The look of love - cosmetic surgery for Valentine’s Day

Posted: 13/02/2015

How do you tell your partner you love them? Chocolates, wine, jewellery and flowers are all safe, tried and tested gifts for Valentine’s Day. However, many men are ditching tradition in favour of telling their partner they love them with a gift of a face lift, botox, breast implant or nose job. 

So, is such a gift likely to lead to a Valentine’s Day spent alone, or is it something women really want? 

According to research undertaken for the Good Surgeon Guide, 78% of women would welcome a gift of botox for Valentine’s Day, with only 7% of women saying they would be ‘slightly offended or not happy’. 

The research revealed that dermal filler, botox, tooth whitening, skin peel and lip enhancement were at the top of most women’s list of gifts to receive. However, they would least like to be given the gift of laser hair removal, skin tightening and leg vein removal.   

According to a survey completed by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, cosmetic surgery is being gifted more than ever before. An analysis of RealSelf community members found that, of those who had been given the procedure, 75% received it from their romantic partner or spouse. Dr Julius Few, a Chicago-based plastic surgeon, underlined that women will not be the only recipients of a Valentine’s cosmetic surgery gift. About a third of the gift certificates he sells are to women to give to their partners. 

Dr Scot Glasberg, president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, divulged that he sees procedures being gifted all the time, but usually the patient has already had a consultation and has independently decided to have work done. The third party is only involved in the payment part, not the decision to proceed. 

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons has expressed its concern at ‘the increasing commoditisation of cosmetic procedures, exemplified by plastic surgery loyalty cards and, currently, holiday gift vouchers’. Adam Searle, consultant plastic surgeon and President of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, commented: "Regardless of who pays the bill, surgery must always be self-motivated. Nobody should undergo cosmetic treatments at someone else's suggestion or because it is offered to them as a gift, even from a 'well-meaning' spouse, relative or friend. Aesthetic surgery is not one-size-fits-all, and a patient may not be a suitable candidate for fundamental medical reasons.”

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