The Centre, P.C. - Plastic Surgery Blog

A Star to Every Wandering Bark - Friday, June 27, 2008

One common reason given by detractors as to why people should not have cosmetic surgery is that notions of beauty are the product of fashion and that fashion is changeable. These people often point to Marilyn Monroe and say that she was considered beautiful in her day, but would be considered overweight by today's supermodel standards.

Such an argument does have some truth, but it is also seriously flawed. The very fact that she is so commonly cited by people making this argument proves that although she might be considered overweight by supermodel standards or those promoted by sleazy men's magazines, she was not just a beautiful woman, but an icon of beauty. On my daily bus ride through the commercial district of a major city, I see her face and figure many times: in the windows of poster stores, painted in murals, even as an advertisement for beauty parlors. Marilyin Monroe, and other icons like Audrey Hepburn prove that beauty never goes out of style.

The second thing wrong with the arguments of detractors is that cosmetic surgery is too big a decision to be made for anyone other than yourself. Ideally, you should have surgery so that you can like what you see in the mirror. If the standards of others change, it is of no consequence.

Finally, even if you are concerned about weathering the waves of fashion, be aware that there are a number of constants of beauty that endure through the ages:

· Proportion and balance: Proportion has long been upheld as a standard of beauty, and disproportionate tend to be seen as unattractive. A woman with overly large hips and small breasts can see a significant improvement from breast augmentation to give her body a more proportionate appearance, and people with noses out of proportion with the face can see improvement with a reduction rhinoplasty or with chin or cheek augmentation.

· Narrow waists: In studies of art and literature from cultures around the world and throughout history, cultural critics and anthropologists have discovered that relatively narrow waists are commonly perceived as beautiful. The narrow waist is the most often mentioned characteristic of a beautiful body for both men and women. Liposuction can target the fat deposits that make your waist wide and unattractive.

· Smooth curves: In art and design, the smooth continuous line that grabs and holds the eye is a constant ideal. One of the worst enemies of smooth curves is cellulite, which can make thighs and buttocks lumpy and unattractive. Endermologie can smooth these lumps and give your curves smoothness fit to be praised.

· Beautiful skin: From Rubens paintings to Maxim magazine covers, the main constant in beauty is glowing, youthful skin. Recent studies claiming that average faces were more beautiful are even further evidence. The selection of average faces seems to be related to the smoothing of the skin as an artifact of digital averaging. At the Centre, P.C, we offer an extensive array of skin care treatments, including chemical peels, laser treatments, and our own line of cosmeceuticals: Centre Yourself.

To learn more about the constants of beauty, and how you can rise above the crests and troughs of mere taste, contact the Centre, P.C, today for a consultation.