Our plastic beauty – what’s beneath the surface?

Since we’re discussing the “beauty culture” this week, I wanted to spend a day on plastic surgery. I’m overwhelmed by the number of sources out there.

I’ve found articles stating that breast implants increase the risk of suicide and mask emotional problems.

But, I also found studies stating that implants and other procedures boost self-esteem .

Heidi Montag made news last week, talking about her fears of her nose falling off and lamenting being a prisoner to her new “G” implants. (Wow, her “before” pic, at least to me, looks so much better than her “after” pic)

Apparently, Jessica Simpson has a new show on VH1, The Price of Beauty, where she and two friends travel the world and investigate the cultural influence (and cost) of beauty.   While in Japan, she was shocked to find women having eye surgery to make their eyes look more “Western.”

Let’s not forget the woman who was afraid her husband might leave her if she didn’t look like Kim Kardashian.

In my great state of overwhelm, I decided to do a Google search on “loving your looks”.  Know what the very first hit was?  A site for breast augmentation plastic surgeons called “Love Your Look“.

I grant that some people might have increased self-esteem after a cosmetic procedure but that some (most?) are using the procedure as a “quick fix” for deeper issues.  In fact, humans look for “quick fixes” to deeper issues all the time, thinking, “if I just had enough money, the right partner, the perfect job, the ‘right’ body” all my problems will go away.”  I firmly, believe, however, that we’ll keep grasping for these solutions until we look inward, until we discover who we really are, and learn to love that person. That’s the underlying theme of most of the topics on FemCentral – self discovery and self acceptance. And, if you approach plastic surgery from a loving place of self acceptance, and still decide it’s right for you, then, my guess is that you’ll be one of the people who get a boost from the procedure.  As long as you give it the proper perspective and realize that it’s not going to solve all your problems.