Philosophy of Beauty at Little Rock Cosmetic Surgery Center

The study of aesthetics is something cosmetic surgeons are well versed in. It is important to be able to see and create symmetry and proportion when performing a breast augmentation or a rhinoplasty, of course. But what does this actually mean for any given individual? At Little Rock Cosmetic Surgery Center, we not only know about aesthetics, we know to evaluate and treat each individual uniquely. Why is there no perfect formula for that nose job or breast enhancement? Because as any truly classic actress will tell you, beauty is about uniqueness in combination with that symmetry and proportion. We do not often see this combination and this is why a person or object that stands out as beautiful does so.

Somehow the idea of perfection got all tangled up with beauty. In fact the ancient Greeks and Romans created mathematical formulas for “perfect beauty.” Later, a philosopher named Kant implied a distinction between “perfection” and “beauty” by stating there was a difference between natural beauty and aesthetic beauty. Kant’s “aesthetic beauty” was more of an application which had to do with revealing the very best features of an “object” or a person to be most appreciated. Now doesn’t that sound like cosmetic surgery? On the other hand, the word “perfection” implies a negation of what is there, as if this or that feature is wrong, when in reality, it has just not been displayed to reveal its unique beauty.

While musing on these ideas I suddenly thought of the story of Frankenstein. In Dr. Frankenstein’s quest to create the perfect human being, from what he thought were perfect body parts, he created a monster!  It is this confusion between perfection and beauty that leads some people to Body Dysmorphic Disorder, anorexia or to become the “human Ken doll” or the “human Barbie.” This is not a good idea. Even if we knew what perfection might look like (and guess what? We don’t!) most of the time it is not obtainable.  Here are some quotes I found on perfection:

• “If you look for perfection, you’ll never be content.”  – Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina

• “The pursuit of perfection breeds discontent as true perfection is beyond the realm of human attainment.”  – Anel Hamersma, contemporary poet

• “I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence, I can reach for; perfection is God’s business.”  – Michael J. Fox

We have all heard the old saying that no two snowflakes are alike. This concept of natural beauty, as opposed to the concept of perfection, simply means that the snowflake or person has that symmetry and proportion revealed by nature, an organic event. The uniqueness remains!

So celebrate your uniqueness. You may want to come to Little Rock Cosmetic Surgery Center for procedures to enhance your beauty but please don’t try to be someone else. Realistic expectations in conjunction with clear communication are the keys to being satisfied with your cosmetic procedure.

Dr. Branman

Call Melinda at the front desk to set up a consultation 501-227-0707