Getting a little nip and tuck in the pursuit of beauty has never been so popular. But is cosmetic surgery worth the financial, physical, and emotional pain?
Yes – Carl
Once it was only the rich and famous that could dream of cosmetic surgery but now a range of different enhancements are easily available, making it more accessible for everyone. So if you’re not happy with your looks and you can afford the treatment, then why not?
I began having treatments about 10 years ago. I was starting to look and feel old and that was making me depressed. The more unhappy I felt, the worse I looked. I was trapped in a vicious cycle and decided to do something about it by dealing with my appearance.
I used Botox to treat the frown lines on my forehead and the difference it made was amazing – I looked so much better. Since then, I’ve also had eye-lid surgery as my eyes had become puffy and baggy with age. After I’d healed from the surgery, I felt amazing. I look younger and feel happy again. My friends have all commented on the improvement.
I haven’t had any other work done yet but I wouldn’t rule it out in the future. After all, we’re all living longer and like many others, I want to enjoy my old age rather than hiding away. I like to go out and looking good is important to me.
For me, however, cosmetic surgery isn’t just about looks – it’s about confidence too. The popularity of cosmetic surgery means that the costs are coming down; making it more accessible for normal people. And yes, it can be painful while you’re having treatment but I believe it’s a short-term pain for long-term benefits.
No – Beth
I think it’s really sad that our society puts so much pressure on people to look a certain way – to the point where they will pay for painful, expensive, and sometimes risky procedures in a bid to change their looks.
If you’re unhappy in life it’s easy to think that making a change to your appearance will make all the difference. But usually it’s not the wrinkles, big nose, or small boobs that’s the real problem. Often people focus on their appearance when really there are psychological issues that need resolving. This is why surgery is addictive – people think that it will solve their problems and in the short-term they may feel better but when their insecurities come flooding back, they seek out more surgery to try and counteract the negative feelings.
The results of cosmetic surgery don’t always last that long so once you start having treatment it can be a slippery slope to years of surgery. And even though treatments are becoming more common, they are still ridiculously expensive. I’d much rather spend thousands of pounds travelling the world – and I’m sure that would make me happier than a boob job would! The risks also put me off – we’ve all seen pictures of celebrities with cosmetic surgery that’s gone wrong. And the risks aren’t just about how you’ll look after the surgery; there are health risks too. The PIP breast implants scandal showed that cosmetic surgeons can sometimes get things massively wrong – resulting in stress and harm for thousands of people. For me, the risks just aren’t worth it – I’ll just stick to make-up, thank you.
