More than in the eye of the beholder

BEAUTY may be in the eye of the beholder, but looking good is something everyone desires.

For those who went through aesthetic procedures to achieve this, it’s worth all the effort and money -–as long as it is safe.

There are no regrets for Elsie Wong, 31, who spent a total of RM80,000 for several surgeries to achieve the results she wanted.

“People have complimented me that I look better than before. At least they said I don’t look fake, ” she says candidly.

Having work done on her eyelids, nose and chin, Wong decided to go for such plastic surgeries as she was not satisfied with her features before this.

“I was born with single eyelids and my eyes were small. My nose was flat too.

“I used to date a Korean guy and went for my first aesthetic procedure for my eyes and nose in Korea, ” she says.

To maintain her looks, Wong also went for subsequent procedures in Thailand and Malaysia.

“It is tough to maintain the work on double eyelids and nose as they will look different over the years. For example, double eyelids can get thinner and become less obvious. As such, I had to go for another round, ” she says.

While she agrees such treatments can be addictive, Wong says she draws the line as the price tag for them is high.

She also made it a point to go to proper and qualified hospitals and clinics to ensure the procedures will be done safely.

“I’d advise others considering such treatments to do the same. Please make sure you go to a registered practitioner or surgeon with good experience, ” she urges.

Wong also suggests that it is best if the plastic surgery is simple and easy to do.

“Such procedures are meant to enhance our own individual beauty, not to drastically change our entire appearance, ” she says.

A financial controller who wishes to be known only as Jeffrey, 32, says he has done Botox and facial laser procedures to treat his acne scars.

“I’ve only done Botox twice. Then, I stopped because it’s quite a waste of money for something that lasts for a few months, ” he says.

It cost him about RM600 to work on one area for his Botox treatments.

“I chose to treat my forehead, crow’s feet near my eyes and the area in between my eyebrows. So one round of Botox would set me back RM1,800, ” Jeffrey says.

But he still goes for fractional carbon dioxide laser treatments monthly to fix the acne scars on his face.

For Jeffrey, the idea of looking good and being more self-confident led him to try such treatments.

But it isn’t always about vanity, as Jeffrey says some go for such treatments to rectify features that draw unwanted attention.

“Some might have been made fun of by insensitive people because of features like huge facial moles or a witch’s nose.

“So by making adjustments, perhaps they can overcome this, ” he says.

Jeffrey shares that his first treatment was to fix a condition called hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating.

“My palms would sweat a lot and this affected my confidence. When I shook people’s hands, they would have a disgusted look on their faces, ” he says, adding that he was 12 when he went for the treatment.

After that, he felt more confident meeting people.

Naturally, Jeffrey says it’s normal to be nervous and worry about side effects from such procedures.

“My advice to others would be to really do your research and think it through before deciding to do any of these treatments. Choose a reputable clinic and opt for one that has good reviews and reputable doctors, ” he says.

Describing the recent death of Coco Siew, who died from a botched liposuction, as unfortunate, Jeffrey says such cases can be avoided.

“If done right, it can enhance one’s well-being, ” he says.

He believes more men are starting to pay more attention to looking good but it isn’t as common yet for them to go for aesthetic procedures.

“I believe they are starting to look at treatments for hair loss and skin problems. More are using skincare products too.

“So it might be just a matter of time before they jump on the bandwagon, ” Jeffrey opines.

However, there are some who believe that it is better to skip aesthetic procedures and just embrace healthy aging.

A company executive who wishes to be known only as Amy, 36, says there is growing pressure to stay youthful with many flaunting their looks on social media.

“There’s nothing wrong in wanting to look good. However, personally for me, I wouldn’t go to the extent of doing anything invasive or injecting foreign substances into my body.

“Growing older is just part of life, ” she says, adding that she prefers conventional beauty regimes like getting enough sleep and applying skincare products.

Amy however says cosmetic surgery could benefit those with deformities such as cleft lips or burn marks.

“I just hope that those who want to go for aesthetic procedures will go to qualified professionals and not skimp on costs with dubious centres, ” she says.