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Some celebrities would like to conceal their facelifts, but comedian Phyllis Diller was never one of them. Her one-liners about plastic surgery brought her fame and endeared her to women and plastic surgeons alike. Punch lines like:
“The only parts left of my original body are my elbows.”
“My Playtex Living Bra died…of starvation. I never made Who’s Who, but I’m featured in What’s That?”
Phyllis Diller talked openly about cosmetic surgery decades before it was common to do so. The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery even presented Diller with its first annual Franklin Ashley Award, given to her for advancing the acceptance of cosmetic surgery.1
Today cosmetic surgery has gone mainstream. You can redefine your nose with rhinoplasty, bring out your cheeks with facial implants, enlarge or reduce your breasts, tighten up your tummy, or smooth out your wrinkles with Botox. Between 1996 and 2000 the number of cosmetic procedures more than doubled, growing from one to three million per year in the U.S.2 But this boon in plastic surgery isn’t all good news. Many women have been stuck with unrealistic expectations, unqualified surgeons, and unpaid surgical bills.
Having cosmetic surgery will change your appearance, but it won’t change your life. Too many women think, If only I could get rid of the cellulite on my thighs, then I would be happy. Thinner thighs may bring temporary pleasure, but it’s just a matter of time before life continues as before. The communication problems with your spouse or children will still exist. Your coworker will still have that annoying habit. You’ll still be tempted to eat too much chocolate cake. If you’re banking on some plastic surgery to radically improve your life, you’re setting yourself up for some serious disappointment.
I think of a scene from the 1993 movie Cool Runnings about a ragtag group of athletes who form the highly laughable Jamaican bobsled team at the 1988 Olympic Winter Games. Their coach, a fictional character played by John Candy, had a dishonorable past. He had lost his gold medal in a previous Olympics when he was caught putting extra weights in his team’s bobsled. The night before the Jamaican team’s Olympic race, one of the bobsledders, Derice, talks to the coach about his desire for a gold medal.
Coach: Derice, a gold medal is a wonderful thing. But if you’re not enough without one, you’ll never be enough with one. [Turns to leave.]
Derice: Hey coach, how will I know if I’m enough?
Coach: When you cross that finish line tomorrow, you’ll know.
Friend, if you’re not enough without plastic surgery, you’ll never be enough with it. You were lovingly and beautifully created by God. If you feel insecure about your appearance, the true transformation of beauty will first happen in your mind and heart, not on the surgery table.
As the demand for plastic surgery has grown dramatically, more and more procedures are performed by doctors with little training in this area. In the past, cosmetic surgery was primarily done by plastic surgeons. Now many physicians have entered the profitable cosmetic surgery field, and in most states, no law prevents physicians to advertise as plastic surgeons, even if they have no training in plastic surgery.
When looking for a qualified plastic surgeon, ask if the surgeon is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). There’s a big difference between “board certified” and “certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery,” which has rigorous requirements. Other boards may sound impressive, but requirements may be minimal. Some boards have even been accused of existing solely to give credibility to their members.
Cosmetic surgery isn’t cheap, and if you choose to finance your procedure, you may be paying for your nip and tuck for months. Here are the average costs of popular procedures:
• Botox injection—$500
• Breast augmentation—$6,000
• Facelift—$8,000
• Forehead lift—$4,000
• Liposuction—$3,200
• Rhinoplasty (nose surgery)—$5,000
• Tummy tuck—$6,500
I’ve shared a few precautions about cosmetic surgery. On the flip side, many women have tried cosmetic surgery and loved it. Recently I was sitting next to a sharp, energetic, hip lady on an airplane. We started chatting, and I discovered she had already attended her forty-fifth high school reunion. It didn’t seem possible since she looked so young. She smiled broadly and said with a twinkle in her eye, “Yes, I did look much better than many of my friends.” In addition to her love for life and good taste, she’s had a Botox injection or two.
Since 1997, plastic surgeons have been using Botox injections to improve or eliminate facial wrinkles. Botox, which is derived from the same bacteria that causes botulism, can be injected by your plastic surgeon to eliminate crow’s feet, frown lines, and forehead wrinkles. These wrinkles are caused by repetitive facial expressions.
So if you constantly raise your eyebrows, you’re going to get more wrinkles on your forehead. If you squint, pout, purse your lips, or wrinkle up your nose as a habit, you’ll get wrinkles faster in those areas. Ask a spouse or a friend to observe your facial expressions. I just noticed that my husband raises one eyebrow and his forehead wrinkles when he takes a drink of water. Is there something you constantly do? Look at yourself in the mirror as you recreate some of your most used facial expressions. You can minimize wrinkles simply by retraining yourself to use body language that doesn’t produce lines on your face.
If you choose to use Botox, plastic surgeons say you will see improvement within 24 hours and continue to see improvement in your wrinkles for one week. Botox is most effective for the forehead and frown lines between eyebrows (notice there are no lines there when you smile). Results last for about two to twelve months, with the average duration being four to six months.
To learn more about the risks and benefits of plastic surgery, talk to your friends who have had similar procedures, read books from the library on the subject, and interview plastic surgeons if you’re really interested. Do your homework before you decide on any procedure. Like they say in woodworking, “Measure twice, cut once.”
TIP FOR CONTACT LENS WEARERS
Every time you put in or take out your lenses, most likely you’re pulling open the skin around your eye. Since that skin is delicate, try removing your contact lens without pulling on the skin above and below your eye. Just put your clean fingertips on your lens and pull straight out without disturbing your skin.
Thought for Rejuvenation
Are there any areas on your face or body that you wish you could change? List them here:
What could you improve without cosmetic surgery?
Have a spouse or close friend observe your facial expressions throughout one day. Have him or her tell you when you do something that causes wrinkles, such as pouting or scrunching up your face. Chances are you’re not even aware of it. Look at yourself in the mirror making those expressions, and then make a conscious effort to limit those wrinkle-producing expressions.