Ashley Quick broke her nose twice as a child, making it wider and crooked than it could have been.
For years, Saskatoon’s sports nutritionist went back and forth between trying to adopt it and considering surgery to adjust it.
She finally decided to have a nose job about two years ago. Now she’s wondering why it took her so long.
“If I had known how this would affect my life now, I would have done it ten years ago,” she said.
For decades, much of the public conversation about cosmetic procedures like botox or dermal fillers has been dominated by pop culture. For example, characters on TV shows and movies would make fun of someone who couldn’t move their face after receiving botox.
Watch a clip from the film Just Join In (2011)where a character is taunted for undergoing a cosmetic treatment:
Now some of the shame associated with these practices may be dissipating, thanks to more people accessing them and a greater willingness to speak openly about them.
Holly Decker has become familiar with cosmetic procedures over the last few decades.
The professional makeup artist from Saskatoon has been in the business for around 20 years. During that time she has worked on countless faces. She said she’s seen an increase in cosmetic treatments, particularly botox and dermal fillers.
“I think more in the last 10 years and then a lot more – and I would say a lot more of it – in the last five.”
In the past, she said, people who got a treatment like Botox would pretend they weren’t.
“What I love now is that people are more open to talking about things that they do and sharing information,” she said. “I think educating about it is the most important component.”
While there is no current reliable Canadian data, there is evidence from the US about the new popularity of these treatments.
Data from a survey by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) sent to physicians with cosmetic practices in June 2022 tracked trends in the industry following the peak of the pandemic in the United States
The survey found that more than three-quarters of respondents reported increased demand for cosmetic procedures compared to pre-pandemic levels, with some practices reporting business had doubled.
The most commonly reported surgical procedure was liposuction, and the most common minimally invasive procedure was Botox, followed by soft tissue fillers.
Some of the reasons for the demand, according to the survey results, were patients traveling less during the pandemic and using travel budgets for procedures, people constantly zooming in on themselves, and a desire to feel good and more confident after the pandemic.
Societal pressure is still an issue
The reasons why so many people, especially women, seek cosmetic procedures remain relevant. Many point to ageism and pressures to appear youthful, as Madonna did after she was described as “unrecognizable” after a recent performance at the Grammys.
“I think the pressure on women for aging and the anti-aging market that’s out there is insane,” said Decker, the makeup artist.
“I think it can be a problem when people get to a point where they’re doing it for the wrong reasons, for other people and not for themselves.”
Social media could also play a role, according to a psychology professor at Dalhousie University who studies the effects of cosmetic procedures.
Simon Sherry said that we constantly compare ourselves to others. Sometimes we compare ourselves to people who are less fortunate, but often we look up to people who are better off.
On social media, people unrealistically compare themselves to younger people, to models, and to airbrushed or digitally edited images.
Sherry said there’s a reason we crave to be attractive.
“It might be uncomfortable, but you could argue that people form rankings based on certain traits, and one of those traits can be the degree to which you’re attractive,” he said.
Some people “drink” these ideals to a degree that becomes toxic, he said, while others are more critical and less likely to internalize them.
Sherry said that people who are perfectionists and narcissistic may not be good candidates for cosmetic procedures as they are often incredibly self-critical and can get out of control.
People with body dysmorphic disorder — an imagined or subjective feeling of ugliness — are also unlikely to benefit from procedures, according to Sherry.
Possible benefit of cosmetic procedures
While not everyone is a good candidate for cosmetic procedures, Sherry said his research showed there can be clear benefits.
People who undergo cosmetic surgery often have increased self-esteem, he said.
“In addition, and this is notable, other people often have a more positive attitude toward a person after cosmetic surgery.”
The more positive people perceive you, the more positive opportunities could open up for you, he said.
dr Donna Jubin considers these positive changes to be the most important thing about her job. She is the owner, founder and medical director of the Bella Sante Cosmetic and Laser Clinic in Saskatoon.
“Your face is something you wear every day. Everyone sees that,” Yubin said. “Feeling confident about your skin when you look in the mirror — whether it’s your face or your body — builds confidence.”
Jubin said the clinic will turn people away if they go too far, but at the same time she thinks it’s time to remove the shame sometimes associated with cosmetic procedures.
“I don’t think any of us should judge another person for what makes them insecure,” she said. “You never know where that person is from.”
Most people agree that you should do your homework before making any changes, big or small.
“Just make sure you’re making smart choices,” says sports nutritionist Ashley Quick.
“Ask the right questions and put yourself in the best hands.”
