Watching at the television I can’t stop thinking about the perfect world that is constantly being offered to us. These advertisements promise to satisfy the needs of almost everything thinkable or even the unthinkable. Thus, when we purchase these products “our whole lives might change.” You could easily become wealthy by buying a book with detailed instructions of how to accomplish that; have the perfect body or face (just pick who you are desiring to look like); you might be able to live happily ever after or just start developing some kind of super powers -- all you need to do is swallow some magic pills.
In other cases, extreme remedies are offered to drastically reverse the process of aging and become a perfect portrait. Plastic surgery is the perfect way to cheat the passage of the years and Mother Nature and the perfect way to reach perfection. There are many reality shows linked with the magic of plastic surgery and even though the behind scenes are not revealed, most people are amazed with the before-and-after results.
Image 1
One of the participants of the TV show “Extreme Makeover “portraying the dramatic changes after cosmetic surgery.
Young girls are aware of these shows, and sometimes the idea of not being “perfect” can really make an impact in their self esteem. A few years ago, my little niece came to me and asked me about plastic surgery. I was really shocked because at that time she was only around eight years old. I did my best to try understanding the magnitude of her questions (because they were many) and the reason of her inquietude. Finally, she told me that a few days before she spent the night with her little friends in a pajama party, and they were watching a show on TV about extreme makeovers. Then she told me, “My friends said that I’m ugly looking, and I should get a plastic surgery just like the girl on the show.”
I just couldn’t believe my ears.
I was determined to investigate a bit more about it and I decided to watch one of this reality shows. I can’t deny that I was impressed with the dramatic results that participants (man and woman) have after going through surgery. Throughout the program some of the participants were making specific request about the type of nose, lips, eyes, etc., that they were wishing to have. It was like purchasing body parts. After few months of recovery the big reveal is announce to the participants’ families. Their first impressions progress from a completely shock to an explosion of tears and an enthusiastic (almost frenetic) applause. Then they asked to each other “Who is this person?””Wow! She/he looks totally different.”
I think to myself, “Oh course she looks totally different, she is not herself anymore.”
The perfect beauty that many women are looking after with the help of cosmetic surgery is becoming some kind of body shopping. They are constructing their images in relation to the physical appearance of other women (Blum, 2005). The gorgeous women and the beautiful bodies of models and screen idols shown on the media are the “palettes of make-up …. Our doubles and our goals.” (Blum, 2005) In other words you can become her; you can become the “Other Woman,” a perfect puzzle of all the attributes you think you should have to be beautiful (Blum, 2005).
Plastic surgery can also lead to addiction or what is called “polysurgical addict” or “scalpel slave.” Many patients engage on repetitive surgeries in order to fulfill their dreams for perfection or just to keep improving what they thing they are lacking off. Sometimes, these patients are looking to fix a prior surgery they feel dissatisfied with (Blum, 2005). Surgeons are aware of this kind of patients: those that are never satisfied and are always looking for the minimal defect (Blum, 2005).
Image 2 
Media’ stereotypes could make women see themselves imperfect or unattractive to others.
Media’ stereotypes could make women see themselves imperfect or unattractive to others.
During the past decade women’ obsession with perfection have a dramatically effect on the fastest growing of cosmetic surgery as one of the top medical areas of expertise.
I am personally not against plastic surgery because I perfectly understand and know its benefits. Plastic surgery is performed not only as a cosmetic source; it is also use for medical reasons, on reconstructive surgery and other extreme situations. For example; some illnesses can make us lose a physical feature (a mastectomy could outcome after suffering from breast cancer). Breast reconstruction is a procedure that reverses this traumatic experience. This is just to mention one example.
Although, I think that women should be aware of their real value and don’t let media’ to be the manipulator of our image. All women are beautiful on their own way; our unique differences are what make us beautiful. We can be much more that simple plastic clones.
Citation
Blum, V. (2005). Becoming the other woman. Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies. Retrieved March 18, 2011 from EBSCO Database.
Image 2 (n.d.) Retrieved April 2, 2011, from
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