In this age of instant makeovers and even of “extreme” makeovers it can get easy to forget the role that genetics play in our appearance. Just think of how often people hear or say things like “I have my father’s eyes and my mother’s chin”. So, why is it so difficult to accept your great-grandmother’s nose if that is what you were given?
There are a few things to know that can help people feel better about a nose that is less than “perfect”, “normal”, “ideal”, etc. Each of these things is not said or used as any sort of manipulation or to convince someone of something – these are facts that should not be ignored when contemplating the nose on your face.
What to Consider
- No such thing as normal – any historian worth their degree will be able to tell you that “beauty” and “normalcy” are things that change pretty radically over time. For example, the woman who was considered strikingly beautiful during the age of Queen Elizabeth I in England of the 1550s would not be considered attractive at all in this era. Beauty and what people consider appealing or attractive are cultural and are concepts born of their generation or era. Just stop to consider how many celebrities will say that “Marilyn Monroe was fat”. That is because the beauty ideal has shifted in the 60 years since her death. That means that you should never base your appearance, or at least your opinion of your appearance, on what the norms of society dictate. This is not healthy.
- Genetics are for a reason – we, as humans, evolved over centuries and developed specific skin colours and facial characteristics out of necessity. Though Darwin might not say that your nose is going to make you the “fittest” or help you to survive, it is the result of many eons of evolution. This means one major thing – it is biologically meant to look the way it does. So, if there are no abnormalities in its function and it is not a major impediment to good health and a happy lifestyle, you may want to leave that nose alone.
- Body dysmorphia disorder – this is a well known and well documented problem in the modern world. It is when someone fixates on a part of their body and allows them to become deeply distressed by it. For example, that friend who is constantly reaching up to her chin or her nose and seeming to conceal it behind her hand…she may be obsessing about the size of her nose, the shape or appearance of her chin, etc. This is something that often drives people to get too many corrective procedures and allows them to feel that no corrective surgery is ever enough.
- Health issues – now, there are many people who do indeed need some sort of surgical procedure on their nose. This could be because there are anatomical problems that impair their breathing or it could be due to an older injury that was never properly treated. This type of surgery is different from cosmetic surgery and is not often even “elective” in terms of the patient. It is usually a matter of “must be done” rather than “you can choose to do it or not”.
So, if you are contemplating some sort of alteration or cosmetic work on your face, why not give these things some thought first? Your physician is going to honestly speak with you about the need for the work and if it is viable, but the end decision is yours alone. Make sure it is really what you want and need.
