• Jo Miran@lemmy.ml
    1181·
    4 days ago

    I’m going to play a little devil’s advocate, not about the “if they should” but more about how they end up looking unrecognizable.

    I used to be very athletic. Then I got very heavy. Then I went back to athletic, but when I did so I ended up with the Mitch McConnell turkey neck. It was fugly, I’m not going to lie, and it bothered me. I’m also opposed to plastic surgery so I figured that’s the way it was going to be. Then I got cancer in my neck. After they cut out the tumor and all other affected tissue, they had to do a bit of reconstruction. Out went the cancer along with the turkey neck and my jaw line is looking like a million bucks. I’m hot again baby!

    And that’s the problem. I can see somebody having a positive first experience with reconstructive surgery and assuming that more of it will make it more better. You feel better about yourself and suddenly believe that you can feel better still. You’d be wrong, but I get why you would think that.

    • Brave Little Hitachi Wand@feddit.ukEnglish
      38·
      4 days ago

      Thanks for the nuanced perspective. What a journey though, you don’t often hear about the silver linings of cancer treatment.

      It is such a trap though, crazy to imagine not seeing it.

      • captainlezbian@lemmy.world
        14·
        4 days ago

        It’s a trap in the same way drugs can be. When a lot of your friends have had a bit of work done here and there and it looks great on them so you try, and the first few bits look good. But from there it’s really easy to go right off the deep end if you’re the wrong type of unwell. Just like how in a friend group where everyone smokes a bit of pot from time to time and some people enjoy a line or two at a party, one person who joins the group may find themselves absolutely hooked.

        Actors and media personalities are at high risk for body image issues, and cosmetic surgery is a really dangerous thing for people with such issues. I’ve known people who got a few cosmetic surgeries and were happy, some are much safer than others for it, but it’s so easy for some people to fall into the trap of thinking that every perceived flaw should and can be fixed. Once you’re there it’s just body dysmorphia, no different from a stereotypical anorexic person, including inability to have a realistic view of one’s body.