Oh, plastic surgery. Isn’t the world of beauty like the Wild West? There are the sheriffs, (the surgeons), outlaws (the critics), and all of us trying to find our place in this busy town. Let’s grab some coffee and talk about this controversial issue like old friends catching-up.

Let’s start by breaking it down. Plastic surgery is divided into two categories: fixing the broken and upgrading what you already have. Imagine bringing your vehicle to the shop either for a repair that is necessary or to pimp it just because you want to Seattle Facial.

When people choose to change their appearance, they have more choices than a restaurant menu. Nose job? Check. Bigger boobs? You betcha. You can. Absolutely. That’s only the tip of the iceberg. Real juicy stuff is found with the newest kids on the block. These procedures sound like something straight out of a science fiction novel.

Fat transfer is one example. You can play Tetris to move your body fat from one place to another. Botox, fillers and other non-surgical treatments can give you that “zhuzh”, without the downtime.

Why do people go under the needle or knife? Well, it’s complicated. Some people want to turn back the clock or fix something that bothers them when they look at themselves in the mirror. Others may be looking to heal after a life-changing event, such as an illness or accident.

Here’s where it gets sticky. Instagram scrolling can instantly make you feel like you need a makeover! It’s very easy to want to look just like your favorite Instagram influencer, rather than being the best version of you.

Plastic surgery is not a simple procedure. It’s like climbing a mountain, without knowing what the summit looks like. The technology of today is amazing – 3D images allow you to see your future self, and robots can achieve precision that humans could only dream about.

But, in the midst of all this tech talk, and promises of improved looks, there is an important question. Should we really?

My two cents is that it’s important to keep your expectations more realistic than reality television dramas and that perfection is as mythical a concept as unicorns in lipstick.

Let’s not forget access and fairness to this beauty bonanza. Not everyone has a gold ticket into this chocolate factory for cosmetic enhancements.

We have to ask ourselves, as we are on the verge of editing our genes with CRISPR (yes, it’s happening), how far we want to go down this rabbit hole.

You’ve now had a quick tour of plastic surgery. If you are considering plastic surgery or just curious to see what the hype is all about, you should know that being comfortable in your skin will always win out over any procedure. You are confident… and maybe you have a wicked sense of humor.