By Plastic Surgeon Dr Dirk Kremer. 

In 2014, a recent survey by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) found that the number of cosmetic surgery treatments performed in 2013 had risen on average 17% more than in the previous year, an increase witnessed across a number of different plastic surgery procedures. This sustained rise in the number of cosmetic operations being performed is fantastic news for the industry, demonstrating that people are becoming increasingly comfortable with the idea of undergoing aesthetic surgery.

The increased exposure of cosmetic surgery in popular media has led to a maturity in the way the industry is represented; we see an increased focus on the quality of the work and on natural treatments that aim for a subtle aesthetic, while fortunately we also see fewer examples of botched procedures and copycat surgery sometimes favoured by mainstream publications. However, celebrity-inspired cosmetic surgery receives a great deal of press coverage and I have spoken before on some extreme examples. It seems that almost every day more and more people are spending money to completely modify their appearance and look like their idols, and whilst these extreme examples get the most press attention, more common is the practice of identifying your ‘favourite’ celebrity characteristic and requesting a procedure that will produce similar results.

Hollywood’s most wanted body parts

Every year, a new list of the most desirable celebrity body parts is compiled and shared by media sources. Although taking inspiration from a celebrity is a perfectly acceptable means of realising what features you would like to improve and how you would prefer them to look, what is important when considering this option is to remember to be realistic about what you want to achieve. If you have a round face and want a nose that looks great on an oval face, then the final look is bound to be different – facial features are a complex thing and they work together as a whole; taking just one part of someone else’s face will not give the same result as in the original model.

TIME magazine recently shared an updated list of the most popular celebrity body parts being named as inspiration on the online plastic surgery forum RealSelf. In 2011 Natalie Portman, Emma Stone and Nicole Kidman were named as the celebrities with the best nose, whilst this new research shows that the title has since been awarded to Jennifer Lawrence. None of these celebrities have admitted to undergoing a rhinoplasty procedure – and it doesn’t seem likely that an aesthetic procedure has been performed in any case. The key fact to reflect on when reading articles like this is that the popularity of celebrities can vary wildly from year to year, the source of inspiration shifting based on popularity, press coverage and the cultural moment.

Plastic surgery should not be used to follow fashion fads

The ubiquitous nature of social media and developing smartphone technologies means that now more than ever we are living in a visually-driven world that can cause self-esteem issues, leading to a society in which people are hyper-aware of their appearance. As I have previously stated in another article, plastic surgery is not the answer to psychological issues; however, aesthetic surgery does offer a range of procedures that can help you feel happier and more confident with your appearance by revealing your inner beauty while maintaining a natural look.

Talking about the compilation of this list of coveted body parts, Alicia Nakamoto, vice president of community at RealSelf, said:

“Ninety-nine percent of the people do not want to look like a celebrity […] they just want to fix something very personal and go on with their lives feeling more confident about themselves.”

Certain characteristics look good on the celebrity because they have a place on that body, largely due to a natural facial symmetry or balance that cannot be gained through surgical means. Whilst aesthetic surgery is not a decision to undertake on a whim or in order to follow trends, desiring a particular celebrity body part can often be a good starting point to identifying a part of yourself you would like to improve in order to build your confidence and feel happier about your appearance.

Here at Harley Street Aesthetics, I always work with my patients to discuss and understand their desire for cosmetic surgery, which is why I am happy to receive consultation bookings if you’re considering a cosmetic treatment. This way, we can begin to work towards enhancing your natural beauty through realistic treatment options.