I was shopping at a very large outlet mall today with some girlfriends — ideal setting for people watching. Much, much better (and less psychologically damaging) than trying on swimsuits.
Shoppers were out in droves. We are having our first real taste of spring in my area, and people were responding by fervently purchasing sun dresses, shorts, tanks, and sandals.

I wasn’t surprised by the amount of people. I definitely wasn’t shocked by the frantic pace at which people were buying new wardrobes.

What did astound me was how similar many moms appeared in comparison to their teenage daughters. They were shopping at the same boutiques, buying very similar clothes, and looked closer in age than Mother Nature intended. These women had round, perky breasts. They were virtually cellulite and sag-free. Their foreheads suspiciously void of wrinkles. Their lips plump and without lines. Crows feet around the eyes? Not a chance! At 26, I felt haggard next to these gals.

Let’s face it, plastic surgery, cosmetic rejuvenation, botox parties, etc. are becoming the norm. Everywhere you look messages are screaming “be younger, be thinner, be prettier!” Undergoing the knife is a common discussion in my circle of friends — and I’m confident that if we could afford it, we’d all book consultations tomorrow! Some already have. I’m not exactly proud of this, but it is what it is.

I envy those that are fully comfortable in their own skin. I’ve heard women state that at a certain age you reach body-acceptance, even love. Others are vying to cover their bodies in purple ink and be wheeled to the surgical room.

So, what side of the plastic surgery debate are you on — aging gracefully (and surgery free), or getting by with a little, maybe a lot, of help?

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Okay, this is why the terrorists hate us…

A recently published book teaches children how to cope with their mommies surgical makeovers. This is not a joke, it’s a children’s book written by a plastic surgeon who wants children to appreciate their mother’s need and the importance of having a perfect nose and looking good.

For more on this soon to be children’s literary classic, “My Beautiful Mommy” by Dr. Michael Salzhauer:

That’s exactly the question Salzhauer’s book tries to answer, chronicling the journey of a mother and her child as they visit the fictional office of the fictional, strapping “Dr. Michael” for cosmetic surgery.

“Why are you going to look different?” asks the daughter of her mother in the car ride back from the doctor’s office.

“Not just different, my dear — prettier!” exclaims the mother.

Now we just need a children’s book that explains why mommy won’t mingle with those who drive Hyundais, shop at Walmart and buy knockoff Crocs.

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I’m not here to discuss plastic mothers as in phony but as in those who are opting for plastic surgery. According to a press release by a plastic surgery firm, Surgery Services of Freericksburg, targeting postpartum mothers presents itself as a unique opportunity:

FREDERICKSBURG, Va., Sept. 28 /PRNewswire/ — For today’s women, sagging bodies no longer are an inevitable aftereffect of childbearing. More mothers are turning to plastic surgery to regain their figures when diet and exercise alone won’t do the trick — and talking openly about their procedures, according to Plastic Surgery Services of Fredericksburg.

“Most of our tummy tuck patients and breast surgery patients are mothers who want to restore their youthful shape,” says Lesi Beamon Mackey, practice administrator for Drs. L. Thomas Albert, Howard Heppe and Harold Bautista at Plastic Surgery Services of Fredericksburg, VA. “And, with the increasing awareness of plastic surgery, we find more are discussing their surgeries publicly.”

The following are just a few of their stories.

Alicia Lidster, age 47, gave birth to her youngest child nine years ago. Despite compliments from her husband, she felt unattractive because her midsection and breasts were sagging from multiple pregnancies. She consulted with her doctor at Plastic Surgery Services of Fredericksburg and opted for a tummy tuck and breast lift in May 2005. “Before the surgery, I was very self- conscious … Now, I feel better and look better,” says Alicia, a stay-at-home mother who also has four grown children. She feels so much more confident that she donned a bathing suit last year to swim with her youngest daughter for the first time ever.

Chantelle Mullen, age 34, worked hard to lose the weight she gained after three pregnancies. But she could not tighten her sagging skin. “I decided on plastic surgery for the problems I knew I couldn’t fix with diet and exercise,” Chantelle says. Her doctor at Plastic Surgery Services of Fredericksburg performed a breast lift and tummy tuck in August 2005.

Some moms need the security of their children to take the risky plunge with them as more mothers are choosing to go under the cosmetic knife with their daughters. You know what they say, “Mothers and daughters who get boob jobs together, stay together.”

According to ABC news, these are just the beginings of beautiful mother and daughter bonding relationships:

July 5, 2006 — Elvia Rabinor said she hadn’t seriously considered plastic surgery until her daughter, Lauren-Beth Kassinger, asked her about it.

“She called me and said, ‘What are you doing this next week? How about getting your nose done?’” Rabinor said.

Plastic surgeons say this mother-daughter team is an example of a growing trend — friends or relatives going under the knife together.

So, are these mothers exercising their right to look and feel beautiful, or is there something more sinister going on here, like a society that values beauty over the daunting task of motherhood? Are moms given no leeway for honorable wrinkles? Is motherhood no longer an excuse for choosing practicality over the cumbersome? Are our expectations unrealistic?

I don’t know the answer, but let’s pretend you were given the opportunity to have any procedure done that you wanted. Would you do it and if so, what would you have done?

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