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Pre Surgery and Post Surgery

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Pre surgery and Post Surgery

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We have chosen to discuss cosmetic plastic surgery, as women are constantly held to a certain beauty standard which is not always naturally attainable for most women. Such beauty trends as fuller lips, bigger butt, larger perkier breasts, tummy tucks, nose jobs and Botox are all common procedures women wish they could have done or get them done.  We wanted to look at why women feel they procedures are necessary to be considered beautiful. Personally, we both agree that cosmetic plastic surgery can be a positive thing. It can boost women’s confidence, and that is never a bad thing. We also feel it is important that women can accept that they do not necessarily have the body that social media portrays as beautiful but they can still live with themselves because cosmetic surgery is not affordable for a lot of women. Adriana would have plastic surgery done if it were affordable for her, because should would like the added confidence boost. Whereas, Kaylea believes plastic surgery is a positive thing she herself would not have it done because of the recovery process. But most importantly we agree it should be a personal decision to have cosmetic surgery, not something a woman feels pressured or expected to have done.

We have both chosen to interview our mothers. Adriana’s mom Liza is fifty-two, she chose her mom because she was not aware of her mother’s stance on cosmetic plastic surgery and wanted to know her opinion. Kaylea chose her mom, Rhonda who is fifty-five because her mom’s opinions often differ from her own. Her mom is not a feminist, whereas Kaylea would call herself one.

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Cosmetic plastic surgery is not a new phenomenon, during the golden age of Hollywood celebrities were having cosmetic procedures done. Marilyn Monroe is considered the epitome of beauty in the 1950’s and is still often referenced in present day as one of the most beautiful people in the world. Marilyn Monroe’s iconic look is in part from cosmetic surgery, she had a nose job. Even almost seventy years ago, to be considered the most beautiful woman, Monroe had cosmetic surgery to enhance her look. Elizabeth Taylor who is also considered an iconic beauty also had a nose job done (reelrundown, 2016).  Women from this generation still felt pressure from society to look a certain way so by dealing with it they would have cosmetic surgeries done to live up to the expectation of Hollywood. The women who were part of the golden age are now aging and they feel a different kind of pressure to maintain what they used to look like, examples of this could be Joan Rivers who was constantly receiving cosmetic surgeries to maintain how she looked when she was 20 and 30. As well as Jane Fonda who was beautiful when she was younger but now feels pressure to still look that way and has also received cosmetic surgery. Although aging can be scary Fond has a positive outlook on it and on her cosmetic surgery “People looked older back then. I wish I were brave enough to not do plastic surgery but I think I bought myself a decade” (the guardian, 2015). Even though Jane Fonda has a positive outlook on aging and plastic surgery many women do not. As mentioned in Module 2 of this course, many of the images we see of women, has taught us to be afraid or scared of aging or that having to big or too small of a waistline or bust is veering from society’s perceived notion of beauty. It is this feeling society has instilled in us, as women. Furthermore, the module says “the message to women is if you have to age, you should do all you can (including spend a lot of money and endure painful procedures) to maintain a youthful appearance” (Lockey, 2016).

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1: How do you feel about cosmetic surgery? Would you have any cosmetic procedures done yourself?

Yes, if I had money only if it’s necessary. I would get my boobs done. After having five kids, I'm not happy with how they look or make me feel, so if I had the money I would improve them.

2: Did you ever feel pressured to have cosmetic surgery, or to look a certain way?

No, I only pressured myself. Any belief I have about not looking a certain way in internal.

3: How did the women who influenced you feel about cosmetic plastic surgery?

I've never really discussed it with them. They are very much for natural beauty. My sister had a breast removed from cancer and wore a prosthesis because it made her feel better, but none of us were raised thinking we needed surgery. My mom always told us we were beautiful.

4: How do you feel about aging in present day?

I don’t really care it doesn’t bother me. I dye my hair because I like to. I'm just that much closer to retirement and that makes me happy.

5: Did you feel beautiful growing up? If so what made you feel this way? If not, why?

Nope, as a teenager I didn’t feel that way. My self-esteem, I didn’t have any, still don’t.

6: What advice would you give future generations about beauty, aging and cosmetic surgery.

If you want it get it, but its up to the person. If it stresses you out and you're unhappy and have the money do it. As for aging, take care of yourself physically and emotionally. Some people age gracefully, some people don’t and if they want to help themselves feel better why not.

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1:How do you feel about cosmetic surgery? Would you have any cosmetic procedures done yourself?
I have mixed feelings, I think it’s important to have the option to improve something if you really feel it is necessary, but I am really concerned for all the people who take advantage and do not stop, the people who try and create a younger version of themselves, rather than embracing their authentic selves they are trying to recreate the past not even the past but trying.. Saying past they want to feel young again, you are better off to be who you are.  No I do not believe I will not have any cosmetic procedures done. Even when I look in the mirror and see my eyes and that im older and changing, but it’s me it’s who I am, my life will still be okay with wrinkles around my eyes, I don’t need 25 year old eyes to make me feel okay. A scar is your passage, its symbolism of what you’ve gone through, aging is a privilege, reward.

2: Did you ever feel pressured to have cosmetic surgery, or to look a certain way?
Never, I wouldn’t even allow myself that, I know I will not be able to look like 25 year old models, I don’t want 25 year old eyes with a 60 year old neck.

