Youngsters in city take cosmetic surgeries to a new level; Surprisingly, wedding season sees mom-in-law visits to the surgeon; Some actors get a nose job or whatever the director fancies for every movie or even a single shot!
What is the idea of a perfect woman? Angelina Jolie’s lips, Sridevi or Shilpa Shetty’s nose! A perfect man? Hrithik’s nose, Junior NTR’s body! You don’t agree? But that’s what many young men and women aged between 18 and 35 are dreaming of in the city. Not just dreaming, they are going under the knife to get that perfect, chiselled features.
Cosmetic surgery is a booming business in Hyderabad, thanks to these aspiring film gods. But doctors are of the firm opinion that it’s not possible to carve a Sridevi's nose or Jr NTR’s body for someone else. At best, you can get close. “Cosmetic surgery is not cloning, it’s all about improving one’s own features to look better,” says Dr Rajesh Vasu, aesthetic surgeon.
“Society by and large gets inspired by what is highlighted in the media. One cannot look like a celebrity after a cosmetic surgery. It is a myth,” he asserts. Echoing similar views is Dr Lakshmi Saleem, Consultant Aesthetic & Reconstructive Plastic Surgeon. “Youngsters come with some photographs and they want miracles to happen. They want it all done in one session. It is not anatomically or aesthetically possible to look like someone else. Celebs get it done according to their requirement. We cannot do it with everyone. We try to educate them and some might need psychological counselling too,” she explains.
“They want a replica of Hrithik Roshan’s nose or for that matter, Sridevi’s or Shilpa Shetty’s. Many have come to me asking for Junior NTR’s body shape and figure, knowing that he had done something to reduce his weight,” reveals Dr Lakshmi. On the other hand, Dr Vasu, who does not encourage such demands, discloses, “many girls have come seeking an Angelina Jolie or Priyanka Chopra’s lips. Everyone has a unique nose and it cannot be made to look like Sylvester Stallone’s nose! It can just be made to look better based on the requirements.” According to him, everything depends on the patient’s features and the physician’s skill.
Referring to some interesting instances, Dr Lakshmi recalls, “A number of budding actors come with their director or cameraman. Directors want their heroes to suit their taste and preference. Sometimes, they come for such surgeries just for some shots in the movie. They ask for sunken cheeks and later, want to revert to their normal look. They do not have a fixed identity- they do it according to the demand of the roles!” And in fact, she says, one of the small time actors who came to her for weight loss apparently got four more roles after her director was satisfied with her looks.
Liposuction & Wedding Season
Doctors say that Liposuction has been in demand and it is not just people from well off families who opt for it. “It is most common among women. I deal with about 15 cases a month and all of them are from middle class, or may be 10% are more affluent,” says Dr Vasu. Wedding season is the time when the demand for Liposuction shoots up. “Liposuction has become almost equivalent to going to a beauty parlour these days. I have had cases where a bride and groom along with the would-be mother-in-law had come. There was another where, the whole family of the bride including her mother, brother and aunt wanted a liposuction before the wedding. And then, there was the case of an NRI, who came from abroad after a long time to meet his family. He wanted a liposuction done before visiting his family,” she recalls.
Obviously, the demand is rising as the lifestyle is changing. “Girls these days prefer western dresses. They become conscious easily and come forward for breast corrections. It actually does a lot of good to one’s self-confidence too.”