A few days ago I came across a snippet of a viral radio interview which featured a local beauty influencer as its guest. I found it to be both hilarious and a perfect example on how popular culture has normalised anxiousness over our bodies particularly after childbirth.
The guest threw out some hilarious comments when she was asked about children and pregnancy, including, “What is a gym?” and then going on to say there needs to be a Liposuction/ tummy tuck budget to ensure there is a seamless snapback post delivery.
Snapback is representative of the celebratory victory one manages when one is able to almost immediately reclaim one’s pre-baby body, and has been further popularised on Instagram.
While many of us may feel tempted to say not I or feel insincere about using alternative methods other than sport and diet to achieve bodies that we like, a huge market exists and it is not serving ghosts. A 2021 report on North America’s cosmetic surgery had forecasted that the annual growth trend was positioned at 6.34% between 2021 and 2028. In the USA alone, procedures rose by 54% in 2021. While it may have only been once accessible to celebrities in the past, even our hospitals are starting to boost capacity. The Chronicle reported last year in May that the Sheriff Group was looking to target the medical tourism industry by offering cosmetic surgery and procedures with a new state-of-the-art facility. Once a tight-lipped secret, many say its rise is also a result of the countless videos across social media documenting pre and post op views and for some it represents the ability to splurge, or makes a statement about the level of their disposable income. Whatever the reasons and motives behind the choice to have cosmetic procedures, they will ultimately not only alter our bodies but the ways in which we perceive beauty. That perception can also cause a rift between those who choose cosmetic surgery and those who don’t, often separating the two groups by throwing names like ‘the reals’ and ‘the fakes’ around. But if there is one thing I admire about those who express their desires and share their journeys is their certainty in what they believe is beautiful. And though there is permanence involved in cosmetic surgery, all of us engage in different methods of alteration, to achieve our idea of beauty, even those of us who avoid certain clothing styles and cuts. Perhaps the biggest takeaway from that interview was the guest’s ability to be frank about the things she wanted to change or to nip and tuck at. It was also a subtle reminder to be honest about the parts of us that we love in the sincerest ways possible.
