Cosmetic surgery, the search for perfection

Since ancient times beauty has been an obsession, each country and time period has embraced its own ideal of beauty.  If the Egyptians were devoted to their make up and the Romans had a special reverence to keeping fit, modern society counts with a new ally to achieve physical perfection: Cosmetic surgery.

Cosmetic or aesthetic surgery involves techniques intended for the "enhancement" of appearance through surgical and medical techniques.  It aims to restore or enhance appearance    toward some aesthetic ideal.  Despite worldwide economic crisis, the aesthetic surgery market has seen an increase in reported surgical and non surgical procedures.  The most demanded procedures being liposuction (in 2007) and breast augmentation (in 2008). 

While some people undergo plastic surgery (which includes cosmetic and reconstructive surgery) to solve imperfections, other people undergo surgery simply to achieve their ideal of beauty and perfection.  But some people become so obsessed with their ideal of beauty that once they start improving their looks through surgery and see for themselves the stunning results that they can achieve; they cannot stop themselves from having more and more procedures to improve their looks. 

In 2008 Americans spent just under $12 billion on cosmetic procedures; $7.2billion was for surgical procedures, and $4.6 billion was for non-surgical procedures.

1.You can't make a plain person attractive
2. You can't change bone structure
3.You can't take more than 10 years off a face.

She broke all three rules and set a world record.  Some of the procedures she has had are:

• A full face-lift,
• 3 "mini" face-lifts,
• 3 eyelid surgeries
• 1 upper lip lift, bottom lip implants.
• Liposuction on her knees, thighs, abdomen, waist, and jaw-line.
• 2 two nose operations
• Breast augmentation and breast implant removal
• Cheek implants
• Chin reduction
• Hair transplantation to cover face-lift scars,
• Dermabrasions and chemical peels
•  2 laser resurfacings.

Brazilian model Angela Bismarchi whose passion for plastic surgery has made her a celebrity in Brazil has had so far 42 plastic surgery treatments, following very close on the Guinness World Record of surgical procedures held by American Cindy Jackson.

Bismarchi had her first cosmetic surgery just after her daughter was born. She was just 21 and had her breasts lifted. She liked the result so much that she became fascinated with cosmetic surgery and started having more treatments to achieve her ideal of beauty. In her quest for perfection she married her plastic surgeon and after she divorced him she married another plastic surgeon.

The Chinese freelance fashion writer Hao Lulu has had one of the most mediatised cosmetic surgery transformations.  The "Beauty Dreamwork Project" as it was known in China, was organized and sponsored by EverCare, a Beijing cosmetic surgery clinic, to promote its business.  The project led to a renewal in interest in cosmetic surgery among the Chinese who are seeking a more westernized look.   

Hao Lulu’s appearance was radically altered, in particular her eyes, which were given double eyelids to give her a more occidental appearance. The colour of her skin was also lightened. Her diary of the 6 months long procedures endured is published online, there she talks about the pain suffered but concludes that she has no regrets. 

The record for the biggest breast implants goes to Lolo Ferrari (1968-2000).  Lolo was a French dancer and actress dubbed "the woman with the largest breasts in the world".  Encouraged by her manager husband, she had 22 breast augmentation procedures - a world record - to create a 180 centimetres (71 in) bust.

Lolo Ferrari appeared in the French Guinness Book of World Records in 1996 and again in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1999.  The Guinness Book of Records says each of her breasts weighed 2.8 kilograms (6.2 lb). 

The first American plastic surgeon was John Peter Mettauer who, in 1827, performed the first cleft palate operation with instruments that he designed himself.