Judgemental attitudes against women undergoing cosmetic surgery

03 May 2013

By Plastic Surgeon Dr Dirk Kremer

Photoshop me

Last Thursday I read an interesting article on The Telegraph regarding Louise Mensch and her admitting to having had a facelift plastic surgery procedure. According to the article, Britons have a "misogynistically judgemental attitude" toward women who have cosmetic surgery.

Louise Mensch

Louise Mensch is a politician and former MP, a woman in a man's world - I state this as a fact, since a vast majority of politicians are men. Things are evolving and women are increasingly given the chance to prove their worth in politics, but still I don’t think it is easy for women to be taken seriously in male-dominated domains. The former Tory MP admitted to having a facelift last week on Newsnight. I honestly would tend to say “so what? Good for her!” and I wish everyone reacted the same way but unfortunately this isn’t the case.

Trivialising women for going under the knife

Ms Mensch had already been asked the question before by the Guardian but she had refused to comment because she was acting as an MP. She said last week that she didn’t want to help trivialise women in politics. It is unfortunately true, a political woman who undergoes surgery risks losing credibility. When you see reality TV show like ‘TOWIE’ (The Only Way Is Essex) it can be tempting to put everyone who undergoes plastic surgery in the same category. There is a real difference however between excessive plastic surgery, “maintenance” plastic surgery as Ms Mensch calls it (I don’t really like the term but it gives you an idea) and reconstructive plastic surgery which helps people who’ve been disfigured by an accident to get their life back again. Cleft surgery is a kind of plastic surgery that helps a lot of children and adults every year be ‘normal’.

Plastic surgery: a personal choice

I think plastic surgery is really a personal choice. What matters is that you do what makes you feel comfortable. If you don’t feel good about yourself, and cosmetic surgery can help you like yourself and even love yourself, then I am all for it. I don’t think anyone should be forced to undergo surgery but peer pressure works both ways: no one should be prevented from undergoing cosmetic surgery either. You shouldn’t be made to have a facelift or necklift to find work as it has been reported in Australia for instance. When you read Amanda’s testimonial on her having a Turn Back Time Facelift - on her own free will, after having thought about it for years - it is simply inspiring, she is so happy now!

I think it is the women’s right to choose what they do to their bodies, although I would never agree with excessive plastic surgery. Good plastic surgeons know when to stop and they know better than to encourage patients to undergo more procedures than necessary.

Is plastic surgery such a stigma anymore?

To be honest I am not sure undergoing ‘normal’ plastic surgery is such a stigma anymore. These days all we hear are the horror stories when patients and surgeons go overboard. We all hear about the extreme breast enhancement procedures to reach MMM or LLL cups. Sure, movie stars as well as sportspeople, singers and anyone remotely famous are under the radar and their every moves are being watched by Tabloids but this is something different too. The public eye is not kind with anyone, and if the procedure is not properly performed it is noticeable. But if the plastic surgery is properly performed and doesn’t show, or if you’re not famous, all people can see is a good-looking person, who looks even better than before. My Turn Back Time Facelift is perfect for younger women (and men!) to freshen up, and you simply look rejuvenated, as if you had had a very good night’s sleep.

To conclude I would like to say that no one is perfect and a lot of pressure is put on everyone to look good, fit and flawless. Looking like people in magazines is simply not possible. Even for them! Do you remember the ad a few years ago showing a normal woman turned into a billboard model through hair dressing, make up and Photoshop-ing (watch the video below)? It is the proof that no one can naturally look this perfect without help.

All we can and should do is feel good about ourselves. If plastic surgery helps you do it, I will be there for you. What matters is that you find your own beauty and enhance it.

Question?

emailContact Dr Kremer

phone 0845 519 7232

info Virtual Consultations

x

Virtual Consultations

Dr Kremer is now accepting virtual consultations, via Skype or WhatsApp. If you would like a virtual consultation, or would like more information, simply get in touch with us via phone, email or through our contact form and we will schedule a date and time for your consultation.