Shop Now: Celebrities often go MIA, and after not hearing or seeing them in a long time, they return to the public eye with a completely new look, often claiming a new skin regimen or diet. With there still being lingering taboo and criticism surrounding the idea of cosmetic procedures, it’s easy to understand why some may deny receiving plastic surgery. There is a direct link between happiness and personal appearance, so everyone reserves the right to make the decision to alter their appearance and be proud of that decision. You also have the right to not tell anyone if you decide and be proud of that as well.
There is pressure from society to look a certain way. We’re expected to have thinner and leaner bodies, smooth skin, or perfect white teeth. It seems that no matter how much our society progresses, there will always be an ideology surrounding the concept of beauty. And no matter how many advocates there are to push for a change in beauty perception, we as people will always perceive beauty within the society’s ideological framework.
You cannot make everyone happy, but you should try with yourself first. I recently read the most brilliant quote ever. Blogger Ragen Chastain wrote in a blog post, “if I can’t see the beauty in someone, I understand that it’s not a reflection of their beauty, but on ability to perceive it” (read the entire post here). This may also be true for self assessment. It may be hard to see the beauty of one’s self, no matter how hard we try. If you are, like me, one of the many people who constantly criticize yourself based on societies ideology, don’t be afraid of what others may think or say at the idea of possibly altering your appearance.
However, you also reserve the right to not tell anyone if you’ve had or want surgery. At every medical establishment, there is a term that each of us is very familiar with called HIPAA (pronounced as hippa), which is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. This act by law ensures the protection and confidentiality of all patient medical records. Simply stated, a physician’s office cannot and will not release any information about you without your permission. They can’t even admit if someone is a patient of the establishment. There is a reason for this, which is it’s your right alone to disclose information about yourself. So ultimately the decision is yours – make yourself happy and be beautiful!
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