Ageing American film stars started the cosmetic surgery craze for eradicating the signs of ageing back in the 1950’s, now its commonplace. British women held back, the biggest deterrent was public opinion which considered signs of ageing should be stoically accepted, vanity discouraged, looks unimportant and even correcting birthmarks or defects as “meddling with nature”. What really mattered was “inner beauty”.
British attitudes have changed, and the demand for facelifts, body sculpturing and other non-invasive procedures is on the increase. We’re led to believe that superficial beauty leads to happiness and success. The media puts excessive pressure on us to get work done, to re-capture youth and many ordinary women feel they must have surgery to compete in the workplace and socially. We are saturated with gory details of personalities who insist cosmetic surgery has perfected their lives, and women convinced strive to fund expensive surgery, wishing to follow their example, Expectations are high; they seek an improvement in looks and life, particularly love life. Maybe feelings of inadequacy do disappear along with wrinkles, and women no longer cringe from intimacy, but in their moment of abandonment they should remember faces and hands don’t necessarily match!
I feel we need to fight back, many women who refuse or can’t afford cosmetic surgery feel condemned losers. Expense aside I’m opting out because I’ve had enough necessary surgery for health reasons in the past and I know it’s possible to age brilliantly using our own resources. Of course I see familiar signs of ageing, things gradually slipping downwards, due to gravity, but I don’t want to look 21 again nor do I want a blank and expressionless face. I’m proud of my laughter lines; they show my character and sense of humour.
Maybe I’m just a coward, but I’m content to observe others putting themselves through the ordeal to correct abnormalities or hold back time, most of who do appear both physically and psychologically lifted.
But I have chosen the natural route preferring to age gracefully. Throughout the years have kept myself in shape with regular, moderate exercise, and a varied nutritious diet. Yes, there is loss of muscle tone, and I do observe things “dropping” helped on by the forces of gravity.
I’ve religiously looked after my dry, sensitive skin (moisturising is a must) and off course skin eventually ages, looses plumpness, becomes thinner and dryer. But skin also reflects lifestyle and inactivity, poor diet, smoking, drinking, sunbathing, stress, lack of fresh air make things worse. Some bad habits can be avoided, like facial expressions which habitually performed over time give us individual looks. A positive smile uses 7 muscles whilst a negative frown uses 32. So be happy – less wrinkles!
We can’t turn back the clock but small changes make a big difference, and wellness and happiness can help delay the ageing process. Make the most of what you’ve got, let your inner beauty shine through and you’ll keep looking younger naturally!