The Retokadas

Image courtesy of www.coastdocuments.com

The huge premium bestowed on good looks has made the business of beauty and wellness a multi-billion dollar worldwide phenomenon.

A few decades ago, cosmetic enhancement was considered as a taboo subject, a tightly-guarded secret of movie stars and wealthy socialites. But several years back, people have become more open and accepting toward cosmetic enhancement, and even your average John and Jane have candidly admitted undergoing procedures. Today, it seems that there is a solution for almost every conceivable skin or figure flaw.

Some teens go through it mostly for health reasons, while others, prefer it just like how it is for the older patients - wanting to enhance their self-esteem. A teenage girl with an extremely big nose who is called Pinocchio and is a butt of jokes in school and a double-D breasted 16-year old who finds it hard to exercise or even walk are usual candidates for the procedure. But other than these, it maybe ill-advised. The thing is to make sure that the teen is emotionally and physically mature enough to undergo the chosen procedure.

On the local front, the Philippines is likewise far from being left behind in terms of technical advancements and modern facilities available. Such that more privileged Filipinos are also into cosmetic enhancements, young and old alike.

Today’s youth are a lot bolder and more adventurous in many ways especially in matters that concern their appearance. And lately, more and more of these come from the movie industry. Nowhere in the years before would you hear of any showbiz star as young as 18 go through these procedures in the hope of clinching more projects and endorsements, gain more fans and acceptability.

Apparently, their own management and/or network tolerate them, and if rumors are to be believed, even encourage them to have these procedures. The gullibility and excitement of these stars to have a brand-new look is really disturbing. But that excitement is nowhere to be found when they are pressed for answers to procedures done on them.

Take these three major female stars of a major network. These stars allegedly patronize the services of a doctor for their cosmetic concerns. This low-profile surgeon is not as popular and prominent as other celebrity doctors.

Star A is confirmed to have had series of operations from her nose, cheeks, breast and had a fold in her eyes to make it look big and dramatic. Sources say she had that boob job for the sake of an ex-boyfriend thinking she could win him back. But sad to say, it was too late since handsome ex-bf was already seeing other women outside of showbiz.

Star B had her nose slightly fixed to add bridge and narrow edges and had taken skin whiteners, too. Her last and also her major enhancement was when she had her breasts done. The change is so obvious and she continues to flaunt them by wearing outfits that show off her new assets.

Star C had one too many reconstructions on her body that it has already become a habit. Like some sort of an addiction - breast, eyes, cheeks, chin, teeth, liposuction, overdose of glutathione, lips. Her latest and the most controversial is that one on her nose which had undergone more than one procedure that it has already gone "haywire," so to speak. Her nose has become too long and thin that it has already altered her face.

All stars from A to C have another one thing in common 'though. For all the very obvious alterations they have done on their bodies and faces, no one, as in NO ONE had dared owned up to them. In short and in truth, all three are in denial!

Star A says she doesn't believe in cosmetic surgery. She once said, " Real beauty is not just about physical. For me, if you're a kind person, you become beautiful. If you believe you're beautiful, then you don't have to change anything." Her defender even said that Star A's boobs appear that way because she's wearing wired brassiere that lifts and makes her breasts look bigger and better. But people contend that for such a skinny person to have that sudden big bulk infront of her is clearly baloney, you think?

Star B who is often bashed for her negative attitude towards her fans and co-stars alike is also into the denial habit. She who is ever so vain and conscious of her looks and image had repeatedly denied undergoing all the rumored procedures on her body. Like Star A, she was into every inconceivable cover-ups to justify everything she wants hidden. Once she was quoted saying that the type of brassieres she was wearing could be the reason why her breasts look bigger. Oh well, just how original can that be?

But Star C who tops them all with her unlimited enhancements doesn't confirm nor deny she ever had them. Even her long-time boyfriend was non-commital when pressed for answers. Perhaps she may be thinking of that most-abused cliche, "What you see is what you get." To which her critics would retort back, " Oh yeah right, you are not Pinocchio for nothing, eh?"

Just what makes these stars and others like them to have the gall to deny everything that is so downright obvious is beyond their fans and the viewing public. Cosmetic enhancement had long been accepted as an option especially in the entertainment industry. And it is exactly for this reason why they do it in the first place. Then why deny? Are they into delusions that they can fool the public into believing everything they say, hook, line and sinker? True, they are entitled to some privacy, but anyone who wants the public's attention must accept public scrutiny of their actions. After all, we didn't ask them into our lives --- for fame and monetary gain, they came voluntarily and impose themselves on us.

To whom it may concern: Lying is a skill that can not be stretched to its snapping point.