Look Good, Feel Better
End the stigma around plastic surgery.
by JENNA LEWIS ★ FEBRUARY 26, 2023
Plastic surgery is typically something we associate with appearances, not with being a medical necessity. It even seems to be socially unacceptable, especially at the age of 18 or 19. When we hear stories of people getting breast implants or nose jobs or facelifts, we tend to automatically think, “What the fuck are you doing to yourself?” And this is a stigma that seriously needs to end.
Throughout all four years of high school, I was so self-conscious about my boobs. I would literally cry every time I had to leave my house in the summer. I absolutely hated shopping because that meant trying things on, and nothing would ever fit the way it was supposed to. When I would go out in tight tops or low-cut shirts, people would always quickly say, “Oh my gosh, your boobs are huge. I’m so jealous!” But they don’t know half of it.
Hating the way you look in your own body is so discomforting, and honestly, no one should have to deal with it. I know how much it sucks to look in the mirror and only see your insecurity. To look at pictures of yourself and your eyes constantly become drawn to that part of your body. You take pictures as far away as possible so no one could tell the size of your boobs or nose or whatever else you’re insecure about. You try everything you can to conceal your feelings until you are finally able to accept the fact that surgery could be your best option. But even then, you think it’s stupid; you think, “I’m too young,” or, “It’s not worth it.”
When I would admit how much my boobs bothered me, my friends would tell me I was crazy. I mean, I was only a DD, so to others, my boobs were the dream. But that's the whole point: it isn’t about other people—it's about feeling comfortable in your own body. So what if your boobs don’t hurt when you run? So what if they don’t give you back pain? People perceive surgeries as only a necessity if you are physically injured or in pain, but what about the diminishing self-confidence that comes along with insecurities like this?
Up until the surgery, I could not look at myself in the mirror. I have a pool in my backyard, and yet I would only use it when no one was home. Every single shirt I’d worn out in college had been high-neck. I got my sweatshirts and T-shirts in an XXL because I simply could not deal with even looking slightly like I had big boobs.
When I had my first consultation with my surgeon, he never once asked why I was doing it. At one point, I just started hysterically crying to him, explaining how I was so unhappy in my own body—and honestly, that was my deciding factor in wanting to go through with it. You shouldn’t have to have a “real” reason for doing something that will make you feel better. Your well-being is a real reason enough.
The second I got out of my surgery, I couldn’t help but cry. For one whole week post-op, I sobbed every day because I was so happy with my decision. I finally felt excited to look in the mirror. Something that had been the cause of my tears and self-depreciation for so many years had just been fixed.
No one should have to go through feeling like they aren’t able to look at themselves in their own skin. So if you are insecure and unhappy with literally anything, but feel like your feelings may not be valid, just know that nothing is “too far” or “too crazy.” Only you know what it will take for you to feel confident and happy in your own skin.