Rethinking the Taboos of Cosmetic Surgery

It’s difficult to say whether cosmetic surgery is still widely considered to be a taboo topic of discussion, simply because it’s well and t...

It’s difficult to say whether cosmetic surgery is still widely considered to be a taboo topic of discussion, simply because it’s well and truly on the rise across the globe. In Australia alone, cosmetic surgery has evolved into a billion-dollar industry, with the bulk of this growth occurring over just the past four years. Although industry analysts attribute this growth to be a direct result of our aging population, anti-aging procedures make up only half the story here, as procedures like liposuction and tummy tucks are also on the rise, and can be seen as a response to obesity.

So, if an increasing number of us are interested in cosmetic surgery, what exactly are the taboos?

Read on for a small overview on the most common arguments against cosmetic surgery, and an explanation on why these arguments are actually quite unfounded.

#1 - The ‘real’ barriers to self-love

It’s largely accepted now that getting a facelift doesn’t actually mean that you don’t love yourself, or even that you can’t love yourself. The cold, hard truth of ‘self-love’ is that the particulars of this practice can really differ from person to person. What you may perceive as self-love for you, can be wildly different to what your friends and family may do for themselves. At the end of the day, it’s your right to choose how to care for your mind, body, and soul.

The majority of people who undergo cosmetic procedures do say that it’s not about running from yourself as you age, but more about reclaiming your sense of self and choosing to actively practice self-love in a way that’s most comfortable for them.

In fact, if we as a society were to identify any ‘real’ barriers to self-love, it would most likely be having to combat external prejudices and expectations placed upon us by our wider environments, which brings us to taboo #2.

#2 - Social perception of cosmetic surgery

Of course, it goes without saying that societal pressures can be felt by every individual and in a number of different contexts, whether they be professional, generally interpersonal, or cultural to name a few. Men and women alike can often experience an overwhelming pressure to adhere to western society’s incredibly rigid and inflexible images of femininity and masculinity. For this reason, body image issues are increasingly prevalent and can have negative impacts on mental health.

Naturally, these negative emotions can inspire many men and women to seek refuge in the form of diets, rigorous exercise routines, and also cosmetic surgery. Thankfully, of all these options, cosmetic surgery is the most costly, and so is rarely a step that is taken lightly and for the ‘wrong reasons’, these being impersonal influenced by external pressures.

In truth, cosmetic surgery isn’t about looking the same as everyone else, and most seasoned cosmetic surgeons will tell their patients this well before they go under the knife. Cosmetic surgery isn’t about following societal ideals. It’s about personal empowerment. Whilst social media platforms like Instagram do in fact, present us with an image that women, in particular, feel they must aspire to, there’s also a fair amount of criticism surrounding this ‘image’ and a growing push for women to follow the path of empowerment above all else. Don’t do it for the ‘Instagram Face’, do it for you!

#3 - The risk/reward debate

One of the most common arguments against cosmetic surgery is that the risks may not outweigh the potential rewards. Like any surgery, cosmetic surgery does come with its own set of potential complications; these complications can be largely avoided by finding an experienced cosmetic surgeon, asking them plenty of questions, being proactive about scheduling your procedures with them, and making sure that you maintain reasonable expectations of those procedures.

Be sure to consult with your cosmetic surgeon about what timeframe would be most suitable for the list of procedures you’re looking to get done, just so you can ensure minimal stress on your body and decrease your chances of experiencing what are oftentimes highly avoidable risks.

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There is a myriad of reasons why people can ultimately choose to undergo cosmetic surgery. The important thing to keep in mind is that it’s a highly personal decision that can only be made by casting social influences aside. Pay no mind to the taboos because the only opinion that matters should be yours.