This country is obsessed with beauty.
There are at least 3 model competition/reality television shows (America’s Next Top Model, Make Me a Supermodel, America’s Most Smartest Model), two shows based entirely on plastic surgery (Dr. 90210, Nip/Tuck), and countless other television and reality shows that aren’t necessarily about beauty but only feature the most attractive percentage of Americans. Ever watch Law & Order? If so, you’ll notice that every single female Assistant District Attorney rivals a model in beauty and a centerfold in curves. Simply put, beauty, especially female beauty, is ubiquitously celebrated. It’s no wonder the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery found that of the 11.5 million cosmetic surgeries taking place in 2006, 92% of them where commissioned by women. 47.4% of all cosmetic surgeries are on men and women between the ages of 35 – 50 years of age. Also, 98.6% of these procedures are done on patients 18 years of age or older. Given that the US Census* estimates the population of people 18 years or older at 225,662,922, 1 in every 41 people 18 years of age or older had some form of plastic surgery in 2006. If the male-female ratio is 96.3, then approximately 114,962,334 of these 18+ adults are women, with 1 in every 11 women in the US undergoing plastic surgery in 2006.
My position on cosmetic surgery has changed over the years. Initially vehemently opposed to surgical enhancement, I’ve come to discover that my own insecurities are deep enough that a breast enhancement crosses my mind every now and then. For me it would be something to consider later in life (perhaps the 35 – 50 year range) when my youthful exuberance has vanished from more than just my outlook on life. My logic is, if I can contemplate it, then I can’t fault anyone for actually doing it.
My problem is that as a society we’ve all inched closer and closer to celebrating an unrealistic standard of beauty. Blame can’t be pinpointed on any one party or sex, but whether we like it or not cosmetic surgery is prevalent and women and men alike celebrate its benefits. Real breasts have been supersized with fake breasts and ogled the world round, noses are trimmed down to more acceptable sizes, and faces are lifted to look like plastic replicas of one’s former self. Fake is the new natural, and natural is the new sign of old age.
Realistically the surgically enhanced standard of beauty pales in comparison to the genetically granted kind, so why all the trouble to achieve something that just isn’t possible? It’s the quest. The process to achieve unrealistic aspirations; something with historic and ancient roots dating back to the Bible with Adam’s attempt to rival God’s power, and Greek Mythology’s Icarus who flew too high, and in doing so approached the sun he sought which ultimately seared his wings.
*Estimates of the Population by Selected Age Groups for the United States and States and for Puerto Rico: July 1, 2006 (SC-EST2006-01)
Source: Population Division, U.S. Census Bureau
Release Date: May 17, 2007
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