Rule 1 of Cosmetic Work - A Deep Dive
If something bothers you every time you look in the mirror, it’s worth considering cosmetic work – SUBJECT TO THE OTHER FIVE RULES.
I don’t ascribe to the “I am as God intended” mindset. I don’t mind at all if you do, and I’m not here to persuade anyone.
But if you’ve never had cosmetic work and you spend time actively hating parts of your face or body, I’d urge you to consider the possibility. Think of everything else you could do with the energy you’re currently spending despairing at your reflection (or avoiding mirrors/having your photo taken entirely).
If you want a boob job or botox or to get a tail appended to your coccyx, but you’re not getting cosmetic work because you’re worried about what your parent/partner/friend/colleague/nemesis might think: it is none of their fucking business.
Having had cosmetic work doesn’t make you a bad person or affect your moral compass; it doesn’t make you a narcissist; it doesn’t make you frivolous or stupid. There are people with all of those qualities who have had work done, but they weren’t made that way because of the work they had done. They’re just shitty people who happen to have had work. Correlation is not causation, kids.
If you’re miserable about an aspect of your appearance and you’re not doing anything about it because you’re worried about being judged; be honest about whether you may have been triggered by or have judged other people who’ve had cosmetic work.
If you’ve projected your insecurities onto them and that’s caused you to be unkind, that’s ok: you’re human. But, once you’re aware of this, you can immediately be kinder in your thoughts about others and - ultimately - to yourself.
If you’ve thought about getting work, because you’re genuinely distressed by an aspect of your appearance, but dismissed it, because “you’re not that type of person”: think about how it would feel to be the type of person who doesn’t spend any part of their day hating the way that they look.
In my opinion, it’s worth a few hours of research on the internet and a couple of conversations with the relevant professionals to see if they can help.
Being a person who’s had cosmetic work doesn’t have to define you (and yes, I’m aware of the irony of my typing this), but it may enable you to stop defining yourself by how you feel about the way that you look.
If you have already had cosmetic work and you’re considering more, I SUPPORT YOU, but make sure you’re definitely coming to it from the right place.
If this is going to be your ninth procedure and you’ve been dissatisfied with the previous eight, the root of your self-loathing probably isn’t to be found in the mirror. Read Rule Two several times before contemplating any more procedures.
If you’ve had work and you’re delighted with the results, Congratulations! I’m thrilled for you. If you're tempted to have more, because you’re assuming that ‘More Always Means Better’, please disabuse yourself of that notion immediately.
You may have looked incredible with one syringe of Restylane in your face. It might have given you the effect you’d always wanted, but never dared to dream of. Your partner may have collapsed in awe at your radiance when you walked through the door1. Your friends may have fallen over themselves to tell you how well you’re looking.
All of this is fucking fantastic, but it does NOT mean that two syringes of Restylane will make you look twice as fabulous. Tread carefully.
MASSIVE SHOUTY CAVEAT:
Any cosmetic work undertaken should be in accordance with the other five rules. Here they are, in case you missed them the first time…
TBH, if they weren’t already doing this, you might want to have a word.