Reflections on our growing love for body modifications and enhancements
A popular Nigerian celebrity recently trended on social media. She had posted a picture of herself in a bikini and netizens were all over it with their comments. This happens now and again as an influencer, most likely female, shares pictures of her well-carved body to the admiration or disgust of anyone who cares to share an opinion.
I first heard about plastic surgery when I was in junior secondary school. There was a story in a foreign magazine about a lady’s experience with getting silicone breast implants. The implants ended up bursting some years after, so she had to get them taken out. I could feel her pain as I read about her experience. I wondered why anyone would do cosmetic surgery. A few years later, Modupe Ozolua set up her body enhancement clinic in Lagos, operated by foreign doctors flown in periodically. Many people assumed Nigerians were too conservative to do cosmetic surgery, but the clinic got a good number of clients.
These days, it seems anyone who is anyone has done some form of cosmetic surgery, and this refers not just to celebrities and influencers. There are so many procedures that people go through aside from the more common butt enhancements, breast augmentations, and tummy tucks. Some are invasive and tend to be risky, while others are not invasive. On offer are chemical peels, liposuctions, nose jobs, botox, facelifts, body sculpting, chin chiselling, and many other things I may not even know exist.
All of these procedures are done in the search for a more perfect figure. The quest for perfection is age-old. Many of us would love to be perfect in every aspect of life alas, we are but humans, and perfection cannot be attained. But that doesn’t mean people won’t desire to be as near perfect as possible which is why cosmetic surgery is popular.
People undergo body modifications or enhancements for either cosmetic or reconstructive purposes. With the former, they elect to alter some part of their body for aesthetic reasons while the latter is usually required to correct some natural born body defects or reconstruct damaged body parts due to injuries from severe accidents. Some believe that people who elect to undergo cosmetic surgery are unhappy with either a part or all of their bodies. For example, they consider their breasts too small or too big, their waists too wide or too thin, their face too full or too lean, and their buttocks too small or too big. I can’t say if this belief is valid as I haven’t met anyone who has gone under the knife (or maybe I have and I didn’t know?)
I have always been curious about body enhancements. This has led me to watch reality shows featuring reconstructive surgery, both for cosmetic and medical reasons. Some find them disturbing, but I find them quite fascinating. I have keenly watched such shows as Botched, Dr 90210, and our own indigenous Dr Laser. These shows document various procedures done by certified surgeons. Majority of the people who come on the shows are women, and they typically come for cosmetic reasons. Even men aren’t left out too as some want to remove breast tissue and get bigger chests, tighter abs, and six-packs.
I enjoy watching these shows because the patients usually share their “why”: what has motivated them to do the surgeries. The top reasons are usually: “I want to look more beautiful”, “I want to be able to wear a bikini or go shirtless at the beach”, and “I don’t like the way my (insert body part) looks”. Comments like these make me wonder why so many people choose to adhere to standards of beauty that have been pitched to them subliminally or overtly. Who says having a pointed nose makes you finer or that having a bigger derriere makes a woman more attractive? Why is a six-pack the ultimate standard of manliness? High cheekbones, pointed chins, bodies that fit into size zero outfits, where does it end? Why have some people become enslaved to these unrealistic standards?
The cosmetic surgery industry is booming. Everyone from the clinics to celebrities and influencers is cashing out, either as advocates of the procedures or as marketing agents. Brazil is a top destination for butt enhancements hence the “Brazilian Butt Lift” commonly referred to as BBL. People also travel to different parts of the Americas and Europe to do their surgeries. Some of the clinics advertise their services and even have recruiting agents who put together packaged deals for prospective candidates. Not everyone travels abroad though as there are quite several clinics in different parts of Nigeria that offer cosmetic procedures. These clinics either fly in professionals or engage Nigerian professionals to perform the procedures. These surgeries don’t come cheap so you can imagine how much people invest in getting their bodies done including travel costs where applicable. There are also costs associated with recovery which are beyond financial costs: emotional costs, inconveniences, etc.
The risks of cosmetic surgery exist like all other surgical procedures. What if something happens in the theatre? What if blood pressure rises uncontrollably? What if the surgeon makes a mistake? The what-ifs are many. At least, there would be professionals experienced in managing those risks. Unfortunately, some people have patronised unlicensed so-called professionals, at home and abroad, and had their dream of a perfect body thwarted. To date, a popular medical professional has been dragged several times online by unsatisfied clients whose procedures have been mismanaged. I don’t even remember if that individual still has a medical license.
As far as I know, the human body undergoes wear and tear, so even if one goes through surgery to enhance their body, chances are one would need a top-up in the future. How many times can one top-up before the body begins to resist? How many people are prepared to maintain their new bodies and, in all honesty, how much maintenance can one engage in? Will they still like what they have done in the future? Will their bodies be kind to them?
You can probably tell that I am not a fan of elective cosmetic surgery. I cannot even imagine myself undergoing any procedure. My number one aesthetic rule is never to do anything permanent to my body if I don’t have to. I believe strongly that we need to love ourselves for who we are. We need to set realistic personal standards of beauty. This doesn’t mean that we should accept the way we look if we see a need to make changes. Exercise, proper nutrition, and discipline may address some of these issues, and any other issues should be considered non-issues.
Love yourself and the body you came in. You should see yourself as beautiful or handsome, and not rely on external validation. If we focus on improving our bodies naturally, we will be more grateful for them: this is the way I see things today.