Dec 02, 2014

It is a well known belief that just because you can do something, it doesnt necessarily mean you should.  Should this adage be applied to individuals who are jumping aboard the worrying trend of taking cosmetic surgery to the extreme?  Elective cosmetic surgery procedures are designed to create natural, aesthetically pleasing results rather than creating unnatural, freakish looking patients.

In the case of the Human Barbie for example (Valeria Lukyanova, a young model from the Ukraine), despite having a widely distorted body shape, she profusely denies having undergone any surgery for her looks, but puts it down to luck, excercise  and healthy eating.  In this example, her idol Barbie, is a plastic doll with an exaggerated look; an extremely flat stomach, abnormally long legs, a tiny waist and a large bust.  All of these factors together are not normal, and could really only be achieved with a considerable amount of surgery. The absolute majority of cosmetic surgeons would not undertake this level of surgery on any patient. 

And this extreme body mutilation is not just reserved for the ladies.  In recent years there has been an ever growing increase in the number of men having purely aesthetic cosmetic surgery designed to change their appearance completely.  From changing the shape of the eyes, the cheekbones, the nose right through to pec implants, buttock implants and even liposuction and tummy tucks.  Some of the more extreme examples have even seen some men completely change their racial features from oriental to western and vice versa.

It is possible that people who seek this amount of surgery could be suffering from a form of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD).  People suffering from this disorder obsessively think about their appearance and their real or perceived flaws for hours every day. When they look in the mirror, they see something completely different from what the rest of the world sees.  In a misguided attempt to "correct" such flaws, they may go to extremes that are not necessary in the first place.

Of course, some people just want to look different.  They want to shock! They want the media mileage that comes with looking freakishly unreal. But what about the surgeons who perform such work.  Surely, as trained medical professionals, they must know when enough is enough?

In the real world, the goal of a skilled pastic surgeon is to achieve results the appear imperceptible to the public eye.  Most surgeons don't see extreme cases in their own offices as they do not promote misguided surgery. In could well be that those looking for extreme procedures are forced into using greedy costmetic surgeons driven only by the money multiple procedures would earn them.

"A reputable plastic surgeon has no desire to take on extreme plastic surgery cases, instead opting to spend his time helping people to look more beautiful with natural results. An ethical and board-certified surgeon understands that someone wanting to look like Barbie should be seen as a warning sign, not a dollar sign"

Dr Mike Motykie, realself.com

This trend of overworking surgery to totally transform the look of an individual should by no means be considered the norm.  In any profession, there will always be people who take it to the extreme, but surgery should not be taken lightly and the body should be loved for the way it is.

At Austingraces, we undertake full consultations with our patients to ensure that they are taking on cosmetic surgery for the right reasons.  Surgery can be life changing, and can increase confidence and reduce pain, but all procedures need to be elected for by a patient who has a full understanding of the risks involved. Our surgeon and our team will be on hand from the first consultation right through until the end of aftercare and beyond.  Call us on 08456 020621 or click here to contact us discreetly via email.