Heidi Montag Before and After – Plastic Surgery: Get It or Forget It?
This is going to be a harder than usual post for me to write, just because it really tends to hit close to home. That being said, I wanted to throw my two cents into the pot (a little late, I know) about the whole Heidi Montag scenario.
Let me preface my post with this: I am not a doctor, nor will I ever be. And I can’t give you any advice on whether or not you should be getting plastic surgery, despite what the title says. My advice starts and ends with this: you need to do what is right for you, but if you’re considering surgery, I’d highly, HIGHLY recommend talking to both a surgeon and a therapist. Both are an important part of any life-changing decision. But that’s just my opinion.
Everyone has had their say about Heidi Montag’s new surgery decision, and I’ve been pretty quiet on the subject because… well, each person has to make these decisions for themselves; nobody can make them for you. But, after seeing the picture:
I was… saddened. But part of me understood. I’ve had jaw surgery – it wasn’t elective or cosmetic – but I could kind of see how it could get addicting. Sure, healing sucked (my jaw was WIRED shut for six weeks, guys. SIX WEEKS.) but there was such a change. You could see it, and it was faster and easier (well, if you think having your jaw wired shut is easy…) than really doing work. It happened so fast.
But, I’m kind of baffled. The other part of me is just so sad. I feel terrible for this girl (because really, that’s what she is) who has had what her doctor considers THIRTY procedures in one day. Who has made her feel so terrible for that to happen.
So, I thought I’d open it up to you. Have you had surgery or do you want it? Are you morally opposed to it? What do you think about what Heidi has done to herself? You can leave anonymous comments if you’d like, but I’d love to get some “real” opinions on the topic. And, if you’re uncomfortable with sharing on here, feel free to email me at jaime@thefashionablehousewife.com.
To see more of Jaime’s work, check out DenimDebutante.com.
I was pretty shocked to hear that such a young and naturally beautiful person was having so many “procedures” done. I can understand wanting to improve your looks for a boost of confidence, I think there is some truth behind the idea of “looking better to feeling better”. Many people take those steps daily in an attempt of higher self confidence, whether it is working out, eating better, getting a facial, seeing a dermatologist, using cosmetics, lotions and potions, etc.
I can understand the older crowd wanting to look young again. There are many reasons why a person would take more drastic measures in an attempt to look beautiful and/or feel better about themselves.
I can understand someone who has a “flaw” that has plagued their thoughts their whole life. If given the opportunity to “fix” it, why wouldn’t they? Ashlee Simpson post nose job is a perfect example.
What I simply cannot wrap my brain around is why someone SO young and beautiful felt the need to have SO many procedures done. The “pressures of the industry in Hollywood” excuse only goes so far. I fear that if she doesn’t find that “perfection” she was looking for, she’ll end up like the other surgery and procedure obsessed freaks out there. *cringe*
I, for one, am definitely not against plastic surgery. I am 30, have three kids and I work hard at taking care of myself to preserve what I have for as long as possible. However I often say that once I am 150% sure that I am finished having kids I would like to get my breasts enhanced. This will not happen though until I am positive there will be no more pregnancies though.
In the case of Heidi Montag – I feel she is so young and way too influenced by not only Hollywood but by her husband Spencer. Her need for plastic surgery has turned addictive just so she is accepted. I actually think her “before” picture is better looking.
Jaime,
Thank you SO MUCH for covering the Heidi Montag story and opening it up for further comments. I was hoping someone would approach this topic and I was too cowardly to do it myself. Thank you for approaching it in a meaningful and real way and also mentioning your own experience.
I did want to leave a comment about my own experience. When I was in college I was completely against plastic surgery for the sake of fixing things that were already normal to the on-looker. But, I was always FOR reconstructive surgery for breasts, jaws, cleft palletes or other things of that nature. I was always for ‘putting things back the way they should be’ and was glad skilled physicians were available to do so. I had two different friends who had jaw surgery and I was 100% for it. It made such a difference in these women’s lives. I also had friends who unfortunately had to have masectomies, and I was 100% for their reconstructive surgeries.
But, to look at Heidi, I become sad. She was a beautiful girl prior to her transformation. I read the whole article in People magazine and she kept bringing out that she wanted to be the best she could be. I got the impression she felt she could only be her best self by looking a certain way, rather than realizing being her best self came from the person she was on the inside. And that really made me sad. To me, Heidi was a beautiful girl before and couldn’t have been improved upon. After her surgery she just looks different. She is equally pretty as she was before– but it’s justa different look for her. She looks great both ways and it pains me to think that she has to go to extremes because of what I think is insecurity on her part and also stress and pressure to live up to industry standards.
It’s certainly a woman’s choice and I support them– but does it really have to come to this? How much ‘Beauty’ is enough?