3: How did the women who influenced you feel about cosmetic plastic surgery?
They would be their authentic self, the women in my world had hard physical life and sometimes the roughness showed in their hands, it was symbolic of what they have survived and what they have become here in Canada. Your success in life was if you could provide for your family, and have friends, be a good mother, not how good you looked.

4: How do you feel about aging in present day?
Well… I think people are younger at heart then they were before they don’t look like old people they don’t look like they did in 1940 I think they are just living life to enjoy, exercise more, eat healthier more aware, so I think in this day and age, age is really just a number because the older people, they are a very vibrant part of society, they are active, more important than trying to look younger or having bigger breasts, a lot of grandparents trying to raise grandchildren they have a larger influence in their lives, very involved and active.

5: Did you feel beautiful growing up? If so what made you feel this way? If not, why?
No I did not I still don’t feel beautiful, I think when my mom left I felt I wasn’t good enough anymore, if your own mom leaves you what’s left (child’s POV), people only reject you because you are not good enough, feeling less than that as a person certainly did not make you feel beautiful.

6: What advice would you give future generations about beauty, aging and cosmetic surgery.
I would say eat well and exercise, help take care of yourself the best way you can, don’t look at your wrinkles as negative, look at is symbols of your success, come through hard times, had kids, worked, done good, an age now to enjoy yourself and be authentic, as far as cosmetics moisturize your skin, wear red lipstick, if something really bugs you maybe, but measure what you are doing to yourself, it’s the inside that needs to be fixed and changed and you need to fix that first before you fix the out, learn to love yourself because that’s the best you.

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In an article from psychology today, they say that the western world believes that the more attractive you are the more likely you are to succeed. You are more likely to get chosen for any sort of position or deselected for punishment because of it as well. They say that many facial characteristics will determine your level of attractiveness. Things such as smaller nose and/or chin, larger eyes, and the size of your lips are considered to be the most attractive determinants for women. When women cannot realistically attain these features they turn to plastic surgery, if they can afford it. Many other women do not follow the media and simply just want enhancement surgery for themselves, it makes them feel more confident and more proud to present themselves to the world.

In today’s society women are brought up believing there is a specific look they need to have in order to be considered beautiful. This belief is referred to as ‘The Beauty Myth’ as discussed in module 2, its society’s unrealistic expectations of looking flawless in every way (Lockey, 2016) forced upon women that lead to body image issues for which some women seek plastic surgery to help them attain this look. We have noticed the growing trend online with young women editing and airbrushing their photos to attain this look of flawlessness. Women are also editing freckles into their photos because the newest beauty trend is freckles.

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I have personally felt the pressure to live up to this preconceived notion of beauty that the media and society has established. I have always felt the need to look flawless, I am living in the generation of the selfie. I will take thirty photos of myself and edit it until I feel content in posting it to social media. My mother and grandmother do not understand this phenomenon. They will laugh and poke fun at me as I take pictures of myself at specific angles. Although my mother has said that she hasn’t necessarily felt the pressure to look flawless but she did say that she never grew up feeling beautiful, this would be society’s fault. Young girls everywhere are told they are beautiful from those around them, however we never seem to believe anyone. I almost feel awkward now when someone tells me I am beautiful, this is because U know I do not fit society’s image of what beauty is. Society has forced this belief of what beauty is, to the point that we will believe society over our loved ones. When my mom was younger she was faced with the same ideology society has set, however she did not have Facebook, or Instagram where posting flawless photos is somewhat of a staple. Cosmetic plastic surgery has not necessarily had an impact on my life because I do not think I would actually have surgery done, however I definitely have felt the need to look flawless in my everyday life.

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Cosmetic surgery does not directly affect me because I will probably never be able to afford it but I have thought about procedures. There is one procedure that I would like to get one day should my income allow me but this is not the only thing I think about, I am able to move on with my life and accept the fact that I might not get this procedure one day. The women in my life that helped raise me would probably never consider cosmetic surgery, they always tell me that I am beautiful the way I am and that you should love yourself the way you were made. You can always improve on your body if there are things that you don’t like such as your tummy, or arms but at the end of the day the size of your nose does not define who you are. I think more women need to think like this, it is sad that the majority of girls only see their looks as who they are rather than what is on the inside. Although I say this, I too have felt pressure at times to live up to standards to look a certain way but at the end of the day I am who I am and I would not change that for the world. I have grown to love who I am as a person and I can realize that what is on the inside is what truly matters.

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Reel Rundown. (2016). Before & After Plastic Surgery Photos of 1950s Hollywood stars [website]. Retrieved from https://reelrundown.com/celebrities/Plastic-Surgery-in-the-1950s-and-Today

Dukas, M. (2015). Plastic Surgery in Hollywood’s Golden Age [website].

Retrieved from http://www.purpleclover.com/health/3108-they-had-faces-then/item/joancrawford/

Shord, C. (2015). Jane Fonda: ‘Plastic surgery bought me a decade’ [website].

Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/may/21/jane-fonda-youth-plastic-surgery-sex-cannes

Furnham, A. (2016). Why Choose Cosmetic Surgery? [website].

Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sideways-view/201601/why-choose-cosmetic-surgery

Lockey, L. (2016, October 14). GNED 1427 Course Lecture.