PLASTIC SURGERY: FOR PRESERVATION, NOT TRANSFORMATION
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PLASTIC SURGERY: FOR PRESERVATION, NOT TRANSFORMATION
By Dr. Shamil
Introduction: Why I'm Always Drawn to the 'Before'
I spend a fair amount of time scrolling through social media—especially pages run by plastic surgeons. You’ve likely seen them too: those split-frame before-and-after shots showcasing surgical transformations. The lighting is pristine, the after shot polished, perhaps enhanced by a bit of bronzer and makeup. And yet, almost without fail, I find myself drawn to the 'before' picture.
Always.
At first, I thought maybe it was just me. But after countless examples, I’ve come to realize it’s something deeper—something fundamentally human. The before face almost always holds more personality, more softness, more history. There’s a natural asymmetry, a story behind the eyes, an authenticity that I find hard to ignore. The after, while often more “perfect” by textbook standards, somehow feels… off.
I'm Not Against Plastic Surgery - But Use It Thoughtfully
Let me be clear: I am not anti-plastic surgery. When it’s done to rejuvenate, to restore lost volume, to soften the passage of time—that’s not what I’m critiquing here. In fact, subtle rejuvenation can be empowering. But I am skeptical when it comes to elective procedures that alter the innate structure of the face—changing a nose shape, reshaping lips, tweaking chins, lifting eyes to angles never found in nature. Because here’s the problem:
When you change one feature, you disrupt the harmony of the whole face.
PLASTIC SURGERY: FOR PRESERVATION, NOT TRANSFORMATION
A Reflection on the Quiet Power of Natural Human Beauty
By Dr. Shamil
Introduction: Why I'm Always Drawn to the 'Before'
I spend a fair amount of time scrolling through social media—especially pages run by plastic surgeons. You’ve likely seen them too: those split-frame before-and-after shots showcasing surgical transformations. The lighting is pristine, the after shot polished, perhaps enhanced by a bit of bronzer and makeup. And yet, almost without fail, I find myself drawn to the 'before' picture.
Always.
At first, I thought maybe it was just me. But after countless examples, I’ve come to realize it’s something deeper—something fundamentally human. The before face almost always holds more personality, more softness, more history. There’s a natural asymmetry, a story behind the eyes, an authenticity that I find hard to ignore. The after, while often more “perfect” by textbook standards, somehow feels… off.
I'm Not Against Plastic Surgery - But Use It Thoughtfully
Let me be clear: I am not anti-plastic surgery. When it’s done to rejuvenate, to restore lost volume, to soften the passage of time—that’s not what I’m critiquing here. In fact, subtle rejuvenation can be empowering. But I am skeptical when it comes to elective procedures that alter the innate structure of the face—changing a nose shape, reshaping lips, tweaking chins, lifting eyes to angles never found in nature. Because here’s the problem:
When you change one feature, you disrupt the harmony of the whole face.
Disrupting the Face's Natural Harmony
Let’s take the nose. A person may undergo a rhinoplasty to achieve a straighter or more refined nasal bridge. But in doing so, that new nose may no longer match the width of the eyes, the roundness of the cheeks, or the softness of the lips. The result can be a technical improvement that somehow feels aesthetically dissonant. The very feature that gave the face uniqueness and character is now absent, and the remaining features are left to compete with this new centerpiece.
Or lips: Full lips are trendy, so many opt for fillers. But when lips are artificially plumped, they can distort how the nose appears, how the jawline is perceived, and even how the teeth show when someone smiles. You’ve changed the rhythm of the whole face.
Let’s take the nose. A person may undergo a rhinoplasty to achieve a straighter or more refined nasal bridge. But in doing so, that new nose may no longer match the width of the eyes, the roundness of the cheeks, or the softness of the lips. The result can be a technical improvement that somehow feels aesthetically dissonant. The very feature that gave the face uniqueness and character is now absent, and the remaining features are left to compete with this new centerpiece.
Or lips: Full lips are trendy, so many opt for fillers. But when lips are artificially plumped, they can distort how the nose appears, how the jawline is perceived, and even how the teeth show when someone smiles. You’ve changed the rhythm of the whole face.
