Like it or not, we are living in the age of the celebrity, where anyone can become famous. There is even a term, “influencers,” to describe once average people who develop a strong enough online following to move the cultural needle and drive sales. The effect of celebrities on plastic surgery is powerful. In the past, it has certainly been a factor in explaining the uptick in certain procedures, such as lip augmentation with fillers. More recently, however, celebrities such as Madonna have served as a warning. More and more patients are coming in with photos of real people as inspiration versus those who are famous. As with most things in life, there are pros and cons to celebrity influence on plastic surgery.
Celebrity Honesty = Acceptability
There was a time, not that long ago, when no one would openly admit to having had “work” done. It created a sense of shame about aesthetic procedures that was unnecessary and detrimental. I strongly believe that you should never be made to feel bad about wanting to look better. An aesthetic procedure can be transformative not just physically but also emotionally, making you feel more:
- Confident
- Powerful
- Comfortable in your skin
The positive impact of these changes on mental health is real. This is why one of the biggest pros of celebrity influence on plastic surgery is that in recent years, many have been much more willing to discuss the surgical and non-surgical procedures that they’ve embraced. Driven in large part by the Kardashian clan, this honesty has had a two-fold effect. First, it’s made plastic surgery more acceptable, thus helping to diminish plastic surgery shaming. Personally, I think it’s up to the individual as to whether or not he or she wants to talk about having had work, but I do appreciate celebrities for bringing aesthetic procedures “out of the closet” and into the light.
Celebrities Drive Plastic Surgery Awareness
Secondly, celebrity honesty has helped raise awareness of the various aesthetic options available for enhancing your face, breasts, and body. I am a firm believer in the adage that “knowledge is power.” I love nothing more than when a patient comes in for a consultation knowing what he or she wants. The downside of celebrity influence, however, is that there is never a one-size-fits-all procedure. What may have worked to lift and flatten the abdomen of your favorite influencer may not be the right choice for your anatomy.
As an expert in breast and body contouring, I have performed a lot of:
And it’s incredibly common for a patient to be misinformed about the proper procedure for achieving his or her goals. For example, many women come into my office wanting a breast augmentation, thinking that their body discomfort is due to a lack of breast volume. However, what they may actually need to achieve their desired outcome is a breast lift. It can lengthen the torso and even shrink the waist. Many men come to me for liposuction of their chest when, in fact, they have glandular tissue that needs to be surgically excised. My goal is to always deliver a natural looking result, and the best way to achieve this is to match the right procedure to your individual anatomy and needs.
Just Because It’s Popular Doesn’t Mean It’s Right for You
One of the downsides of celebrity honesty and plastic surgery, however, is that it can make a procedure so popular that everyone wants it even when it’s not right for them. The best example of this is Kylie Jenner and the lip augmentation with fillers procedure. Bigger lips suddenly seemed as attainable as going to the grocery store. But any aesthetic procedure, even something as ubiquitous as dermal fillers, is still a medical procedure. As such, it needs to be considered carefully. Things can go wrong, even in the most competent hands. A lip augmentation with fillers procedure can be a wonderful option for patients who’ve lost volume with age or for those who were born with lips that are too thin for the face. But it is a fine line between lips that look proportional and ones that make you look like a fish.
So, if you are thinking about an aesthetic procedure, I would encourage you to first book a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. And, yes, bring in photos of the celebrities that you like, but also bring in photos of real people. Looking through these images is a great way to clarify your desired outcome so that your surgeon can determine the best procedure or procedures for achieving what you want.
To find out more about any surgical or non-surgical procedure with Dr. Sean Doherty at his Boston or Brookline office, contact us today or call (617) 450.0070 to schedule a consultation.