Let me go on the record as saying that I am generally against plastic surgery. There are all kinds of good reasons to use plastic surgery – whether it is for reconstruction or disfigurement. There are even times when I’ll allow it purely for cosmetic reasons. But generally speaking, we have become a society that fights the physical signs of aging every step of the way.
I’m no exception.
I use antioxidant this and anti-aging that. I always hoped that my primarily clean living lifestyle would pay off in the form of beautiful, lineless skin as I aged. As I approach a major milestone birthday this year, I’m reminded that sometimes genetics have more to do with the lines of wisdom that age has bestowed upon our faces.
I’ve never been a sunworshipper. I’d love to get tan but my skin just doesn’t really like that. I was never a big drinker. Maybe a small drinker. And I drink wine most nights. For health reasons.
And I have never in my life smoked or even tried a cigarette. Of that fact, I’m very proud. But as of late, I am starting to obsess over how I’m aging. I don’t feel old and when I look in the mirror, it looks like someone has put the “grown-up” mask on my little kid face.
I was looking in the mirror very closely this morning thinking of all the things I’d like to change. Here’s my complete list of imaginary plastic surgery:
- I’d give myself an eyelift to make up for my years of droopy eyelids.
- I’d plump up the areas under my eyes so that I wouldn’t see those lines running down my cheeks every time I smiled.
- I’d straighten out my nose. It’s a little too big and bumpy.
- I’d get rid of the scar above my lip where my precious Holden once bit me when I woke him up too suddenly.
- I’d lose the laugh lines around my mouth.
- I’d give myself porcelain skin with not a freckle in sight.
- I’d round out my hairline so that my forehead didn’t look too square.
- I’d thicken my hair.
- And I would completely resculpt my asymmetrical jaw. And that’s just my face.
Here’s is a quick sample of the new and improved me.
But there is something missing there.
Maybe the lines I’m missing don’t show the joy and heartache I’ve had in life.
My missing freckles and bumpy nose don’t show that no matter how hard I fight it, I am my mother’s daughter.
Bottom line is that we are born with the face and body that we have. We have to learn to love ourselves and the changes that age brings. At least we are still here to celebrate it.
And if I had all of this work done, how could I continue to make my best faces?
What about you? Ever have any work done? Wish you had or wish you hadn’t? Do you dream of imaginary plastic surgery? I’d love to hear your thoughts on how you are learning to love yourself.
17 comments
My neighbor just had her eyes done b/c she had really bad bags underneath them. She looks great and now she feel so much better about her appearance.
If I could get plastic surgery the one thing I would do is get a breast reduction. I’ve been hauling these babies around for years and they are tired. I wanted to wait until after I was done having kids so I could have to opportunity to breastfeed. Once I am done (which I think is now), I would love to have the 16 year old version of my boobs, nice and perky but still able to fill out a bra! 😉 That is my dream plastic surgery and I hope someday I can do it! (Oh and maybe throw in a tummy tuck.)
I left the body part out. I’d love tummy tuck but I’m thinking that’s the lazy man’s escape for diet and exercise. I know I have a flat tummy somewhere in there waiting to come out 🙂
My neighbor just had her eyes done b/c she had really bad bags underneath them. She looks great and now she feel so much better about her appearance.
If I could get plastic surgery the one thing I would do is get a breast reduction. I’ve been hauling these babies around for years and they are tired. I wanted to wait until after I was done having kids so I could have to opportunity to breastfeed. Once I am done (which I think is now), I would love to have the 16 year old version of my boobs, nice and perky but still able to fill out a bra! 😉 That is my dream plastic surgery and I hope someday I can do it! (Oh and maybe throw in a tummy tuck.)
I left the body part out. I’d love tummy tuck but I’m thinking that’s the lazy man’s escape for diet and exercise. I know I have a flat tummy somewhere in there waiting to come out 🙂
I have never had work done, of course I’m still pretty young to consider it. There is just one thing I would really like to change but I am hoping once I have kids it will take care of it’s self.
I don’t think you should change anything. You’re beautiful.
Aw garsh. Thanks for the compliment. I never thought I would even think about these things until one day, I was sitting at a traffic light and looked in the mirror of my car. It looked like my face was sagging ever so slightly. I gently used my fingers to pull it up and realized I had become my mother! She constantly pulls her face back saying wouldn’t I look so much better with a facelift?
I have never had work done, of course I’m still pretty young to consider it. There is just one thing I would really like to change but I am hoping once I have kids it will take care of it’s self.
I don’t think you should change anything. You’re beautiful.
Aw garsh. Thanks for the compliment. I never thought I would even think about these things until one day, I was sitting at a traffic light and looked in the mirror of my car. It looked like my face was sagging ever so slightly. I gently used my fingers to pull it up and realized I had become my mother! She constantly pulls her face back saying wouldn’t I look so much better with a facelift?
Okay, not to call you crazy, but I think you’re crazy. I’ve spent 5 minutes staring at your before picture, and you don’t look old at all! At first I thought it was an old picture and the next was going to be a contrast of how you look now.
And I think if it’ll make them happy, people should feel free to get plastic surgery. Personally, it took me far too long to love how I look now – I can’t start all over again with a new face!
Well, from my previous post, we know I am a little crazy 😉 And as for looking old, I have much worse photos but wanted to use something recent. And if you think I’m 53 (I’m not), then I look terrific! For my age, I’d say I’m about average. I would agree with plastic surgery for self-esteem issues. Like someone who was always picked on for being flat-chested and hated it. I’m against it for people who want to achieve some level of beauty that is unrealistic.
I like the Fadra: before. You are beautiful. I would never want anyone to get rid of their laugh lines!!! No laugh lines = No fun. I am all about hair removal (thanks to my Italian genes) but nothing under the knife or injected.
Thanks, Jodie! It has taken me until this decade of my life to be comfortable in my own skin. And I may not like it, but I definitely accept it. Laughter is VITAL to living a good life so I happy to have laugh lines instead of frown lines. Oh, and I’m all for the bleaching, waxing, lasering, shaving. Whatever we need to do to be less hairy!
I like the Fadra: before. You are beautiful. I would never want anyone to get rid of their laugh lines!!! No laugh lines = No fun. I am all about hair removal (thanks to my Italian genes) but nothing under the knife or injected.
Thanks, Jodie! It has taken me until this decade of my life to be comfortable in my own skin. And I may not like it, but I definitely accept it. Laughter is VITAL to living a good life so I happy to have laugh lines instead of frown lines. Oh, and I’m all for the bleaching, waxing, lasering, shaving. Whatever we need to do to be less hairy!
Okay, not to call you crazy, but I think you’re crazy. I’ve spent 5 minutes staring at your before picture, and you don’t look old at all! At first I thought it was an old picture and the next was going to be a contrast of how you look now.
And I think if it’ll make them happy, people should feel free to get plastic surgery. Personally, it took me far too long to love how I look now – I can’t start all over again with a new face!
Well, from my previous post, we know I am a little crazy 😉 And as for looking old, I have much worse photos but wanted to use something recent. And if you think I’m 53 (I’m not), then I look terrific! For my age, I’d say I’m about average. I would agree with plastic surgery for self-esteem issues. Like someone who was always picked on for being flat-chested and hated it. I’m against it for people who want to achieve some level of beauty that is unrealistic.
If it’s a necessary procedure that falls under “reconstructive” surgery then it is by all means needed. Plastic surgery for cosmetic purposes doesn’t have any benefits to your body or your health. Other than maybe boosting your self-esteem.