The Eye Knows What the Mind Doesn't
What strikes me most is that the human eye is a remarkable instrument. We sense proportion and harmony before we intellectually register it. My own eye always instinctively lingers on the before photo—not because it’s “flawed,” but because it feels true. And truth, in beauty, carries an emotional weight no filter can replicate.
Perfect features can disturb facial harmony—true beauty lies in natural coherence.
I believe we are moving into a time when this recognition is returning. We’re beginning to rebel against the overly curated aesthetic of social media. There’s a yearning for individuality again. For authenticity. For faces that tell stories, not erase them.
True Beauty is Coherence, Not Perfection
To me, natural human beauty isn’t about flawlessness—it’s about coherence. It’s about the way all your features come together, imperfectly yet perfectly you. That’s what draws people in. That’s what leaves a lasting impression.
This isn’t to shame anyone who chooses to alter their features. People should have autonomy over their bodies. But I offer this thought gently, especially to younger people: your features are already in harmony, already in conversation with one another. Be cautious before you interrupt that dialogue.
Because sometimes the most beautiful thing isn’t the sculpted cheek or the lifted brow. It’s the quiet confidence of a face that simply is.
Concluding Remarks: Preserve, Don't Redesign
Let me say again: I’m not against plastic surgery. When used with intention and subtlety—particularly as a tool for anti-aging—it can restore vitality, soften time’s imprint, and help people feel more like themselves. But I do believe it should be used wisely. The goal shouldn’t be to erase your unique features or chase an ideal face that was never yours to begin with. Instead, the art lies in preservation, not transformation. In honoring the natural architecture of the face rather than redrawing it. Because when you work with the face, rather than against it, you don’t just look younger—you look timeless.
References
Etcoff, N. (1999). Survival of the Prettiest: The Science of Beauty.
Pallett, P. M., Link, S., & Lee, K. (2010). New “golden” ratios for facial beauty. Vision Research, 50(2), 149–154.
Little, A. C., & Perrett, D. I. (2007). Using composite images to assess accuracy in facial perception. British Journal of Psychology, 98(1), 111–126.
Rhodes, G. (2006). The evolutionary psychology of facial beauty. Annual Review of Psychology, 57, 199–226.
What strikes me most is that the human eye is a remarkable instrument. We sense proportion and harmony before we intellectually register it. My own eye always instinctively lingers on the before photo—not because it’s “flawed,” but because it feels true. And truth, in beauty, carries an emotional weight no filter can replicate.
Perfect features can disturb facial harmony—true beauty lies in natural coherence.
I believe we are moving into a time when this recognition is returning. We’re beginning to rebel against the overly curated aesthetic of social media. There’s a yearning for individuality again. For authenticity. For faces that tell stories, not erase them.
True Beauty is Coherence, Not Perfection
To me, natural human beauty isn’t about flawlessness—it’s about coherence. It’s about the way all your features come together, imperfectly yet perfectly you. That’s what draws people in. That’s what leaves a lasting impression.
This isn’t to shame anyone who chooses to alter their features. People should have autonomy over their bodies. But I offer this thought gently, especially to younger people: your features are already in harmony, already in conversation with one another. Be cautious before you interrupt that dialogue.
Because sometimes the most beautiful thing isn’t the sculpted cheek or the lifted brow. It’s the quiet confidence of a face that simply is.
Concluding Remarks: Preserve, Don't Redesign
Let me say again: I’m not against plastic surgery. When used with intention and subtlety—particularly as a tool for anti-aging—it can restore vitality, soften time’s imprint, and help people feel more like themselves. But I do believe it should be used wisely. The goal shouldn’t be to erase your unique features or chase an ideal face that was never yours to begin with. Instead, the art lies in preservation, not transformation. In honoring the natural architecture of the face rather than redrawing it. Because when you work with the face, rather than against it, you don’t just look younger—you look timeless.
References
Etcoff, N. (1999). Survival of the Prettiest: The Science of Beauty.
Pallett, P. M., Link, S., & Lee, K. (2010). New “golden” ratios for facial beauty. Vision Research, 50(2), 149–154.
Little, A. C., & Perrett, D. I. (2007). Using composite images to assess accuracy in facial perception. British Journal of Psychology, 98(1), 111–126.
Rhodes, G. (2006). The evolutionary psychology of facial beauty. Annual Review of Psychology, 57, 199–226.
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