One Size Does Not Fit All

The pressure to fit a specific standard of beauty in our culture can be detrimental to people. Let’s explore this a bit. As an Arkansas cosmetic surgeon, helping people achieve their personalized goals of self improvement is my job. However, is the goal to look like the stereotypical, media enforced, one size fits all standard of beauty?

Many ethnic patients are becoming aware of options in cosmetic surgery. Particularly, American ethnics are concerned with maintaining their ethnic identity. The stigma of undergoing cosmetic surgery is lessening in many ethnic communities as more reject the Caucasian standard of beauty. More and more scientific advances are being made that produce technologies that work better with different skin types and facial features.

Recently, the Huffington Post published a piece written by Andrew Lam, author of award winning books. The article specifically identifies his feelings as a Vietnamese youth faced with the pressure to conform to the American Caucasian standard. Lam notes new trends in how Asian Americans and various Asians in their home countries feel about cosmetic surgery and mentions “a new ‘Look East’ movement.” The Look East movement is about Asians retaining their ethnic identity, even when they have cosmetic surgery. It is a fascinating article that clears up many preconceptions cosmetic surgeons, and anyone else might have about ethnic minorities approaching cosmetic surgery.

Asian Americans are not the only people to feel the pressure of the media’s standard of beauty. And in this day in age, the job market seems to require a younger, energetic look as well. But is the goal of cosmetic surgery to fit into a mass marketed mold? I think not. Enhancing one’s looks, looking rejuvenated and creating balance of facial features, whatever ethnicity one is, might include some self reflection about what it means to look and feel good about one’s self. Rather than following trends, or attempting extreme goals, it is necessary to maintain a sense of balance in order to be happy with surgical results.

For instance, about 220,000 teens elected cosmetic surgery last year. They need to be educated about the risks, assessed for emotional maturity, and hopefully the reason is not just to fit into some unattainable and standardized mold.  Cafe Mom of The Stir has a few important things to say about teens and cosmetic surgery. Young girls, in particular, must be educated to eat healthy, work out, and achieve. Perhaps they do want a facial flaw corrected after much thought, or later a breast reduction to be more comfortable or breast augmentation to enhance their looks. But teenagers should remember, people are meant to be unique.

Bottom line? A full range of cosmetic procedures from breast augmentation to facelifts are available at Little Rock Cosmetic Surgery Center and we would like to think you just want to be a more attractive YOU.

Dr. Branman

Call Melinda, my Patient/Surgery Coordinator to set up your consultation. 501 227-0707