The Role of Socioeconomic Disparity in Fueling the Rising Trend of Cosmetic Surgery
Increased Economic Inequality Fuels Global Increase in Cosmetic Procedures, Transforming Beauty Standards and Social Competition
As the New Year unfolds, many individuals might have already made-and-broken their resolutions. A recent study shows that just over half of people who pledge to abstain from alcohol for January succeed. For those eager to improve their appearances, a permanent solution may seem more achievable. Pursuing cosmetic procedures, such as lip enhancements or teeth whitening, could prove more attainable than dieting or regular exercise.
According to a report by The Economist, the number of global cosmetic procedures has risen by 40% in the past four years, with the number of procedures increasing from 25 million to 35 million. However, the figure is likely an underestimation, as it only includes surgeries performed by certified plastic surgeons and excludes those carried out in beauty salons or low-cost clinics overseas. By 2025, the U.S. and Canadian market for aesthetic injectables alone is predicted to surpass $5 billion.
Journalist Leora Tannenbaum has documented the lengths women take to remove perceived flaws from their faces and bodies to meet an idealized feminine standard. Yet, men are increasingly joining the trend, with procedures like chest liposuction, eyelid lifts, facelifts, and nose jobs becoming popular. Non-invasive treatments, such as fillers and microneedling, are also gaining traction among men. While women accounted for 86% of cosmetic procedures in 2023, compared to 14% for men, the gap is closing.
The spike in cosmetic procedures is attributed to several factors, according to The Economist. The increased time spent scrutinizing ourselves during virtual meetings, the convergence and escalation of beauty standards on social media, and the phenomenon of "pretty privilege," which links physical attractiveness to higher earnings, better job prospects, and other professional advantages, all contribute to the trend.
Economic disparity plays a crucial role in what has been termed the "Cosmetic Enhancement Cycle," a symbiotic relationship between wealth accumulation among the affluent and the plastic surgery industry. "Upkeep" or "tweakments," as cosmetic procedures are colloquially known, become part of a status-driven competition driven by inequality. In the U.S., those in the top five percent tend to spend more on cosmetic surgery, creating a ripple effect of emulation where openly discussing cosmetic surgery becomes a positive signal of social status. In Brazil, working-class individuals opt for inexpensive elective surgeries to conform to the aesthetic preferences of the white, upper-middle class. In South Korea, cosmetic procedures are sought after as a means of asserting social distinction amidst economic uncertainty.
These phenomena could signal the early stages of a larger tide of repression and regression, threatening to undo the gains made in gender equality and women's rights. The reversal of the federal right to abortion in the U.S. has disproportionately affected poor women, ethnic minorities, and women with insecure immigration status. Amnesty International has reported "alarming assaults" on women's rights globally, including the dismantling of legal protections and increased risks faced by women human rights defenders.
Progress on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires advancements in both Goal 10-Reducing Inequality and Goal 5-Gender Equality. Goal 10 targets include promoting social, economic, and political inclusion regardless of age, gender, or ethnicity, and ensuring equal opportunities and reducing inequality of outcomes. Meanwhile, Goal 5 aims to end all forms of discrimination against women and girls everywhere.
As individuals approach middle age, the potential for gray hair and wrinkles becomes a reality. For Kate Pickett, professor of epidemiology at the University of York, this milestone serves as a reminder of the importance of resolving to campaign for greater equality on all fronts, rather than resorting to cosmetic procedures.
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Despite the increasing number of cosmetic procedures fueled by economic inequality, there is an urgent need to address issues of gender equality and economic disparity. The escalating trend in cosmetic surgeries, driven by factors such as social media and the pursuit of physical attractiveness, could potentially jeopardize the gains made in gender equality and women's rights. Simultaneously, we should strive towards achieving United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 10 (Reducing Inequality) and Goal 5 (Gender Equality), to create equal opportunities and promote social, economic, and political inclusion for all, regardless of age, gender, or ethnicity. Science, in the form of health-and-wellness initiatives, should lead the efforts in prioritizing health and well-being over aesthetic cosmetic procedures as a means of asserting social status.
