Love 'em or hate 'em, reality stars like the
Real Housewives have come to dominate popular notions of cosmetic surgery. Taut, inflated, unnatural -- the perception of cosmetic surgery isn't just informed by the way these characters look, but also the personalities of privilege and vanity by which they're motivated.
As a feminist with an unlikely nine years in the aesthetics industry, these stereotypes are of great interest -- and sometimes frustration -- to me. To be sure, the
Real Housewives are about as real a representation of the typical plastic surgery patient as they are the typical "house-wife."
So, who is really getting work done and why? A look into some of the facts and trends paints a real picture of cosmetic surgery that is not "as seen on TV."
He's In On It Too
Men are getting plastic surgery. Long associated with breast implants and plumped lips, cosmetic medicine is increasingly unisex. The number of male cosmetic patients has, in fact, skyrocketed by 106 per cent between 2007 and 2012 according to the most recent industry statistics from the
American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
Whereas breast augmentation reins supreme among the female cohort, the most popular surgical procedures among men include liposuction, rhinosplasty ("nose jobs"), eyelid surgery, treatment for male breasts and otoplasty to correct protruding ears.
This uptick among male patients is not limited to big spenders. Coming to a medspa near you, men are increasingly seeking non-invasive therapies to improve their appearance. According to a report released by the
American Society of Plastic Surgeons, men accounted for over 350,000 of the Botox procedures performed in the U.S. in 2012, 126,000 laser hair removal procedures and almost 20 per cent of non-invasive body contouring treatments (Liposonix™, Coolsuclpting™, Exilis™) in 2012.
Men are also among the fastest growing segments of the skin care market. While advertisements talk in terms of "man hide" versus soft and silky, marketing does little to obscure the fact that they are the new beauty consumer.
So what is motivating this shift? Industry analysts have pointed to the need to "stay competitive" in a post-recession labor market as a major driver for men seeking cosmetic medicine. Faced with fewer jobs and a younger, highly educated workforce, men, it is asserted, turn to cosmetic medicine to avoid being left out to pasture (and the other perils of ageism).
But there are other forces at play.
Beauty as Health
Interesting enough, men and women alike, are increasingly viewing the way they look as part of their overall health. More than the pursuit of perfection or, even worse, aesthetic immortality, people are seeking cosmetic medicine as exactly that -- medicine. According to the American Academy of Facial Plastic Surgeons, today's patient views plastic surgery as an extension of personal care and hygiene.
Indeed, research done by
AccentHealth, three out of five consumers feel that "looking their best is an important part of how they measure their overall health." That number climbs even higher among respondents who considered themselves to be proactive about their health.
While a
new European study announced that researchers found that post-op, plastic surgery patients generally report a boost in self-confidence and enjoyment of life, the contemporary link between health and appearance has less to do with psychology than a culture in which patients feel the right and ability to more completely control their health -- inside and out.
It isn't just the patients, the industry of cosmetic manufacturers and plastic surgery clinics are embracing a verbiage of "health and wellness" and positioning their products and services accordingly. Especially as new technologies make procedures more affordable and accessible, the perception of cosmetic treatments is shifting away from vain extravagance to a standard part of self-care.
The Rise of Customized Cosmetics
In addition to cultural factors, demographics are transforming the face of cosmetic surgery. It may not come as a surprise but a more diverse American population has translated to a higher number of ethnicities seeking cosmetic procedures. Based on information collected from members of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, ethnic minorities accounted for approximately one fifth of all cosmetic procedures in the U.S. in 2012.
The result, however, has not been a rush to sameness. Rather, professionals are noting a marked increase in their patient's desire to "look like myself" post-procedure, compared with the more transformative ambitions of decades prior.
As Google and WebMD grow a more informed patient base, experts are specifically reporting fewer requests to look like someone else and more requests for particular procedures. Indeed, the
AAFPRS reports that requests for celebrity features dropped to 7 per cent among patients seen by AAFPRS members in 2012, while 53 per cent of patients asked about a particular area of concern and almost 30 per cent asked for a treatment by name.
