Today there were reports about an 18-year-old that died from plastic surgery (breast augmentation) complications.
With the number of cosmetic procedures being performed each year (check out the stats) on a steady climb, with it comes an increased number of deaths from complications.
But what is to blame for the quest of perfection? Maybe there is not one simple answer, though there is an obvious one: the media.
The “perfection” the media worship brainwashes men and women to believe that they want to be with and to look like that.
The fashion industry covets models that suffer from eating disorders or drug and exercise addictions to remain thin. And the media enable the fashion industry.
The photos that so salaciously grace magazines, swimsuit issues, sexy catalogs, Playboy, etc. are retouched to correct the imperfections (razor bumps, stretch marks, skin folds in problem areas, wrinkles, blemishes) and enhances where features are lacking (add cleavage, plump lips, extend cheekbones); and all that AFTER the loads of surgery, face/body make-up, glistening oil and hair extensions.
Who can blame people for wanting to attain perfection? Not me. The media have so much power and some abuse it, possibly unknowingly (it would be extremely unfair to chastise ALL media). Maybe one day the trend will be to promote peoples’ well being, instead of degrading self-esteem. Until then, lets just hope that people will learn from others’ misfortunes.
