Despite that some people hold the belief that cosmetic surgery is all about vanity or ego this could not be further from the truth. When I owned my Medi-spa some of the services that we specialized in was non-surgical facelifts, the Sydney Morning Herald interviewed me about my views on the growing demand for Cosmetic Surgery and with such amazing alternatives why clients would turn to the knife. I explained that Laser resurfacing, medical grade chemical peels, ultra sound, Thermage and other high tech treatments all gave wonderful results and help with “Age Management or slowing down the Aging process.” That some of these treatments we had seen amazing results in wrinkle reduction and skin tightening plus scar reduction and then there is targeted body fat reduction and body shaping – all amazing. I explained all the different options and then through a curve ball to the reporter. I am all for cosmetic surgery. The reporter was shocked when I said this. But why she asked, why would you turn to a knife when you have just explained how these new non evasive treatments can get you wonderful results. Simply we cannot join muscles back together, we cannot add a breast back or we cannot reshape a bone structure. Also our treatments are done over many months where as surgery it is over in a day and recovery is about 14 days and see full result in 6 weeks.
Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery is non-life threatening optional surgery which meaning your not going to die if you don’t have this operation. For this reason cosmetic surgery is not covered by Medical insurance but it simply does not take into the psychological and mental health benefits that comes from helping a person to feel and look normal plus regain their confidence. Unlike Michael Jackson who had surgery to try to look more like Diana Ross; most people are choosing surgery for one of three reasons – corrective surgery, genetics or age management. I hoped that if a doctor had a patient that was trying to transform into one of their favorite stars that the Doctor would reject them and suggest more mental health help than the knife.
Three Main Reasons to have Cosmetic surgery.
Reverse the signs of aging or Age Management. In today’s society where looks and youth is prominent age discrimination is on the rise. It can affect your ability to gain employment, housing and also access to social event. Despite that by law you cannot be discriminated on age, it was found in an “A qualitative study of employment discrimination against older Australians” Study that there was a subtle and indirect age discrimination for example the level of interest expressed in an applicant faded once their age is apparent during the meeting and interview. With people needing to work later in life many man and women turn to surgery to reduce the signs of aging. Fortunately, cosmetic surgery can be very effective in reversing the signs of aging. People with facial sagging, for example, can often look 10 years younger with a good facelift. Or the use of Botox to just remove those frown lines and make you look less tied will do help you visual appearance and maybe reduce age discrimination when job hunting. Botox is less evasive than a facelift but you do need to have the injection every couple of months.
In Australia Age Discrimination is subtle (hidden) is was not the case when I went to South Korea last year. South Korean people are very passionate about anti-aging and looking after your skin. I was lucky via Google Translator to be able to talk to several skin therapists and an owner of a skincare shop about their anti aging products. The owner of this skincare shop looked no more than 40 years of age but told me of many horror stories where Restaurants and Clubs that do not allow people over a certain age. I was shocked and very skeptical of this story until 2 nights later trying to find somewhere to have dinner and was refused entry to a trendy bar due to my age. The bar had less than 10 people in the establishment and was turning away customers because of age. That night I was also refused entry into a Restaurant because I did not have a male partner with me. When you live in a society and bombard by age discrimination it is little wonder that people are turning to the knife to improve their life experiences and options.
Corrective surgery due to an illness or accident – I do not believe anyone would argue that this type of cosmetic surgery is important to the patient. When you see a woman that has battle breast cancer and had to have a full mastectomy with her self confidence destroyed and believes that she is no-longer a full women, having breast implants gives her back more than just breast.
Correct Surgery due to Genetic. – One thing that you can’t choose in life is your genes. These little troopers are handed down to you at conception and will largely dictate how we look throughout the rest of your life. So if you have an oddly shaped nose that you feel self-conscious about, every time you look in a mirror you feel deflated, then having surgery to give it a more natural shape that is pleasing to your eye and transform how you feel about yourself every day. I have a personal friend that had Rhinoplasty because she had her father’s masculine nose. The affect it had on her whole life is amazing and life changing.
