The Dark Side of Plastic Surgery: A Perspective on Beauty

Aging is defined by the passage of time. The way our bodies respond to time is an inevitable side effect of our journey on Earth. Our environment and genetic expression come into play. Some aspects can be improved through diet, exercise, and nurturing our hearts and minds. Yet the truth remains: we all age, and our bodies eventually will tell the story.

When I think about aging, I see a grandmother’s beautiful hands. They tell the story of years gardening in the sunshine, coaxing life from the soil, and providing sustenance for her family. Her hands are strong from protecting children and guiding them on their way. Veins stand out clearly, like a living map, leading straight to a heart that has known sorrow and love through the years. She is delicate yet fierce. She is wisdom embodied in an earthen vessel.

For some women, the concept of aging comes loaded with fear and apprehension. We fear aches and pains. We fear the loss of beauty as our faces become wrinkled and our bodies grow softer. Many choose to invest in procedures to combat the aging process. However, a desire to fight change often goes much further than skin deep, and emotional distress and imbalances often fuel that desire.

As a Quantum Medicine Practitioner and mother of four kids, I’m writing this post to share the reasons why learning to embrace your natural beauty throughout the years is so important to body/mind/soul balance. First, we’ll discuss the dangers of plastic surgery, then we’ll dive into the true meaning of attractiveness, and finally we’ll cover a natural beauty routine that will help you age gracefully.

The Dark Side of Plastic Surgery

As women, our bodies are equipped with the amazing capacity to have children. Our bodies go through tremendous changes as they grow with our babies, birth them into our world and nourish their little bodies. Insecurities about loose skin, stretch marks, and not as perky breasts are reasons many women look to surgery.

Other natural changes come with time: fine lines and wrinkles, age spots, and thinning lips. Many women decide to pursue plastic surgery in response to these aging and body changes. In fact, in 2017, 17.5 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures were performed in the United States alone. This number is a 200% increase from the year 2000. (1)

On one hand, it is amazing to see the body transformations that are possible with modern day surgical techniques. Skin removal and lift procedures allow people who have achieved tremendous weight loss to live more comfortably. Mothers are able to regain confidence post-partum with tummy tucks and breast implants. Aging faces become plump and firm again via cosmetic procedures like Botox. It can seem too good to be true.

As with any surgery, there are risks associated with these popular procedures. Issues to consider include: complications with anesthesia, infection, and scarring. Breast implant illness is being studied as more women are coming forward with symptoms such as autoimmune diseases and toxicity. (2) Breast implant risks include: rupture, changes in sensation, risk of Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (a type of cancer of the immune system), allergic reactions, and complications breastfeeding. (3) Many are choosing to have their implants removed in an attempt to reclaim their health.

These “surface level” surgeries can come with lifelong side effects. Are these risks worth the reward? Do we really want to become a clone of society’s current beauty standard? Or is it possible to celebrate our own unique natural aging process?

The True Meaning of Attractiveness

Have you ever met anyone with a magnetic personality? This person could hold the attention of a whole room simply with their energy and body language. When engaged in conversation with this person, you lose track of time completely.

You might find that their heart aligns with your own. Or, you might find that they see the world in an entirely different light, and it opens new exciting possibilities. Suddenly, this person who was only another face in the crowd becomes important to you. True meaningful attraction begins in much the same way.

If you have ever fallen in love with someone, you know that attraction goes far beyond appearance alone. Audrey Hepburn once said, “True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It’s the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows, and the beauty of a woman only grows with passing years.”

Your energy, confidence, and passion for life are what will draw people to you. The fire behind your eyes, a glimpse of what is in the heart, kindles connection. It is not the size of the dress that you fit into, but the way that your heart fits with another that makes a good match.

Lasting attractiveness comes from roots watered deep in a firm foundation of unconditional self-love. That oasis of love overflows and draws others to us.

Natural Beauty Routine

A massive step in embracing our age comes by practicing self-love. We do this, not only by the words we speak to ourselves but how we care for our bodies.

Here are four easy ways to look and feel beautiful from the inside out:

1. Eat a balanced healthy diet. What we put into our bodies reflects on the outside. There are a few simple things we can do each day to glow from the inside out:

• Make a rainbow of vegetables the star of your day to get a variety of nutrients.
• Eat healthy fats like nuts, avocado, wild caught fish, and eggs to nourish your hair, skin, and nails with essential fatty acids.
• Eliminate processed sugars, caffeine, alcohol and anything you have a sensitivity or intolerance to. Reducing inflammation in the body is a foolproof beauty hack.

2. Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water to flush out impurities, improve skin complexion, maintain optimal organ function, and transport nutrients to your cells. Try adding cucumbers, lemon, or berries to your water bottle for simple infused flavors. Dehydration can cause headaches, muscle cramps, and fatigue. Aim for at least 2 liters of fresh clean water daily for optimal mood and wellness.

3. Choose natural skincare and makeup. Most skincare and makeup products are full of chemicals that will deliver toxins into your bloodstream through the skin (your largest organ!). So read the labels before you buy, avoid synthetic ingredients, and look for natural fragrance. Indulge your senses in my all natural Chocolate Body Elixir - a decadent experience of self-care.

4. Move in ways that bring joy. Walk in nature, soaking up sunshine and breathing the fresh air. Stretch your tired muscles with gratitude. Embrace movement as a way to thank your body for carrying you and supporting you in your daily activities.

Embracing the Process

You are a magnificent being, here in this space for such a brief moment in time. Change can be difficult, especially when it involves changes to the only body we have known. Insecurities will try to creep up from time to time, but don’t let fear consume you. Choose love. Love yourself and trust others to love you as you are.

Your beauty is eternal, even when your body begins to look different. Know and embrace that the imprint your spirit leaves on those you love is everlasting. Smile with your fiery eyes, touch with those healing hands, speak bravely as only you can. And remember the tried and true saying: you only get better with age!

To show your body some appreciation and love with a decadent all-natural perfume, be sure to stock up on Orali Chocolate Perfume! This divine perfume holds a hint of the erotic. With ancient aphrodisiac qualities, you will be whisked away to a land of sultry perfumes of heady blossoms. Let the deep undertones of chocolate work its magic.

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