fake Me?


'Plastic surgery', 'cosmetic surgery', 'cosmetic enhancement' ..whatever term you want to use for somebody going under the knife to change their appearance, it will always be a controversial topic. Some people are 100% dead set against it, but if they're happy in their own skin then they should be content with that and shouldn't have to worry about other people's decisions. 

I, personally, don't have a problem with anybody turning to surgery if that's the choice they want to make, and if my bank balance wasn't in the red then I'd be turning to needles and knives too. Seeing as I can't stretch to four figure sums to give myself: breasts a few cup sizes bigger; the white, straight and perfectly shaped teeth I long for; or the fresh, clear, scar-free skin that I deserve after years of severe acne, I can only have a mental wishlist of operations, procedures, or treatments that I would opt for should my bank balance allow it (fingers crossed I get rich!).

But, what I want to know is: where would you draw the line to what makes you 'fake' - terminology often used to describe people who have had 'work done' - and what doesn't? Is getting a breast augmentation in the same category as teeth whitening? Where is the boundary? 'Don't get a boob job', they might say, 'they look better 'natural'' - Okay, well then what about yellow, crooked teeth? Do they look better left as they are? And would it make you 'unnatural' to change them surgically? Maybe it's not a 'surgery' per se, but it's hardly an at home job or something herbal supplements will tackle. And shockingly, acne scarring removal/treatment is considered to be 'cosmetic' treatment (as opposed to a medical issue that can be paid for under the NHS), as the issue does not affect health and well being (I would strongly disagree) - but if this is the case, would you be able to distinguish between the use of a laser or chemicals to perfect the skin surface in that situation, from somebody getting, say, botox in their skin to reduce fine lines and wrinkles? 

If I underwent 'cosmetic dentistry' and had my teeth straightened, whitened and had veneers done - would my peers turn to calling me 'fake'? As I have no doubt they would do so if I opted for a silicone breast implantation. But then, what about the acne treatment that I want more than anything to help cure my dramatic complexion insecurities?

If you take a look at all of the terms that I have listed at the top of this page, do they call come under the same umbrella? I feel certain that most of you would place some differences between them, i.e. the ones 'necessary' versus the ones that are not, for example. But then, what are you deeming necessary? I don't like to smile in photographs because I have a wonky tooth that I'm insecure about - therefore I would feel happier with straighter teeth. And, although I am trying my best to embrace the pancake chest that I was born with, I don't feel comfortable wearing a bikini or certain clothing because I don't like the size of my breasts - therefore I would feel happier with a 'boob job'.

Take other people for an example, and not just me. Person A was once overweight, but then lost that weight and would like a tummy tuck to be able to feel better about their body. Person B has a large mole or birthmark on their leg and doesn't like people to see it and would prefer for it to be removed to be able to feel better about their body. Or alternatively: Person C isn't happy that she appears to look older than her actual age, and opts for botox for a younger appearance so she can feel happier in her appearance. Person D doesn't like the ice-pick acne scars left on her face and opts for a chemical skin peel so she can feel happier in her appearance. Are there certain people in these scenarios who you would judge for different procedures and for different reasons? Are you still going to deem some as 'necessary' and some as not, when the end result is always the same - the patient is more confident in their appearance, and as a result happier. Is being happy a debatable necessity?

Do you see my point?

Do you have any such views on these enhancements or adjustments?
I'd love to hear your thoughts.



*This post was written by myself and is 100% my own views 
but it was sponsored by sk:n clinics.

18 comments:

  1. This was a really interesting post! I think if somebody wants something to make them feel better and they can afford it, then why not - low self esteem can affect many areas of life.
    There definitely seems to be different levels of treatment though - I'd get my teeth whitened in a heartbeat but when it came to things like liposuction, working out for the result over a long time could be more satisfying. Guess it's all down to individual opinion though, this was really well written :)
    xx
    www.LaurasHaven.com

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  2. Really well written :)

    I'm someone who already has a massive long list of cosmetic procedures I'd like when I have the money. I can remember ordering Harley Medical brochures when I was younger and looking through the procedures and dreaming - seems pretty scary! I believe that if you're not comfortable with something and you've outweighed the pros and cons then you have the right to change it.