I have seen so many amazing transformations in self-confidence when people have had their nose correct or chin reshaped, even reduction in breast size so they no longer suffer constant back pain. Correcting a gene related aspect of oneself is more than act of vanity; it is life change and empowering. I take the view they are correcting what they had no control over. Plus what is the difference than when I have had 3 nasal operation to rid my nose of pulups – thanks to my Great Grandmother on my mother side just because it is not the outside should we judge. But we do judge and many patients put off having gene correction surgery because they do not want to be seen as vain.
For the last 5 years I have struggled with this very problem. I look in the mirror every day a see my neck and I know where this is heading – Turkey Neck – not from aging but due to genetic makeup from my father side. When I was a little girl sitting on my Grandmothers lap I use to love playing with her soft floppy neck (I would die it my grandchild did this to me). The skin on her neck was so loose it just hung there. Dad can cover up his neck with a beard – not an option for me. After consulting many sergeants and various procedures option including Threading, Skin neck lift, it was not until I talk to a sergeant that really understood what was causing the development of the turkey neck and no amount of cream or Thermage treatments was going to fix my neck.
All my life I have been very flexible and nibble. I was great at gymnastics through out my school life but the down side of this is, as I have got older my muscle are a little loose. Yes I can go to gym and pump iron and this will help 99% of my muscles but when it comes to my neck muscles there is a major problem. My neck muscles – Platysma muscle have parted ways. The Platysma Muscle is very unusual in that it is a muscle that is directly attach to the skin to help with creating facial expressions. My Platysma muscles have separated in the center of my neck leaving this area without muscle to help the skin to stay in place which over the years creates this lovely loose floppy skin – turkey neck development. Is it life threatening – no but is it affecting my life – yes – every day my confidence is shot every time I see my neck and I know I have avoided doing video blogging, launch my school and even launching my skincare range. Why because simple I think how is anyone going to believe in me when my neck looks like a 90 year old? I could wear around my neck a sign – “sorry this is genetics not because my skincare doesn’t work”. – LOL – but seriously it is affecting me and my future so I need to do something about it. Surgery has been scheduled later this year. I will blog about it and show you the results.
QUESTION ABOUT YOUR SKIN? Make an Appointment Today or send me an email to debra@debraspence.com
PERMISSION TO REPRINT: You may use this article in your print, blog, magazine or electronic newsletter. But in order to do so, you must include the following paragraph “Information courtesy from Debra Spence – Answering your skin problems with Science and Nature. Debra Spence is a Cosmetic Chemist and Skin Specialist who provides skincare and treatment tips, product recommendations and reviews to professionals and patients. www.debraspence.com”
Content Copyright © 2016, Debra Spence
All products, material and information provided within this Website are for educational and informational purposes only. No medical claims are implied in the information given and it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or disease. Any reference to health benefits cannot be taken as a replacement for medical advice or prescription medication or seen as a diagnosis for a specific condition. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice or treatment of your medical professional. The information provided by in this website is believed to be accurate based on the best judgment of the author but the reader is responsible for consulting with your own medical professional / skin therapist. In no way is any of the content on this website to be construed as medical advice or instruction.
https://www.humanrights.gov.au/our-work/age-discrimination/publications/qualitative-study-employment-discrimination-against-older
QUESTION ABOUT YOUR SKIN? Make an Appointment Today or send me an email to debra@debraspence.com
PERMISSION TO REPRINT: You may use this article in your print, blog, magazine or electronic newsletter. But in order to do so, you must include the following paragraph “Information courtesy from Debra Spence – Answering your skin problems with Science and Nature. Debra Spence is a Cosmetic Chemist and Skin Specialist who provides skincare and treatment tips, product recommendations and reviews to professionals and patients. www.debraspence.com” Content Copyright © 2017, Debra Spence
All products, material and information provided within this Website are for educational and informational purposes only. No medical claims are implied in the information given and it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or disease. Any reference to health benefits cannot be taken as a replacement for medical advice or prescription medication or seen as a diagnosis for a specific condition. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice or treatment of your medical professional. The information provided by in this website is believed to be accurate based on the best judgment of the author but the reader is responsible for consulting with your own medical professional / skin therapist. In no way is any of the content on this website to be construed as medical advice or instruction.