Has cosmetic surgery become as common as a blow-dry?

"Plastic surgery; its principles and practice" (1919) Credit: Internet Archive Book Images

The cosmetic surgery industry is popular, but is it safe?

Beauty standards these days can be pressurising. And social media hasn’t helped. Seeing others with ‘perfect’ features can sometimes make us want to change, and that’s when cosmetic surgery comes in.

52% of young women and 39% of young men aged 18-34 consider undergoing a cosmetic surgical procedure, according to Mintel’s latest beauty report.

Getting a cosmetic procedure done has become as common as getting your nails done, or getting a blow-dry.

The problem is that many people are getting procedures done without researching the places first, and potentially getting them performed by those unqualified.

83% of non-surgical cosmetic procedures are administrated by non-medics. That means you or someone you know can be potentially putting yourself at a huge risk.

In a recent survey, a huge 94% were unaware of this, causing it to become unsurprising how the number of treatments had gone wrong rose from 378 in 2016 to 931 in 12 months; the more popular they get, the more people who are not fit to do so are administrating them.

If you’re going to go ahead with a procedure, then it can be very important to research the place first.

For instance, if Botox goes wrong, you can be left with infections, sagging facial features, and even impaired vision or breathing difficulties, and the Botox can last up to three months inside of you.

Speaking to Gina Hutchings, founder of The Treatment Tester, a blog that reviews cosmetic procedures and practices, says: “Remember that those with little or no experience will not be equipped with the skills to fix things when they go wrong. Do you really want to be the first person they test their skills on?”

You can read more about the cosmetic industry's practices in the March issue of UNHEARD Magazine.