BY Esther Onyegbula
All over the world, women have always been very conscious of their outward appearance based on the fact that there are several different definitions of what is “beautiful”.

For some, having a more curvy body is true beauty while some would argue that the thinner body truly exemplifies beauty. Others, on the other hand, believe that a pair of hot straight legs defines beautiful.

Borrowing of western culture and the fashion and entertainment industries, which set the pace and trend for almost every aspect of our lives have not helped issues with all the crazy and stiff competition to appear perfect.

Most women strive to have a body that is perfect but isn’t exactly the healthiest. In an attempt to lose weight ,a lot of women now have eating disorders .The brave amongst them are seeking succour in what science call cosmetic surgery, but I call it beauty through the knifes.

Late Claudia Aderotimi

With this insatiable desire to look “perfect” and cheat nature; an increasing number of women have embraced beauty through the knifes and are presently using anti- wrinkle injections and others are getting breast augmentation, breast implant, and resurfacing (through peels, lasers and dermabrasion), facelifts, eyelid surgery, tummy tucks, vaginal and butt surgery, through cosmetic surgery.

Years back, Nigerian women joined her counterparts in other parts of the world in the race to cheat nature. In a bid to look perfect , many have gone to more extremes to “enhance” the features they already possess or to fulfill their minds or society’s ideal beauty by undergoing diverse surgeries and taking their bodies through dangerous points of painful recovery, infections due to bacteria entering cuts and stitches, and the emotional pain of not recognizing the person in the mirror after the surgery, just to look a specific way or acquire a perfect body.

The pressure to be fit and attractive hangs over the heads of men just as much as it does women. Though, not so popular in this part of the world, many men have received surgery to “fix” their nose, fix packs, hair growth, breast size, age wrinkles, and liposuction on multiple body parts.

In Nigeria most society women and celebrity ladies choose to get some of these treatments at aesthetician’s offices or spas while others choose to see a certified cosmetic surgeon.

Most people have argued why they go through all the troubles to look or appear beautiful while others feel it’s okay if they can afford it. The worst case scenario is that one could end up six feet down like late Mrs. Stella Obasanjo during a tummy tuck or Claudia Aderotimi during a butt implant. Both embarked on a suicide mission because of society’s senseless obsession with body image.

Jenny Lee, a model also known as the 21 century Human Barbie once said during her interview by Oprah Winfrey on the “Oprah Show that “it’s been a battle that I’ve had with my poor self-esteem that started a long time ago and the continuous need to feel like I should fit in somehow, and I never can fit in….”

The fact remains, low self esteem is worst than cancer because it has no cure; even after a successful breast implant, the feeling of fulfillment and acceptance is only temporary and when it wears off, the quest continues.

There was also Karen Igho of Big Brother Africa, BBA, who openly owned up to having done cosmetic surgery. She was the first Nigeria lady to have openly stated that she had a breast surgery.

Karen igho

Karen Igho, winner of Big Brother Africa an interview posted on Bunmi Odunowo’s Blog, months back acknowledged that “I’ve got fake boobs? I know. I did. Why should I hide it? It cost me over one million naira and I make good money with it”. She further added that “investing in my boobs makes me happy and that’s all that counts. I don’t believe I have to be 40 with four kids and sagging breasts before I can get my dream boobs. I’m proud I was able to get the body I desired at 23. It’s the jet age. It’s like getting a Prada purse or buying a house-it makes you happy, so you invest on it. It was worth it. The most important thing is that I am happy about it.”

Unlike most Nigeria celebrities and society women who after they have undergone cosmetic surgeries are ashamed to say so, Karen is very proud of her investment. For crying out loud, if you invest so much to enhance your physical features, why hide it take a bold step like Karen and flaunt it?

After all said and done, the real question is not whether people around you find your beauty appealing or attractive enough but whether you feel appealing and attractive enough for yourself!