In our age of aspirations and changes, external attractiveness becomes not merely a surface, but a powerful message about who we are inside.

Modern Beauty: The Balance Between Natural Charm and Cosmetic Interven

In our age of aspirations and changes, external attractiveness becomes not merely a surface, but a powerful message about who we are inside. Reflecting chosen ideals, a woman's beauty imbues a deep meaning that combines not only physical features but also a richness of emotions, thoughts, and spiritual qualities. Modern culture dictates its own standards, and often the desire to conform to the images transmitted through the media and celebrities takes center stage.

On one hand, cosmetic procedures such as lifting, liposuction, or abdominoplasty can provide a brief burst of confidence by allowing visible flaws to be corrected. These interventions help one feel more attractive and cheerful, providing the impetus to move forward successfully. However, on the other hand, striving for an artificially idealized appearance can lead to the loss of true individuality. When the standard of beauty becomes so strict that naturalness loses its value, a person risks stepping beyond authenticity. An excessive tendency to correct can not only lead to aesthetic discrepancies but also adversely affect overall well-being, causing allergies and an internal rejection of one’s ever-changing appearance.

Thus, beauty in contemporary society is not just about physical appearance, but also about inner harmony, emotional warmth, and genuine charm. The optimal balance between caring for one’s exterior and preserving uniqueness is the key to harmonious self-perception. It is important to remember that true beauty is born in the heart, and any external procedures should serve as a complement rather than a substitute for the natural radiance of life.

How important is external attractiveness and which cosmetic procedures can affect self-perception in comparison with celebrity images?

In modern society, external attractiveness holds significant importance because it not only forms the first impression of a person but also often reflects widely accepted ideals and standards. One text notes that a woman's beauty is perceived not only as an ideal combination of physical features but also as an expression of inner spirituality, the richness of thoughts and emotions, and moral dignity:

"A woman's beauty is not generated by sexual instinct nor is it something inseparable from sexual needs. Write this down in your notebook and remember Belinsky’s words: 'Here is a beautiful young woman: you do not find any specific expression in her facial features – it is not the embodiment of feeling, soul, kindness, love, self-sacrifice, the loftiness of thoughts or aspirations... It is simply beautiful, charming, animated by life – and nothing more; you are not in love with this woman nor do you long to be loved by her; you calmly admire the grace of her movements, the elegance of her manners – and at the same time, in her presence your heart beats a bit more livelier, and a gentle harmony of happiness instantly spreads through your soul.'"
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At the same time, the drive to maintain or improve external attractiveness often leads to the use of various cosmetic procedures. These methods can have a dual influence on a person’s self-perception, especially when it comes to mimicking the images of celebrities—ideals which are frequently broadcast through screens. On one hand, operations and cosmetic interventions such as liposuction, abdominoplasty, lifting, or facelifts that temporarily “correct” visible flaws can boost self-confidence. On the other hand, an excessive fixation on these procedures may result in the loss of individuality and the creation of an artificially idealized image, ultimately affecting the perception of one's own identity.

As described in one source:

"The war for beauty is not limited to grueling diets, torture on exercise machines, aerobics, and makeup gimmicks; extremely risky surgical interventions are in high demand: liposuction (removal of fat deposits), abdominoplasty – 'correction' of the abdomen, and lifting or facelifts that supposedly remove, but in reality conceal, wrinkles. The mimetic musculature weakens with age anyway, and after several surgeries, some stars appear on screens with dead, motionless masks instead of faces. The terror of aging generates unimaginable profits for the cosmetic industry; the consumption of various emulsions, tonics, lotions, nourishing masks, and other skin care products increases exponentially."
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Another text addresses the negative outcomes of an excessive obsession with cosmetic procedures, where overcorrection leads to an unnatural, "starch-like" appearance that not only reduces aesthetic appeal but can also trigger allergic reactions and an inner disgust for one's dramatically altered look:

"Contemporary women get various chemical perms and their hair stands on end – all stiff with starch. And how they smell! Allergies just start. Seeing a worldly woman, adorned in a worldly manner and exuding a worldly scent, fills me with an inner repulsion. Once I was told that a certain lady went to Germany to study cosmetology. 'And what exactly is cosmetology?' I asked. 'Cosmetologists,' I was told, 'turn old women into young ones!' Then I remembered once seeing an elderly ‘young-looking’ woman with a horizontal scar on her forehead. 'What’s wrong with her, poor dear?' I later asked one of her acquaintances. 'Nothing terrible,' he replied, 'she had a plastic surgery procedure so that her facial skin would be pulled tight and her wrinkles would disappear.'"
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Thus, external attractiveness indeed plays an important role in shaping self-perception, influencing how one views oneself and is viewed by others. However, the drive toward an idealized image—often imposed by the images of celebrities—can compel a person to adopt radical cosmetic procedures, the consequences of which do not always meet expectations and may even lead to a decline in well-being and the loss of one’s individual look.

Supporting citation(s):
"A woman's beauty is not generated by sexual instinct nor is it something inseparable from sexual needs. Write this down in your notebook and remember Belinsky’s words: 'Here is a beautiful young woman: you do not find any specific expression in her facial features – it is not the embodiment of feeling, soul, kindness, love, self-sacrifice, the loftiness of thoughts or aspirations... It is simply beautiful, charming, animated by life – and nothing more; you are not in love with this woman nor do you long to be loved by her; you calmly admire the grace of her movements, the elegance of her manners – and at the same time, in her presence your heart beats a bit more livelier, and a gentle harmony of happiness instantly spreads through your soul.'" (source: link txt)

"The war for beauty is not limited to grueling diets, torture on exercise machines, aerobics, and makeup gimmicks; extremely risky surgical interventions are in high demand: liposuction (removal of fat deposits), abdominoplasty – 'correction' of the abdomen, and lifting or facelifts that supposedly remove, but in reality conceal, wrinkles. The mimetic musculature weakens with age anyway, and after several surgeries, some stars appear on screens with dead, motionless masks instead of faces. The terror of aging generates unimaginable profits for the cosmetic industry; the consumption of various emulsions, tonics, lotions, nourishing masks, and other skin care products increases exponentially." (source: link txt)

"Contemporary women get various chemical perms and their hair stands on end – all stiff with starch. And how they smell! Allergies just start. Seeing a worldly woman, adorned in a worldly manner and exuding a worldly scent, fills me with an inner repulsion. Once I was told that a certain lady went to Germany to study cosmetology. 'And what exactly is cosmetology?' I asked. 'Cosmetologists,' I was told, 'turn old women into young ones!' Then I remembered once seeing an elderly ‘young-looking’ woman with a horizontal scar on her forehead. 'What’s wrong with her, poor dear?' I later asked one of her acquaintances. 'Nothing terrible,' he replied, 'she had a plastic surgery procedure so that her facial skin would be pulled tight and her wrinkles would disappear.'" (source: 516_2575. txt)