Kim Kardashian (a celebrity who has had multiple cosmetic procedures), Source https://www.flickr.com, Author Love Lira Fashion
We women would do almost anything for men. We want, of course, to be attractive to them. And society – through celebrities and influencers – has convinced us that is not possible without radically modifying our bodies, sometimes at the risk of our lives.
Over $16 Billion
Over $16 billion was spent on cosmetic surgery in the United States in 2024 [1]. This included breast augmentation, liposuction, abdominoplasty (the so called “tummy tuck”), and buttock augmentation.
In 2022 alone, there were 26.2 million surgical and minimally invasive cosmetic and reconstructive procedures performed [2].
Women accounted for some 86% of these procedures [3]. While the percentage of exotic dancers who are patients cannot be determined, one club owner estimated that over 90% of his strippers have had surgical enhancement of one kind or another.
Discount Clinics
An increasing number of procedures are performed at discount plastic surgery clinics, where pre-op, surgical, and post-op care are less than optimal [4A]. These clinics target low-income women, particularly those who are Hispanic or African American.
Physicians who may never have formally trained in the specialty of plastic surgery often perform as many as 10 procedures a day, far in excess of what best medical practice would consider safe.
Multiple operating rooms – particularly in Florida, which is not well regulated – may be “overseen” by a single physician, while procedures are actually performed by untrained and unlicensed assistants. Dozens of women have died.
To illustrate the dangers of this, the popular Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) which redistributes fat to the buttocks from elsewhere on the body can cause death almost instantaneously, if that fat is injected into the wrong place [5]. The BBL has the highest death rate of all cosmetic surgical procedures, with the highest mortality rate centered in South Florida.
Silicone Injections
There is worse. Countless biological and transgender women (men who wish to appear female) obtain unauthorized silicone injections on the black market for the purpose of butt enhancement [4B].
Nicki Minaj, the Queen of Rap, acknowledges getting such black market injections as an up and coming performer, something she now regrets [6]. Her decision, she says, was motivated by rap culture’s focus on a “big booty”.
These injections are intended to be cheaper than surgical procedures, but are not administered by legitimate medical personnel or in a medical setting. They may not even involve medical grade silicone.
So called “pumpers” (who can be underworld figures) have been known to inject everything from lamb fat to industrial silicone and concrete [7][8][9]. Not only infection, but scarring, disfigurement, paralysis, and death can result. Health effects may linger for years.
Moreover, many legitimate physicians are reluctant to treat those who have undergone illegal procedures for fear of litigation.
Why?
Why do we submit to this, in fact, seek it out? Are we so vain…or so insecure? Has life already taught us by the time we reach puberty that men will only value us for our appearance?
Do men bear the blame? Or is this a form of self-abuse, stemming from feelings of worthlessness and self-hatred?
Vanity in the Bible
“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity” (Eccl. 1: 2).
The Book of Ecclesiastes by King Solomon makes the point that all earthly endeavors are ultimately meaningless in the absence of a relationship with God [10]. That would include the pursuit of physical beauty, which is fleeting at best.
The phrase “vanity of vanities, all is vanity” emphasizes the emptiness of life without a sound spiritual foundation.
We can torment ourselves endlessly with the thought that we are not sufficiently “beautiful”. Or we can appreciate the amazing bodies, hearts, and minds with which God has blessed us, and use them for something more worthwhile than vanity.
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[1] American Society of Plastic Surgery, “More than $16 Billion Spent on Cosmetic Plastic Surgery”, https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/press-releases/more-than-16-billion-spent-on-cosmetic-plastic-surgery.
[2] Discovery ABA, “Plastic Surgery Statistics: Facts and Figures” by Mark Elias, 3/17/25, https://www.discoveryaba.com/statistics/plastic-surgery-statistics#:~:text=Patient%20Demographics,-Plastic%20surgery%20attracts&text=In%20the%20United%20States%20alone,cosmetic%20surgery%20procedures%20since%202019.
[3] Golden Steps ABA, “98 Plastic Surgery Statistics, Facts & Demographics”, 3/4/25, https://www.goldenstepsaba.com/resources/plastic-surgery-statistics#:~:text=Americans%20spent%20over%20$16%20billion,surgical%20and%20non%2Dsurgical%20procedures.
[4A and 4B] National Geographic, Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller, S2 E1, “Black Market Surgery”, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/tv/episode/f1524827-c08c-4e48-bc37-31a16df39725/playlist/PL553044961.
[5] Oxford Academic, Aesthetic Surgery Journal, “Brazilian Butt Lift – The South Florida Experience” by Pat Pazmino MD and Onelio Garcia MD, February 2023, https://academic.oup.com/asj/article/43/2/162/6661367.
[6] Mele, “Nick Minaj Talks about Buttock Injections”, 3/21/22, https://www.sanfranciscoplasticsurgeryblog.com/nicki-minaj-talks-about-buttocks-injections/.
