Cosmetic Surgery: Health and identity at stake
Fostering their appearance and physique is an indispensable obligation of celebrities, especially actors. In the prospect of achieving this, many of them are opting for cosmetic surgeries and procedures.
Following their footsteps, some of us have also developed an inclination towards such options.
Augmentation mammaplasty (Breast reconstruction), Rhinoplasty (Nose reshaping), Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), Liposuction and Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) are the most common cosmetic surgery procedures that have been turning heads.
While some are happy with the outcome of these procedures, many regret for going under knife. One of them is the ‘F.R.I.E.N.D.S’ fame Courteney Cox. She feels she went overboard in order to retain her young looks.
“Hollywood makes it hard; this business makes it harder. I grew up thinking appearance was the most important thing, which got me into trouble.” Said Courteney, the actress well-known as Monica Geller of the famous American sitcom.
She went for dermal fillers and Botox injections to reduce the aging effects on her body.
Botox (botulinum toxin) is a neurotoxic protein obtained from a bacterial species, Clostridium Botulinium. Though it is a powerful poison when injected in large amounts, regulated amount of Botox has been used to reduce wrinkles and fine lines.
Botox works by temporarily paralysing the muscles where it is injected by blocking the nerve signals to it. Selected wrinkles are softened or even removed due to the lifelessness of these muscles. Hence, Botox can work on only dynamical wrinkles or the wrinkles caused by muscle movements. Also, the effect of Botox stays only for three to four weeks and repeated treatments are required.
Dermal fillers or soft tissue fillers are injected into skin to soften facial creases and wrinkles, correction of acne scars, cheeks and lip augmentations. They work by filling in the area under the injected skin and eventually get absorbed by the body. So, their effects are temporary and usually last upto six months to one year. Common side effects of using fillers include bruising, swelling, itching, infection and sometimes it might even lead to necrosis (tissue death).
Due to years of such treatments, Courteney’s face became extremely stiff and lifeless which she regretfully admitted – “I felt trapped in my own skin.”
On the other hand, to forty-three-year-old Drew Barrymore, such surgical procedures have always been a rigid no. The ‘never been kissed’ star, who’s the mother of two children, has left us all with the curiosity as to what alchemy goes into staying young.
Drew Barrymore is an advocate of washing one’s face atleast twice a day and is against going to bed with make-up on. Regular facial cleansing is an important factor in maintaining a proper level of hydration. Dehydrated skin looks and feels rough, wrinkled and aged.
Drew is also known for her subtle and minimal make-up and according to her, being happy and cheerful is the secret – “When you put something good into the air, the sheer positivity is the glow that outshines any make-up”
Her nutrient dense diet and diversity in workout regime could be the other reasons for aging taking the back seat. While the audacious star doesn’t restrain herself from defying her cravings, she also never fails to keep portion size small. Beside being an avid runner, Barrymore enjoys jogging, dancing, swimming, pilates and yoga as well.
Embracing our natural self is the bottom-line of a happy life. Shielding ourselves from anything that revamps our identity is cardinal. Plastic/ cosmetic surgery procedures might give you your dream look, but your health could be at stake. A combination of healthy diet, regular workout and being happy eliminates the need of such cosmetic surgery procedures.
