I will specifically be speaking about voluntary cosmetic plastic surgery. Think nose jobs, botox, BBLs, lip filler and tummy tucks. I am not touching on reconstructive plastic surgery or any procedure that is for a medical reason.

What causes someone to desire a certain cosmetic procedure? For most cases, the short answer is the unrealistic beauty standard and insecurities. Growing up as a woman you are constantly and subconsciously soaking in these presented beauty standards like a sponge. The picture that is painted shows that the most perfect women are fit, have perky boobs and butt, an hourglass shaped body, clear skin, a complexion that glows, full lips, bright eyes, perfectly symmetrical eyebrows, straight teeth that are pearly white….. the list truly could go on forever. As we all know, this creates insecurities in return. You begin to grow up as your own biggest critic, freaking out before school because your hair won’t lay right, and crying in the dressing room when you’re shopping for new clothes. It is one thing to feel this way when you’re young. It is another thing to grow up and have these thoughts and realize, your insecurity may be something you can actually change for good, if you have the money.

Plastic surgery has become much more common in the last 20 years. It used to be something that was exclusive to the rich and famous. Now, you might know someone personally, maybe yourself, who has gotten some kind of procedure. For me, I know multiple people in my life. I know someone with lip filler and a nose job. I know someone who had their ears surgically pinned back. I know someone who has gotten a full body transformation including a tummy tuck, brazilian butt lift, fake boobs, botox, cheek filler, and more. I would say that most people getting some kind of plastic surgery done are doing it to rid some kind of insecurity, and I don’t blame them. Why wouldn’t you take the chance to finally get rid of that one thing that bothered you so much if you could? You won’t have to worry about it anymore, and you can finally feel more confidence when it’s gone. I absolutely believe that you can do whatever you want with your body, and you should. My confusion where plastic surgery stands morally comes in here. If you partake in plastic surgery in order to fix your insecurity and become a closer fit into the beauty standard, aren’t you now contributing to said standard?

There is a mold that women today feel that they need to fit. There is a very small number of people born naturally to fit these guidelines. Everyone today is trying to fit this similar look, and by conforming to these guidelines in the form of getting plastic surgery, aren’t you just creating a wider range of people who fit this standard? Therefore, contributing to this unrealistic beauty standard, that is usually unreachable without some kind of plastic surgery. It kind of contradicts the saying “you are beautiful just the way you are” or “everyone is beautiful in their own way” that most people have heard at some point in their life. With an increasing amount of people getting plastic surgery to fix their insecurities, there becomes less variety of people and how they look. I think one of the most amazing things about humans is that not everyone looks the same, but there has been a slow and steady increase in people who are trying to look similar. At least in the United States of America, which is the only place I can really speak on because it’s the only place I’ve lived. 

So, my mind is kind of back and forth trying to decide where plastic surgery stands morally in the sense of beauty standards. Everyone has the right to their own body, and you should always do what makes you happy. No one should tell you what you can and cannot do with yourself. Then again, is partaking in cosmetic procedures a further contribution to the  unreachable beauty standard? I’m not sure where I stand on this topic, but it’s interesting to talk about.

I feel that it’s important to mention that I am in no way judging anyone for choosing to receive some sort of cosmetic plastic surgery. I am simply pondering where the concept stands morally in the sense of beauty standards. Please do what makes you happy.