I recently watched the plastic surgery episode of Explained on Netflix (2021). It revealed that cosmetic surgeries are more accessible than ever. Some of the interviewees mentioned that these elective surgeries were often sought after to help the patients feel better about themselves. One mentioned they wouldn’t want their daughters to know they had the procedure done because they worried it would make them think they needed it. In 2014, 92% of all cosmetic procedures were done on women (American Society of Plastic Surgeons). This number makes me wonder what sort of damage has been done to the female psyche over the years to lead us to believe we have to be surgically transformed to feel beautiful – or even comfortable – in our own skin. Have we let the world convince us so thoroughly that we are not acceptable as we are?
What if we lived in a world where we didn’t need cosmetic surgery to feel beautiful? What if we could look in the mirror and be content with every dimple, mole, and bone structure instead of looking in the mirror and wishing we had been born differently?
The glamorized beauty standards found on Instagram are fabricated by filters that change face shape, eye size and tilt, lip size and color, and even check angle. The high cheek bone, flawless skin, tilted eye, big booty, tiny waist ideal doesn’t exist outside of the filtered, photoshopped world. So, why do we continue to propagate these impossible standards? Shouldn’t we teach our children to be thankful and content with the body God gave them? I think so. It starts at home. It starts by not beating yourself up for having cellulite (a very normal thing to have). It starts by recognizing that aging is something we should celebrate, not be ashamed of. Laugh lines, gray hair and wrinkles are blessings when compared to the alternative of cremation or laying six feet under.
When we chase unnatural beauty standards, we are telling ourselves and our children that they are not good enough the way God made them, who made us in his image. “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27, ESV).
When we care for our bodies through healthy practices – diet, exercise, medicine, etc. – it should be to glorify God and not to glorify our own vanities. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31, ESV).
Instead of celebrating how accessible elective cosmetic procedures have become, let’s celebrate our bodies as God designed them and work on finding contentment with the physical appearance of the face that looks back at us from the mirror. Let’s teach our children that our physical appearance is far less important, and requires far less attention, than our inner (spiritual) appearance. “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:8, ESV).
It should be noted that my objection lies primarily with “vanity” procedures (lip fillers, Brazilian butt lift, etc) and not with “quality of life” procedures (cleft lip repair, wound repair/reconstruction, breast reductions, etc). I believe the latter has the potential to be life changing in ways similar to when Jesus healed the lame and gave sight to the blind.