There is one disturbing cosmetic surgery trend that has been getting a lot of attention from the media as of recent. Women around the world are requesting to have plastic surgery to look like their favorite celebrities. The worst part about this is not that they are doing it for themselves, but that they are doing so for the satisfaction of their significant others.
An obsessed Kim Kardashian fan, Brisa Johnson, recently tweeted about undergoing head-to-toe plastic surgery to resemble the bootylicious star that her husband worships. Kardashian pleaded for Johnson to not undergo the drastic makeover, saying, “Don’t try to be someone else. I’m sure you are beautiful as you are, inside and out.”
Another woman in China, 21-year-old Xiaoqing, planned to undergo surgery to look like Jessica Alba in order to woo her ex-boyfriend back. Reportedly a group of surgeons offered to do the surgery for free, and the aggravated Alba also reached out to the fan to stop her. “I think you should never have to change yourself like that,” said Alba. “If somebody loves you, they’ll love you no matter what.”
What is driving people to have an unrealistic obsession with cosmetic surgery? Back in 2005, MTV aired a TV series called “I Want a Famous Face”. The show featured average people who were willing to undergo excessive amounts of plastic surgery to look like different celebrities. As a plastic surgeon, I realize that there is a difference between enhancing a certain feature and completely altering someone’s appearance. It is clear that these people are not emotionally stable enough to undergo cosmetic surgery and may one day be diagnosed with Body Dysmorphic Disorder.
Furthermore, one should not be pressured into having plastic surgery so that someone will love them. The celebrities we see on TV put an unrealistic face on beauty. Only a select group of people has access to a trainer, nutritionist, personal chef, makeup artist, hairdresser, stylist, and photoshop expert that can make this beauty ideal attainable.
If you are considering plastic surgery to resemble a celebrity, I warn you against it. Cosmetic surgery is intended to enhance one’s beauty, not completely alter the features that make them unique. The people we see on TV should not be whom we model our beauty ideals around. Don’t believe me? Google ‘celebrities without makeup’.
To Your Inner Beauty & Health,
Vipul R. Dev, M.D.
vipdevmd.wordpress.com 