[7] National Institutes of Health, “Nonmedical Grade Injections of Permanent Fillers” by Andrew Styperek et al, April 2013, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3638855/.
[8] Harper’s Bazaar, “Silicone Injections Are Deadlier than Ever” by Jolene Edgar, 1/30/18, https://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/health/a14478122/silicone-injection-danger/.
[9] Vice, “Buttloads of Pain” by Wilbert Cooper et al, 1/16/14,
[10] Got Questions, “What does the Bible say about vanity?”, 1/4/22, https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-vanity.html.
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ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse 
Yes, it certainly is all vanity. Who would want a partner (male or female) that is handsome or beautiful not by God’s creation but by the knife of a plastic surgeon? Here in Spain in most cities, there is an Beauty Clinic in almost every neighbourhood! Beauty flows forth from the inside when you know yourself and project confidence. Of course if there is a problem (caused by an accident or a genetic defect) that can be resolved by medicine, then by all means, but for vanity? Very good post Anna. A big hug from Spain.
Thank you, Francisco. It it good to hear a man speak about inner beauty. Sending love your way.
Your very welcome Anna and thank you! Love your way too! All the best!
Only when one finds the love in the eyes of Jesus for who we are can we be free of this obsession. The only fear humans have that is greater than the fear of death is: “What will ‘they’ think of me⁉️”
❤️&🙏, c.a.
See https://capost2k.wordpress.com/2024/07/06/perfectly-imperfect/.
My wife has a small scar on her left cheek, near her lips. She once considered having it removed, though I never saw it as a flaw. In fact, I’ve always liked it—maybe because, to me, it feels like a quiet testament to her spirit.
It took some effort to convince her that I genuinely preferred it the way it is. She thought I was just being stingy—admittedly, a fair suspicion, given my natural thriftiness. But in this case, I wasn’t being practical—I was being honest.
What a wonderful story! Please, give my best to your wife on this Mother’s Day. ❤
Thank you, Anna – passed on to her. We spent the next evening dancing, while the boys bounced away at a trampoline center. Not a single foot stomped by me this time, which makes me all the more pleased. 🙂
🙂
I’ve been watching some documentaries about various forms of body modification around the world and what strikes me as sad is that there seems to be such a hunger for approval, people favor, and belonging.
Here in the West we’re hoping to become more attractive, more desirable, but that same kind of thing is often going on in remote African tribes and some island communities around the world. Identity and belonging is hugely important to us.
Yes, and we strive for physical perfection — never recognizing that it is inner beauty that counts in God’s eyes.
Vanity indeed considering it is always going through change during the aging process.
So right.
I’ve never understood the need to go to such extremes to gain the approval of someone else. It seems to me that if a person is secure in themselves, that is enough. Obviously, that is the crux of the issue as people spend untold sums of money to be able to present themselves as someone other than they really are. Here in South Florida there are dozens of plastic surgery clinics where the rich and famous go to try and turn back the clock or at least slow down the aging process. Funny thing about that, but one look at their hands and arms tells the truth of how old they are. If only they knew that there was a loving God who accepts us just as we are, warts and wrinkles included. Remember what the Lord told Samuel as he was looking for the next king of Israel: for man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks upon the heart.
Exactly. The frenzied pursuit of the Fountain of Youth, also, suggests a deep fear of death. Of course, Christians know that death is but a door to the afterlife. When He determines our eternal fate, God will not judge by appearance.
Thank you for addressing this important topic. I agree with you that societal beauty ideals and the influence of the media put considerable pressure on many women to conform to certain ideas. The figures you cite illustrate the enormous scale of this phenomenon and raise legitimate questions: Why do so many women feel compelled to take risks to present themselves in a certain way? I think it would be helpful to also focus on the root causes: How can we promote a society that values diversity and naturalness? And how can women be empowered to respect their own desires and boundaries? Your post is thought-provoking – about the balance between personal freedom and societal pressure. Thank you for your contribution to this important discourse.
Thank you for reading and commenting so thoughtfully.
Vanity of vanities! (Ecclesiastes 1)
Cultural standards of beauty is a golden calf that so many men and women fall prey to. Reading what that leads to, not just physically, but spiritually is the ultimate tragedy.
Well said, Dora.
Vanity lives in all of and rears its ugly head when we look in the mirror or look at someone who is beautiful. Even trends are brought about by vanity, wanting to wear the most update clothes, shoes, etc. It’s easy to get hooked on trying to look like others instead of the person God made us to be. At 78 its hard not to see my wrinkles and age spots as I wash my face. This past year I got bags under my eyes and I am trying all the natural stuff to reduce them, truthfully its not working. So all that to say, I will just own the bags under my eyes along with the wrinkles and age spots. I work on being grateful I have made it to 78 and all that it brings. Good post, great reminders. Thanks.
Beautifully expressed. ❤
Such a meaningful write and interesting read. Thank you Anna. ❤️
You are very kind. ❤
❤️