About Plastic Surgery (Or Not)

Demi Moore's always been a polarizing figure; either you love her particular brand of ballsy, unapologetic, women-can-do-anything-men-can and -oh-yeah-they'll-do-it-while-wearing-high-heels-too success, or you find her obnoxious, over-confident, narcissistic, and unworthy of all the fuss. Plastic surgery rumors have dogged Demi for years, and it doesn't take a genius (or a surgeon) to determine that, yeah, she's had some...despite her recent denials. (Anybody in possession of a pair of eyes and an internet connection can quickly drudge up evidence of assorted procedures. Has she had her knees done? Who knows? Who cares?) What I find much more interesting is the attitude toward cosmetic enhancements in Hollywood -- or in general. I'll let you in on a secret: nearly everybody you see on a movie or TV screen has had something done, whether it's a few minor injections of botox or a sampling of more intensive procedures like rhinoplasty, eye lifts and breast implants. Plenty of people, both famous and non-famous, do it... yet almost nobody fesses up. Why the zipped lips and fear of judgment, celebrities? You're not out there raping and pillaging! Of course, there are many problems with the increased plasticization of our society, and the fact that Hollywood and the media are hell-bent on churning out female "stars" that were made from the same Playboy Approved! rubber stamp is reason enough for massive concern. The hysteria over plastic surgery and botox paints with overly broad strokes, however, placing women with healthy self-esteem who have made informed, confident decisions about improving an aspect of their appearance in the same category as, say, Pamela Anderson. Or the Cat Lady. The celebrities I most respect are the Patricia Heatons and Aisha Tylers and Jamie Lee Curtises -- some of whom have had surgery, some of whom haven't -- who all are vocal about the fact that what you see onscreen and in magazines isn't real. It takes a village to look like that: hairstylists, makeup artists, colorists, fashion assistants, art directors and, yes, sometimes plastic surgeons. There's nothing wrong with wanting to realistically and objectively improve your appearance. But if you lie about it, celebs of the world? That's when I'll start judging. The women who, for better or worse, look up to you deserve the truth -- and it's not "I was born looking like a porn star."

Comments

[AgathaPaige]

"It costs a lot of money to look this cheap." ~Dolly Parton~

[lunaoscura]

I know a young man who decided he was tired of having one of his ears deformed and had it fixed. It's not a perfect match to his other ear, but it's good enough for him. His confidence has soared. I know a woman who had a lot of fat on her glutteous medius which made her look like apple shaped. She had liposuction and now looks normal. She's been quite content with the results and she was always self-conscious and hated the way she looked. There is nothing wrong in doing something that addresses something about you that you can never like, no matter how much you lose weight or exercise.

[Valkyrie]

No one, and I mean no one, has ever looked better because of plastic surgery. You can say they do, but they don't. Not really. It's all an illusion based on fantasy.
Show me a pair of perfected boobs, and I say, show me the scars. Show me a facelift and I say show me the scars. Show me how this person "looks" better.
Even without scars. If there were no side effects at all, show me the liposuction patient and I'll show you the self-deceived woman (or man) who could've gone out and exercised a little instead of taking the quick and easy path.
Studies have shown that self-esteem doesn't rise with "perfected" boobs. In fact it stays the same or gets worse.
I remember in the 70's when women were more at peace with their bodies, at least on film. Actresses were popping their tops left and right, no matter what their size. It just didn't seem to matter back then.
Now of course, no one gets naked unless you pay them 5 mill (Halle Berry anyone?) and even then, they have to be enhanced. There are exceptions, of course, but really, plastic surgery is a joke unless its for a true medical problem. And the bigger joke? The millions of beautiful women who ruin themselves to be a part of the same pathetic illusion. It's just plain ugly.

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

Thank you. It IS just plain ugly.

[JScott]

Ever notice tho that the most interesting memorable celebs are the ones who don't always look perfect all the time.

[cinemaven]

A good friend of mine recently paid a LOT of money for a face lift, peel, nose job and god knows what else and I have to say, she look hideous.

Her peel left her face vivid red for months. The lift has pulled every expression off her face. The lip plumping is uneven and gross and I think her eyebrows are somewhere near her hairline.

She thinks she looks great but everyone else shudders when they have to look her in the face. She used to be a very interesting looking woman.. not beautiful but lovely in her own way. Now, she's not attractive in the least. (her boobs look great though)

If I ever think about getting a facelift, I'll just pull out a current photo of Joan Rivers.. that's enough to keep anyone away from a plastic surgeon!!
http://www.smh.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1045330465705_2003/02/16/ent_joanrivers1702.jpg

[rini]

Exactly!

Why is this is embarrassment? No one is perfect. I don't believe that you can stay forever young with plastic surgery. I think the look you get from fixing every wrinkle is scary. However, if you have almost no boobs or a chin flap that sways in the wind, go for it.

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

How pathetic rini!

"if you have almost no boobs"... yeah, that's the true value of a woman... her boobs.

You must have as much substance as a sponge.. maybe less.

Truly pathetic.

[goldmine]

I'm 52 in a week,I stay away from doctors(they're dangerous). One sure fire way to avoid facelifts is to cut talking to a minimum,laughing stretches your skin out,and definitely stay out of the sun!

[ColetteG]

Stop talking? Stop laughing? All for the sake of a smoother skin a little longer? I am not sure it is not worse than plastic surgery.
The sun, yeah, I agree.
The bottom line here is that our face and our body tell a story, our story. I used to have this great body, when I was younger, and it is gone. Not totally gone, but no Demi Moore by any stretch. However, I look at myself in the mirror, and I see traces of my two pregnancies, my breast feeding who gave me so much satisfaction, my laughs, my big meals, my indulgences, and also my diets. They all happened and are part of my history. And that is the whole package that is me. When my husband looks at me, he sees those years we spent together, and the time that has altered us both, but also made us wiser, and nicer, and more caring.
Fighting age is a lost battle from the start. Not to be confused with staying healthy though: Overweight, smoking, bad food choices, all contribute to health issues, that also have physical, plastic consequences. If you keep healthy, you will always look younger and more alive, and that is a good principle to follow.
Other than that, I am old enough to know that great boobs have absolutely nothing to do with inner happiness. There is a time for great boobs, our twenties, then we wisen up.

[rini]

I guess if you're in a car accident and bleeding to death, you wouldn't want the bleeding stopped or your blood pressure maintained with fluids and medications. You know, doctors do that and they are dangerous.

[cindyw]

I'd rather have laughter than smooth skin. I'll take your word for it that it stretches the skin, although to me it seems more like exercise for the face.

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

Ditto!

Actually, exercising your face VIA laughter and talking exercises the muscles in your face that keep it from sagging. Laugh wrinkles are beautiful I think. There are exercises you can do to keep the upper lip and cheeks from wrinkling as well... a little strange, but I think they work.

It's the scowling you do when you judge yourself in the mirror that leaves permanent and ugly lines where you don't want them.