Being perfect is something everyone craves for — that million-dollar smile, those cute dimples, that hourglass figure… the list just goes on. At a time when women don’t hesitate to go under the knife for a cosmetic procedure in their quest for perfection, there is also an ugly side underneath the picture perfect looks — of late there have
been several incidents of cosmetic procedures going drastically wrong. Recently Denise Maitland in the UK won £15,000 in compensation over a botched facelift, some time ago actress Megan Fox was in the news for her ‘plastic’ looks and Koena Mitra was the subject of ridicule on national television for going under the knife.
Cosmetic surgeons say that the trend of people coming in for a surgery to just satisfy their vanity has been steadily on the rise. “People must go in for surgery only if they feel strongly for it and only if they want it for themselves,” says Dr Armugam, a senior cosmetic surgeon with a leading chain of hospitals. “Some people just walk in for a surgery like they are picking out something from the shelf in a supermarket,” he says. “Every other day I get someone who walks in saying they want a dimple or thicker lips because of peer pressure. Going in for surgery is not easy, there are so many factors attached to this and it is a huge risk if the procedure doesn’t agree with you. That’s why it is so important for doctors to evaluate the problem and see if invasive surgery can be avoided and kept to a minimum,” explains Dr Hema Shah, a skin specialist and cosmetologist.
Experts say that it is not necessary for people to undergo a surgery if they want to change their looks. “There are so many other options — like going in for a chemical peel, which peels away all the dead skin and leaves your face looking younger. Some people also go in for fillers like botox or fat grafting (fat is harvested from areas where it is in excess and is then injected into the facial skin to give a smooth appearance),” says Dr Shashank Chauhan, a plastic surgeon, who is also a member of the American Society of Cosmetic Surgeons.
Beauty experts believe that with constant care the need for surgery may not even arise. “If you follow a healthy skincare routine, wear sunscreen regularly and don’t experiment with your skin too much, it will continue to look healthy and young. One needs to understand that ageing is a natural process and also that with a little bit of make-up it is possible to enhance your features and look stunning. Going under the knife is an extreme option,” says Dr Hema.