“Why Fit In When You Were Born To Stand Out!”- Dr. Seuss
I want to bring to light the many stigmas attached to the use of cosmetic intervention as a whole. The idea of beauty in our culture has been warped and misguided by big beauty and fashion marketing for many years, and I am happy that a more inclusive mindset is starting to take hold in our culture that honors everyone’s uniqueness. You can see this in the popularity of tattoos, vibrant hair colors and different body types being embraced and well represented. And cosmetic intervention is no different than the aforementioned choices.
As unfortunate as this may sound, we are very visual creatures. And we have become increasingly more so with the advent of televisions, computers, and phones that constantly feed our eyes and our minds an unending assortment of visual media. But, I believe we can use this powerful trend for the good of the whole, and instead of striving for perfection in ourselves and others and making what we want to see be all about perfection, we can focus on appreciating our unique individuality and self-expression.
The power of choice is incredibly important in our world as it seems we have too many options, but not enough good ones. Here are some thoughts on the “why” behind seeking out aesthetic treatments and practices, and the significant impact they make in people’s lives that you would never know by looking at the surface.
SELF ABSORBED OR SELF EXPRESSION?
Some may say that caring about how you look is a fruitless endeavor that will ultimately make you less of a human, and more selfish. And as always, this could be true. But, in my experience, most people are actually looking to appear more like who they feel they are on the inside, rather than trying to conform to an outside ideal. Whether these people are looking to bring back vitality to their face after a long bout with illness, looking to bring more symmetry to their features, or just want to love what they see in the mirror, none of these reasons are grounds for judgement.
It is important to remember that in countless different ways, we are choosing and augmenting our look to fit our tastes. We do this by going to the gym regularly, getting our haircut and colored, and choosing the clothes that we wear. Some people love to get piercings or tattoos to ultimately express the creative perspective of their internal persona. This way of being a walking canvas is as old as human culture, when changing our aesthetic look meant something to the individual, as well as the culture as a whole.
Some people seek intervention to fit in more with the general populous, especially if they are having issues like acne, rosacea, or psoriasis. Others seek facial reconstruction because they truly enjoy a very “done” look and embrace standing out in a crowd. It’s time to do away with the taboo that one’s individual choice of how to display their vision of themselves somehow makes them less than, or shallow. I have found that judgement (especially of other people’s personal choices) does more harm to our society than any cosmetic intervention ever could.
INJECT YOUR LIFE WITH CONFIDENCE
Studies prove over and over again that when we feel better about ourselves the more confident we become, which leads to more enjoyable feelings of success and satisfaction in life. This does not mean you have to be “perfect” to be ok in the world, or that the only way to get to the top of your career is to be young and beautiful. What I am saying is that by directly dealing with a few of what you consider to be your personal “rough edges”, you might be surprised by the spring that comes back in your step. I cannot tell you how many men and women who are at first apprehensive about getting BotoxTM, end up telling me how much their outlook on what they felt they could achieve in their lives changed by wiping the worried expression off of their face. There are even scientific studies showing that BotoxTM can help with alleviating depression! And just maybe that change in perspective can inspire other, more thoughtful actions that can lead to a healthier, more balanced life.
THE MOST COMMON BEAUTY BOOGIEMEN
There’s a lot of conflicting information when it comes to the world of aesthetic medicine and skincare. And I have to say I am always surprised with the amount of widespread urban mythdom that people just assume is true without much merit. Here are some of the largest aversions and fears that I hear about when doing consultations in my office.
Don’t be afraid to take care of yourself and give yourself the skin and look that you love. If you aren’t sure where to start, read my book (Available in Early February), Your Beauty Advocate: Cultivate Confidence with this No-Nonsense Guide to Age-Defying Skincare Products and Procedures. For more information, updates on my book release, or your free chapter 1 preview download, visit Your Beauty Advocate here.
Here's to celebrating beauty without judgement!
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Have you ever tried new skincare products and after using them for a week or two, your skin starts to get rashy or you start having breakouts? If you’re like me, you probably think, Oh My Gosh, what in the heck is going on?