Page 82 - LionKing

The African healthcare has seen an uprise in its practices and segmenta- tions over the past 30 years. With per- sonnel in the industry training overseas and attempting to adopt new medical evolu- tionary procedures, it is no surprise, we are now the one-stop shop for procedures that require you to go ‘under the knife’. Some people say this is an easy way out others will argue that it’s make-up with real effect but either ways, Cosmetic/Plastic surgery
is the new-new for the bourgeoisie and fast-rising of our continent.
Driving down the lanes of Social media and the many sculpted appearances of what is hot or not, one cannot ignore the exaggerated hip lines, protruding derrieres and breast cups so perky you wonder if they are perfect melons attached to a body. The irony are the catch phrases
and captions beneath “Gym life, got me”, “Body by the Almighty”, “My work out finally paid off”, well honey, if your workout requires a full body augmentation and fat injection to realize those curves, my guess is, it really did work.
The big question is; Is plastic surgery truly a healthy alternative and can you fix the outside without an inside check?
Man’s insatiable desires are to blame for this need of perfection but the media has a serious role determining what is hot, sexy, fit or healthy. Many visual ads have for many years described the ideal woman to be long-legged, flawless skinned and carry a bottom and breasts that are robust and distinct. With time, people have ignored that various body shapes and types exist and even the influence of a strict diet and workout regime cannot alter your physique so drastically. So, what do they resort to: PLASTIC SURGERY.
Although in existence since the 1960’s in developed countries, it started to make waves in Africa in the late 80’s with coun- tries like Egypt seeing an uprise in chin reconstruction and rhinoplasty. The ideal Arab-Sahel woman would be of a rich
brown skin tone, almond shaped eyes and a perfectly defined nose. Those who felt out of place would find local doctors who would provide the ‘ideal face’ no matter the cost. The field of cosmetic surgery became an area of interest, those who dared to pick interest became the wealthy doctors as they drove around in luxury cars and had the opportunity to give medical assistance to the big wigs of society.
Sub-Saharan Africa like the rest of the world, soon picked interest. Today, medi- cal practitioners are cashing out and pro- viding services not for the elite but those who can afford the procedures.
In an interview, renowned cosmetic sur- geon, Dr. Granville stated that the media had succeeded in positioning cosmetic surgery in a negative light, citing that those with fire burns, accident victims as well as cancer survivors were the main patients who required a body haul and often times are not celebrated. “Plastic surgery is the aesthetic side of reconstructive surgery, and in over 15 years of practice I have helped different individuals including those who had suffered some physical anomaly.”
Can we then say plastic surgery deals with more of an internal psychoanalytical issue
than an outward look?
Dr. Grandville agrees that if you feel the need to look beautiful post-partum or perhaps even just because you feel dis- pleased with your body, society should not bring you down, “A lot of women want
to look nice and are worried about the competition or acceptance by younger more beautiful femmes, if plastic surgery is a route – I think they deserve it and should not be out down for wanting more.”
Although, there are side effects of plastic surgery as with any other form of surgery, the upsides and benefits are the mainstay. A rounder derriere, a flatter stomach, bigger cup sizes and even for men these days’ silicone implants for muscles are not just approval that they are beautiful, it is justification that medical science is break- ing barriers and creating other options for those who find a gym-physique to main- stream and rigorous.
Plastic might be ‘in’ today, though also seen by many to be a vice and definitely unnecessary, the truth is humans are natu- rally wired to be vain and this newfangled secret to winning over fans and accolades whilst ‘living your best life’ in your ‘dream body’ is gaining more popularity.
82 | The Lion King | April - June 2019
PLASTIC:
THE NEW
WAVE
By Zeina Otonjo
THE LAST WORD