How worthy is it to invest in a plastic surgery?

‘It is amazing how complete is the delusion that beauty is goodness,’ said Leo Tolstoy. It’s indeed true that beauty lies within the heart and the true measure of happiness lies in inner beauty. Some even argue that nature has made each one of us unique, and we must adorn our physical appearance with pride and confidence - something that is easier said than done when ones personal or professional life is hanging on the cliff on account of her/his external appearance and desperate measures are pursued to improve upon it. Ask the woman who lives in constant fear of her husband cheating on her, almost dangling on the edge of depression or a child born without an ear, not being able to wear earrings, spectacles or even sunglasses for that matter for the rest of her life, or perhaps the anxious parents of a 1-year old child who fear that their son will have a scar on his face all his life owing to a cut he wound up having.

In an age where the façade of pancake and designer labels overshadow the person underneath, Anjali Sen*, a 30-year old wife of an MNC executive could not dress according to the standards set by the society due to her overflowing flab and felt that she was always being sidelined at parties and other social events. This drove her so insecure that she felt her marriage would break if she didn’t seek help.

In a social setting like ours, one’s outer appearance tends to have a direct link with our behaviour and performance. Be it dealing with clients, running a successful business, being the head turner at parties or simply feeling buoyant and attractive. No amount of money can measure the significance of an individual’s conviction about her/his self- worth and desire to look and feel good.

But it is strange that while we don’t think twice about spending thousands of bucks on dinners in high-end restaurants or buying a designer ensemble for an occasion, which we might not even wear again, we feel that getting a cosmetic surgery costs an enormous sum of money, which is not justified. What we fail to realize is that while the luxury items we splurge on without batting an eyelid are transient and might give momentary happiness, an improved appearance lives with us forever. It’s a part of our body, which will not wash away with the next day’s bath or be thrown into some corner of the wardrobe to be forgotten about. Think of it this way; while Rolex watches start at around 3 lakhs apiece, a hair transplant surgery from a good and recognised surgeon may cost somewhere between 1-1.5 lakhs. Which would be a reasonable choice if faced with premature balding, a watch to flaunt till you get bored of it or a head full of hair for the rest of your life, taking years off your face and making you feel attractive again?

Plastic surgery removes imperfections and it can be life altering for those who feel that they need or deserve to look better and raises their dipping levels of confidence and self-esteem. And hence opting for cheaper alternatives would imply taking a huge risk with your body. Imagine waking up every morning and staring at the constant reminder of a failed surgery in the mirror, repenting a mistake that cannot be rectified easily, living with the consequences permanently visible on your face or body for the rest of your life.

So lets face it: It might cost a tad more than what you are willing to spend, but if given an option to have the right curves in the right places, or fuller lips and a perfect jawline to give you that radiant smile you always desired, or those envious sculpted features you admired on your favourite actor, would you rather trade them for a Cartier watch or a Birkin bag? 

Choose wisely; after all it’s your body and your decision. 

* Name changed to protect privacy 

Dr Rajat Gupta is a well-known plastic & cosmetic surgeon practicing in New Delhi. His in-depth knowledge and passion for cosmetic surgery sets him apart from others in this field. He is acknowledged by his colleagues, for his eye to detailed aesthetic evaluation of each body part. He is among the first few in India to start Endoscopic (Minimally invasive) Facelift Surgery.