Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder: The Socio-Cultural Dynamics of Plastic Surgery

In an era where the quest for beauty seems more relentless than ever, the dialogue surrounding plastic surgery becomes not just a conversation about personal choice, but a complex narrative of social constructs and unconscious biases. From lip filler to breast augmentation, plastic surgery presents itself as a modern-day elixir, offering to correct perceived imperfections and soothe insecurities. Everyone holds an intrinsic desire to feel beautiful and confident within their own skin, a sentiment deeply personal yet universally understood. However, this solution, while immediate, scratches only the surface of a deeper quest for empowerment, satisfaction and fulfilment.

The decision to undergo plastic surgery is not made in a vacuum free from external forces. It is crucial to peel back the layers of unconscious biases and internalised constructs that guide and inform our decisions. Women underwent 93% of all recorded cosmetic procedures in 2022. In a patriarchal society, where women often navigate their existence under the watchful eye of the male gaze, plastic surgery can become a tool for conforming to societal expectations of desirability. This dynamic perpetuates and reinforces patriarchal standards of beauty, positioning conformity as a survival mechanism for women in their quest for social and economic mobility.

The societal pressures felt by women all over the world emanate from various media channels, including advertising, social media and celebrity culture, which promote an unrealistic standard of perfection. 

 The expanded accessibility and normalisation of plastic surgery has made it easier for individuals to morph their bodies in accordance with fleeting societal trends. From the big boobs of the 90’s to the huge bums of the last decade, the fluctuating ideals of beauty underscore the transient and often unattainable nature of these aesthetic benchmarks. Our digital age exacerbates this phenomenon, with trends emerging and fading at a breakneck pace, resulting in a cycle of dissatisfaction and an unending quest for the next idealised aesthetic.

With this, a disturbing trend of standardisation is emerging, one that sees a growing uniformity in appearance as more people opt for identical surgical procedures. In 2019 The New Yorker released an article named ‘The Age of Instagram Face’, drawing attention to the unsettling sameness of people's faces online. This phenomenon is not merely a matter of aesthetic conformity; it reflects a deeper cultural struggle where personal identity, individuality and uniqueness is eroded and sacrificed at the altar of societal pressure. Moreover, the escalating fixation on maintaining a youthful façade through plastic surgery speaks to a larger, more insidious societal issue in which the implicit message is that value, worth and beauty of a person, particularly women, are inextricably tied to their age. As the collective gaze becomes increasingly critical of the natural ageing process, it perpetuates a myth that ageing is a condition to be fought rather than an inevitable, natural process of life. This not only warps our perception of beauty but also reinforces ageist stereotypes that marginalise and devalue the ageing population. In this context, the scalpel cuts more than skin; it is a tool that is reshaping our socio-cultural landscape to the detriment of our collective psyche.

Moreover, plastic surgery harbours undertones of cultural appropriation, as features specific to certain ethnicities become fashionable for the masses, detached from their cultural significance. The ethical concerns surrounding people’s safety and the medical risks associated with these procedures, further complicate the discourse. With the normalisation of plastic surgery in the modern age, these risks are often ignored. For example, a 2017 medical report revealed that the Brazilian butt-lift procedure carries a death risk of one per 3,000 patients, ranking it amongst the world’s most lethal cosmetic surgeries.

In light of offering quick-fix solutions to deep-seated insecurities, there's a pressing need for a shift in socio-cultural discourse. The aim should not solely be to make individuals feel beautiful, happy and worthy through external modifications but to foster an environment where diversity in beauty is celebrated, where every body-type, look and expression is deemed beautiful. This requires teaching acceptance and self-love, encouraging individuals to find happiness within themselves rather than through conformity to fleeting trends by going under the knife. Achieving this shift is no small feat; it demands a comprehensive renegotiation of entrenched socio-cultural norms, a journey that is undoubtedly more challenging than the road to the cosmetic surgeon's office. Yet, it is a necessary endeavour for fostering a society where the cycle of seeking external validation for one's worth is broken, replaced by a culture that uplifts and validates individual beauty in all its forms.

As we navigate this complex terrain, it becomes evident that the conversation around plastic surgery and beauty standards is not merely about individual choice but a reflection of broader societal dynamics. It's about not only challenging but dismantling the structures that dictate beauty standards and working towards a future where everyone can feel beautiful and empowered in their own skin, not by changing how they look to fit a mould, but by changing the mould itself to embrace every form of beauty.