Quote:
Originally Posted by pll
I think most of us agree that a little maintenance work can be beneficial.
What does it say about a person who goes in for several procedures?
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Good question! I really think that it depends upon what those several procedures are. And what several is.
If it's taking place between one's late 50's and early 70s, that's a span of 20 years. Most plastic surgery techniques last from 15 to 20 years, and the clock begins ticking the minute that one leaves the office, so several in a span of 20 -30 years may not render one grotesque, but just maintained, youthful and viable. Although if we take number, say twelve, out of context, it may sound huge. It did at first to me, , but I thought about it and it isn't that many at all. We also have to think not just of quantity, but quality and desired result. People do not emerge from plastic surgery looking like Ms. Rivers after one face lift, one eye lift, one round of collagen injections, a chemical facial peel, a nose job, a brow lift, a tummy tuck , liposuction, and filler injected into the naso labial fold( the crease between the nose and lips that depending upon one's genetic make up, can become very deep and unsightly)
Rivers required her trade mark creepy and un- natural look after
several ful face lifts, that must have begun in her mid - forties, and numerous other invasive, non office procedures that, especially as one ages, can become risky. Conservatively, I'd say that someone like that has had no less than
50, and have of them invasive and requiring general anesthesia.
Rivers and others like her, may have begun with good intentions. After all she is in show business, and appearance is part of her job. So she has a professional, as well as personal motivation.
Also, I think she must be in her late 70s early 80s, and when she began, plastic surgery was far more crude, less subtle, and more dangerous and expensive.
Which leads me to another factor. When cost is not considered, and a patient has well lined pockets, the temptation factor increases. There is no choice between a child's college education, a family vacation and mom's latest procedure. Additionally, I think that there are some greedy and unethical plastic surgeons out there, especially in a place such as Beverly Hills, who are dealing with a very susceptible and wealthy client base. For anyone who has ever been privy to a consultation, cosmetic surgeons are good at what they do. And I do not only mean on the operating table. ( and as we all know, skill varies quite a bit) They are good as lavish compliments delivered to people who are already feeling a bit self critical, followed by subtle critique, that makes many patients even more vulnerable to overdoing it.
In short, I don't think there is a magic number that is too much for anyone person. Some procedures that are minor and in office, such as Botox, or cosmetic fillers, last only for six months to a year or two.
There are options other than the full face lift of the 50s -70s, that someone like Joan Rivers most likely had more than once.
My prediction is that their are newer, less expensive, and less invasive techniques that will be used by more people as part of a program of maintenance and self enhancement over a life span. If one is taking care of one's health and body, having their hair maintained, going to the gym, these minor techniques need not be seen as excessive.
Even the youngest of the baby boomers have hit, or will soon hit 50, and as for myself, I'm not willing to give in to age early on. Having worked at a cosmetic surgeon's office, I have seen first hand how good people can look and feel with a bit of judicious and skilled work.
Then, other people don't care. Perhaps they were never the type to care much about their appearance, or their appearance was never much a part of their personal identity, so aging has less impact on them.
It does not necessarily mean that they are better adjusted, or are accepting aging with more grace. In most cases, it's a matter of personal choice.
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