Blessings,
Sarah
The Heidi story is a sad one. It appears as if she doesn’t feel good on the inside and is unfortunately, looking to fix it from the outside. Sadly, we all disagree with her decision because we already believe her to be beautiful. How many women out there are sad on the inside and the majority of society agrees with her surgery because they also don’t think the woman fits the bill. It’s a shame.
That being said, I was beautiful once. Two beautiful children have left me with a mama’s body that my husband isn’t quite so thrilled with as he once was (though he’d never say anything negative) and no amount of proper diet and fitness will fix it. Post pregnancy, I have been left with something that I’m no longer happy with. My self esteem has been dented by my body’s rebellion against nature’s reproductive efforts. And for a along time, I let that be the case. I’ve come to realize rather recently that I was too vain to begin with. I was hot and I knew it. Now, without it, I have to rely on something a little more substantial, and frankly, it’s not as easy. For a while I was considering getting surgery. A breast lift, tummy tuck, and some kind of anything to get rid of the stretch marks that are everywhere. But then I realized, I might feel better about myself, but it would make me lazy. Instead of needing to be nice to people, I would once again be focusing on my looks and making sure everyone else did too.
I don’t think I’m the only one who tends to be lazy here. In the end, I am who I am, and I need to get over if someone doesn’t like me, or be nice, so they do.
I completely agree with Christine! After nursing 3 babies for 12 months each – I will definitely be getting breast enhancements. If they can some what put my body back to normal there I am so for it. It is so depressing to look and see what I have. Even with my padded push up bras – when they come off I am completely sad again.
I think Heidi went too far and I think she was influenced and did it for the wrong reasons, but again – it is her choice and she is the one that has to live with it.
.-= Andrea´s last blog ..Late Halloween! =-.
I too was really saddened by this girl’s decisions. I am all for cosmetic surgery, but I do think there is a limit. (Michael Jackson, The Wildenstein Cat Lady), Heidi is verging on that limit, and at such a young age. I am sure living in LA can make anyone insecure, but in my opinion, she needs to build up her esteem internally. If the surgeries can help her in that journey, great. But if this is the start of an addiction, not so great. Either way, she could probably benefit from a terrific therapist. Great post btw.
.-= The Zhush´s last blog ..Random Chanel Item =-.
I think she was so much prettier before all that surgery. I also feel that her doctor had an ethical obligation to either request a psych work up or something like that before he did so many procedures on her. Plus, where was Spencer in all of this?? What sort of man would want his wife to do all this work when there was nothing wrong to begin with? I am an A cup and have always wished I had the funds to become a full B, and my husband has major opinions about that. He is against it. This would be my one and only plastic surgery. Now compare that to how many she has had plus her young age. I’d say there is something wrong with that girl!!
I think plastic surgery really depends on the person and the reason. I agree that a therapist should be seen, to make sure it’s not being used as a ‘cure-all’ or the surgery could easily lead to an addiction, much like bulimia or anorexia- “well, this looks good, but it could look better” or “now that’s fixed, but, oh, wait, look at THAT! that needs fixing too” Personally, I would kill to have a body like Heidi did before she changed it. I think her enhanced boobs look ridiculous.
That being said, I have very low self esteem, and always have. It’s worse now, after having 4 kids in 6 years, my body is very different from what it used to be. (Didn’t like it then, but, oh, what I wouldn’t give to have it back!) My already small (but shapely and perky) breasts are now practically non-existent and droopy. My once flat stomach is mushy and wrinkled from extra skin. My husband says my body is fine and I need to quit complaining, but it’s incredibly hard to do when I see beautiful “perfect” women every day, on just about every show or commercial on tv, or even around town. Really hard not to compare, or to look at them and think how much more my husband would love me if I looked like that. To think that I’m nowhere near good enough as I am. Which I know is stupid, but knowing and feeling are two very different things. He has also said that if I hate my breasts that much I should have surgery. The thing is, I don’t WANT fake breasts! I think most of them are too obvious and just look weird. I would consider a tummy tuck, if money wasn’t an issue. Now…if they could only suck the fat out of my stomach and insert it in my boobs…that, I would go for.
I understand having plastic surgery to correct significant flaws that are extremely noticeable, such as a hooked nose, one breast larger than the other, etc. but I cannot understand young women who really have no flaws, just wanting bigger, better everything. I, for one, always had large lips. As I have aged, they have shrunk, causing lip lines. Juvaderm has become a fabulous remedy to just restoring what was once normal. Not more, just restored. The same should be said for breast enhancements. Not more, just restored. Everyone can tell ‘fake’, then what’s the point?
Men’re not only vain even as are. They just aren’t. I’m sure a female and that i can tell this without reservation. Men don’t agonize over purchasing a swimsuit, parading around naked that the gym has when in front of everyone, and also have seldom, when,have been heard to ask,”Do I look fat in this particular?” No, men are not vain. They proudly wear their size 32 pants under their size 42 bellies with abandon, so why on earth would a person look at a nose job? Male rhinoplasty does exist and doctors say they are seeing a small increase in male patients