    xx

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  3. I think it's up to the individual; nobody should be made to feel bad for wanting or not wanting surgery. However, i think the mainissue is to look at WHY people want it; we're made to feel we have to look 'perfect' nowadays so people can feel pressured into having it. If somebody wants it for themselves then who am I to argue, it's hard to feel good about yourself sometimes! But I really hope people will realise that beauty is not necessarily how they look compared to others and be happy with themselves and how they are already (one can dream!) xx

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  4. Great post! Personally, I'm not against it in the slightest, and have my own wishlist of what I would get done if I could. But I have a slight issue with things like face fillers and Botox - not because I don't think people should get them, they should feel free to and I wouldn't judge them at all. My issue is that having something injected into your face (or lips for that matter) makes me squeamish and I'm terrible for thinking it'll end up a complete disaster! The only thing that really bugs me is when you hear stories of people getting cosmetic surgery on the NHS. I don't agree with that in the slightest xx

    D Is For...

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  5. Love this post! I like it when bloggers occasionally pull away from fashion/beauty posts and do posts like these :) I think you've summed it up really well, and I like the whole is being happy a debatable necessity thing at the end :) x

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  6. Definitely agree with all the points you've made! Dita Von Teese said something along the lines of "nobody has the right to judge what makes another woman feel sexy" and that's so true. The whole diatribe that exists between natural beauty - being "fake" is so restrictive! If somebody wants a cosmetic enhancement to feel better about themselves then nobody should judge that. I do think it's sad when people feel like they need to change everything about themselves to fit society's ideals, but if that's what they want, then it's for nobody else to judge. I've had my teeth straightened and it has been one of the best things I've done for my confidence. That to me is so much more important than what judgemental people have to say! xo

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  7. Plastic surgery has been in existence since a loong time, but it is only recently that celebrities talk about it about openly. And only recently have normal \ everyday people started resorting to it. Small corrections \ Minor changes are fine imo, but drastic changes and nose jobs are a bit too much. Even if you look at celebrities, personally i feel plastic surgery has created more uglies thans beautys. Some where , something always goes wrong, and celebs start looking less and less human, the more surgery they do.

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  8. I definitely think each to there own... I have a tooth that stuck out and had braces fitted, I wasn't insecure about it but it was just something that bothered me and I thought I have the opportunity to fix it and I will. I think what is a shame is when people goes to extremes or they go for plastic surgery because of issues that will never be rectified with surgery etc. I mean we could go on forever, fake nails.... putting rollers in our hair even make up.... we have these opportunities to make improvements and have fun with our looks it's something to embrace!

    Victoria
    FlorenceandMary.com

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  9. I think this is a really good post. I have had a boob job and get judged on it without people even asking why I had it done. I was severely bullied at school which left me not eating and quite ill which led to me developing under active thyroid which meant my body stopped growing and my boobs stopped developing. I was left with 32AA which were not only small but malformed and under developed. I tried everything to make them grow naturally and when this failed I tried to lose enough weight to fit around my completely flat chest. I decided to have a boob job when I went to the doctors and was told my boobs had completely stopped developing and would never grow even if I out weight on, had kids and all the normal ways they would. I was to,d the only way to ever get normal shaped (my boobs were misshaped) was to have implants so I did... I paid for them myself it was not on the nhs. It is the best thing I have ever done and I would do it again in a heartbeat! Everyone has their own reasons for doing things, I had a boob job not only to increase size (I went to a 32c) but to get a normal shape. I wish some people would ask first rather than make judgements... I would have done anything for natural normal shaped small boobs but it was never going to happen so a boob job it was. It is not just about vanity but about mental state aswell. Thank you for highlighting the issue :)

    Www.beautyandthbeliever.blogspot.co.uk

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  10. I'm definitely pro about cosmetic surgery... it's a bless for those people with imperfections. I went for fillers by Dr. Jerome Edelstein in Toronto, because I wanted to get rid of the wrinkles around my eyes and from my forehead. And it helped me a lot... I'm having a smooth face, which is perfect for me!

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  11. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  12. i dont think there's anything wrong with cosmetic surgery and treatments, but ONLY when it's really an issue. like, if someone has lost a lot of weight and gets cellulite why not get a sublative treatment or even liposuction. but if it's just because someone wants to be the living barbie or whatever, then i don't agree with it :( but it's a fine line and ultimately it's people's money. if they wanna do it, they wanna do it, right?

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