Plastic Surgery Isn't Uncanny. Lying About It Is.

Design by Sabeen Shariff

While there's been an apparent rise in plastic surgery, the ambivalence to discuss procedures remains the same.

Discussions about plastic surgery have moved beyond its implications for feminism and onto whether the one going under the needle confesses to doing such. A lack of transparency by public figures in cosmetic procedures may create a dangerous expectation of what it looks like to be “natural.”

Content like Vogue’s Beauty Secrets or celebrities sharing their favorite products on social media make a certain look seem more attainable than it really is — that looking like your favorite celebrity can be achieved simply from using a certain item and not getting a procedure.

Some celebrities like Ariana Grande and Kourtney Kardashian have been transparent about their cosmetic work.

Grande, in a Vanity Fair Lie Detector Test, admitted to having gotten filler and Botox, but states she has not gotten any since 2018. Grande said she was “hiding” behind these cosmetic enhancements and preferred being able to see her true self.

Kourtney and Kim Kardashian have spearheaded one of the latest beauty trends, the “Vampire Facial.” This popular procedure’s official name is Platelet-rich Plasma Therapy.The “facial” includes taking the patient’s blood and spinning it at high speeds to separate platelets from the erythrocytes. Once doctors have the new sample, they inject it back into the skin to minimize fine lines or wrinkles.

Kourtney posted a photo of her getting the “Vampire Facial” on her Instagram story saying, “blood facial, no numbing.”According to E News, her sister, Kim, had undergone the procedure on a 2013 episode of “Kourtney and Kim Take Miami.” 

"I love trying anything that makes you look and feel youthful," Kim said.

Influencer Brooke Schofield, previous host of the “Cancelled” podcast with Tana Mongeau has ushered in open discussion about her own procedures. However Schofield faced backlash for augmenting her appearance.

Schofield planned an upper eyelid blepharoplasty, which removes excess skin from the eyelids for a more lifted appearance. 

Addressing her planned upper eyelid blepharoplasty in a TikTok video, Schofield said “I’ve always had hooded eyes. It’s never affected my vision (but it) recently started to bother me when I realized I couldn’t do my makeup the same.”

The TikTok’s comments were filled with mixed reactions, some praising her transparency while others criticized her wanting the surgery. She responded to the comments asking if the audience really wanted honesty from her or not.

“Honestly, I regret not lying sometimes. People are so rude, regardless,” Schofield said. 

She has also chosen to share her previous enhancements including Botox, filler and a breast augmentation with her followers.

“The purpose of being transparent is so that people don’t think it’s attainable naturally,” Schofield said. “My eyelids don’t naturally look like this, my boobs don’t naturally look like this. That’s being a good influence.”

Compared to other public figures, Schofield was blunt and honest with her fanbase. Though some of her followers took issue with the surgeries in general. It seems people are still ambivalent about having an open conversation about plastic surgery.

The true uncanniness lies in the celebrities who emerge with drastically different looks seemingly overnight. The most recent ones to catch media attention were Kris Jenner and Lindsay Lohan. 

Jenner responded to the surgery on “The Kardashians" recently, but in August she opened up to Vogue Arabia about her face lift. She had a face lift previously, “about 15 years ago,” but decided “it was time for a refresh.”

“I decided to do this facelift because I want to be the best version of myself, and that makes me happy,” Jenner said. “Just because you get older, it doesn’t mean you should give up on yourself.” 

Unlike Jenner, Lohan accredits the drastic change to a healthier diet and lifestyle.

Lohan’s publicist responded to the rumors, in a conversation with Elle, claiming that the rumors of a face lift are false and that the public is “so mean” for assuming she had work done. 

Instead, Lohan cites her new look as "carrot, ginger, lemon, olive oil, apple" juice every morning. While we are at no liberty to accuse her of having work done, if she in fact has and is not admitting to the work, therein lies the dangerous expectation of aging beauty.

When celebrities lie or deny plastic surgery, audiences may feel conditioned to recognize these altered appearances as not only beautiful, but expected of them.