At the beginning of each episode of
Nip/Tuck, one of the show's two plastic surgeons asks the prospective patient: "Tell me what you don't like about yourself." Most of us can identify a part of our body that we dislike; for some, it's a laundry list.
I've been thinking a lot lately about cosmetic enhancement and where we draw the line. I can't think of anyone I know who doesn't alter her natural appearance in some way--whether it's wearing make-up or self-tanner, tweezing her eyebrows or shaving her legs. But, when do you stop, and if so, what causes you to stop?
Methods for improving our appearance seem to exist on a continuum--from hair cut to hair color, Botox to breast augmentation. The majority of women, Jane Goodall types aside, are comfortable changing some aspects about themselves. For many, though, when in comes to body enhancement, there's no clear finish line, thus the stories we hear of women who endure multiple cosmetic surgeries.
Health risks aside, are you selling out if you choose liposuction over Restylane, a face lift over Retin-A? Or, are they just ways to help you feel better about yourself?
Should we find better ways to feel better? A character on the show once said: "Don't make the mistake of healing the internal problem with an external fix." How many of us agree with that?
Assuming money is no object, where do you draw the line?
I've been thinking a lot lately about cosmetic enhancement and where we draw the line. I can't think of anyone I know who doesn't alter her natural appearance in some way--whether it's wearing make-up or self-tanner, tweezing her eyebrows or shaving her legs. But, when do you stop, and if so, what causes you to stop?
Methods for improving our appearance seem to exist on a continuum--from hair cut to hair color, Botox to breast augmentation. The majority of women, Jane Goodall types aside, are comfortable changing some aspects about themselves. For many, though, when in comes to body enhancement, there's no clear finish line, thus the stories we hear of women who endure multiple cosmetic surgeries.
Health risks aside, are you selling out if you choose liposuction over Restylane, a face lift over Retin-A? Or, are they just ways to help you feel better about yourself?
Should we find better ways to feel better? A character on the show once said: "Don't make the mistake of healing the internal problem with an external fix." How many of us agree with that?
Assuming money is no object, where do you draw the line?