I got an email this week from a friend, and he shall remain nameless. He told me that in January, he is going for a consulation for rhinoplasty. A nose job. WTF?
Before I could even reply, I had to go find some photos of him and ponder on his nose, because my immediate reaction was that his nose was just fine. So I looked at photos and decided, yep, his nose is good. He is a handsome man, teetering right on the edge of being ridiculously sexy until, of course, he opens his mouth and says something stupid. He’s not a person you would look at and say “oh, he’d be handsome if only he had a better nose.” It’s just a regular nose. A good nose on a good-looking guy.
My own nose used to be different. John loved me with such fervor that he thought it was important to hammer his fist down onto my sleeping face to show his passion. Once the swelling had subsided and the restraining order was in place, my nose was really really really really straight. The natural curve was gone. But I’ve never thought about plastic surgery for my nose or any other body part.
I’m not sure I like the idea of plastic surgery for anything other than reconstruction or medical issues. A friend’s sister was in a devastating car crash that essentially crushed half her face; I can completely understand her wanting to have reconstructive surgery. Or if something going on causes breathing problems, the medical issue there is a valid reason to have surgery.
It would seem to me that if my friend “fixes” his nose that suddenly the rest of his face won’t match the new nose. He’ll look in the mirror all pleased with the new nose, only to find what else is “wrong.” He’ll need an eye lift, some Botox. Dermabrasion. Maybe a chin implant.
To order body parts off a menu at the plastic surgeon’s office seems wrong. “I’d like the J Lo booty, Angelina Jolie’s upper arms, but hold the Lisa Rinna lips.” I like people to look natural, with their scars and body shapes that reflect lives well-lived and their heritage.
To my faraway friend, I really wish you wouldn’t do this. If you must, please go see a therapist first and make sure that your nose really is what needs to be fixed, and not something else. I think you’re a gorgeous creature. In the words of INXS, “don’t change for you; don’t change a thing for me.”
And to everyone else, yes, the wisdom is the same…”don’t change for you; don’t change a thing for me.”