Youth Before Beauty?
The parallel increase in younger patients is a more complicated statistic. While many in the 25-30 bracket are driving the growth of non-invasive, preventative procedures, the growing acceptance of cosmetic surgery has also led to a greater number of kids and adolescents seeking procedures.
Compared to the purely aesthetic goals of the older demographic, these young patients most frequently present with significant asymmetries and even deformities that affect a healthy social life. AAFPRS data estimates that 76 per cent of kids and adolescents seek plastic surgery on visible places like their face (namely ear and nose surgery) to escape being bullied by their peers. Likewise, more than half of breast surgeries among young women are done to correct large size differentials between breasts and other congenital deformities.
While TV, especially reality television, may be shaping the image plastic surgery has on the general population, the reality is that it is becoming a more common practice across demographics. It will be interesting to see how the face of plastic surgery continues to evolve in the future.
Back row, L to R: Keyshawn Johnson, Bill Engvall, Jack Osbourne, Corbin Bleu, Bill Nye, Brant Daugherty. Front row, L to R: Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, Valerie Harper, Christina Milian, Elizabeth Berkley, Amber Riley. Not Pictured: Leah Remini.
Now, the predictions ...
PREDICTION: Elizabeth Berkley will dance to "I'm So Excited."
Or a less X-rated version of a dance from "Showgirls."
HOPE: Brant Daugherty -- 
PREDICTION: Bill Nye will dance to "She Blinded Me With Science."
PREDICTION: The "Mary Tyler Moore" reunion from "Hot In Cleveland" will carry over to "DWTS," with Betty White and/or Mary Tyler Moore showing up in the audience to support Valerie Harper.
PREDICTION: Amber Riley will dance to a song she made famous on "Glee."
PREDICTION: The entire Osbourne family will be in the audience for the first week to cheer for Jack.
HOPE: Dennis Haskins will surprise Elizabeth Berkley -- and we hope it's just as awkward as when he did it to Tiffani Thiessen on "Today."
PREDICTION: Snooki will dance to a song about New Jersey, probably Bon Jovi's "Livin' On a Prayer."
HOPE: Snooki won't fist pump.
PREDICTION: 
HOPE: Jennifer Lawrence will show up to cheer for her former "The Bill Engvall Show" TV dad, Bill Engvall. (Hey, we can dream.)
What are your "Dancing With the Stars" hopes and predictions? Tell us in the comments below.
"Dancing With the Stars" Season 17 premieres Monday, Sept. 16 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
Carrie Underwood: "
Madonna: “I’m not a feminist, 
Hmm, where have we heard that before?
Sarah Jessica Parker: "
Demi Moore: “I am a great supporter of women, but I have never really thought of myself as a feminist, probably more of a humanist because I feel like that’s really where we need to be."
Taylor Swift : “
Bjork:: “[I don't identify as a feminist] because I think it would isolate me. I think it’s important to do positive stuff. It’s more important to be asking than complaining.”
Beyoncé : “That word [feminist] can be very extreme ... I guess I am a modern-day feminist. I do believe in equality … Why do you have to choose what type of woman you are? Why do you have to label yourself anything? I’m just a woman, and I love being a woman.” [Although, Bey does have to label herself, 
Lady Gaga: “I’m not a feminist. I hail men, I love men, I celebrate American male culture – beer, bars, and muscle cars.” [Note: Gaga later told the LA Times she is a "
Despite all the denial (and confusion), there are some loud and proud feminists among the Hollywood elite...
Amy Poehler: "Aw, I feel bad if [Taylor Swift] was upset [following that joke I made at the Golden Globes]. 
Rashida Jones: "
Lena Dunham: "
Ellen Page: "I don't know why people are so reluctant to say they're feminists. Maybe some women just don't care. But how could it be any more obvious that we still live in a patriarchal world when feminism is a bad word?"
Couldn't have said it better ourselves, Miss Page.
