Welcome To The Age Of Vanity

Many years ago, Carly Simon wrote a song, "You're so vain," which has been extensively discussed for decades. There has always been widespread curiosity as to who the subject of that song may have been.

Today, however, it's total probably applies to a major portion of our population. In this day and age of extensive discussions about health care and health insurance, one extremely expensive area that is not covered by any type of health insurance is the area of cosmetic surgery.

Years ago, we were never surprised to see celebrities have cosmetic surgery, particularly aging movie stars, because they believed it maintained their image and persona. However, today, we witness cosmetic alterations in our every day life.

Starting at the top of the body, the introduction of Rogaine and similar products, have been widely publicized and heralded as hair enhancement products, initially for men, but now also for women. The promise of regrowing your hair seemed to hold an incredible allure for many aging and/ or balding men. I always recall when a man who was the chief chemist for a major cosmetics line, who happened to be bald, said that if these products really worked as promised all the time, he would have a full head of hair. Of course, he then laughed knowingly. Many men, who feel that, for whatever reason, they will look "better" with a full head of hair, have undergone hair transplants, worn toupees, etc. While there are often medical reasons for balding, such as chemotherapy and certain diseases, for most individuals, losing one's hair is simply a way of life or life cycle. Since I am someone where every male on my mother's side of my family was bald in his twenties, my receding hairline was a positive. And, while my receding hairline has now extended to the crown area, and is now referred to as "male pattern baldness," I would never consider any of these treatments. However, certain individuals, feeling that either their self esteem, appearance or vanity, required one of these steps, have gone this route in seemingly growing numbers. The pity in all this is, that by and large, most people do not look better with "false hair." Yet, for many, vanity proves supreme.

How else besides vanity can one describe cosmetic surgeon for face lifts, eye lifts, etc? In some cases, there could be a medically valid reason for these procedures, yet, in most cases, it is merely vanity.

Is it just me, or do most people really believe that cosmetic surgery for breast implants, is attractive? I just don 't get it!

We have all seen how ridiculous certain public figures using Botox and similar products and treatments appear? Do people really think having a frozen portion of one's face looks better than the normal "wrinkling" process?

With all the other concerns we have today - - the economy, joblessness, the environment, drugs, etc, this American compulsion with our appearance, leads me to believe we have entered a new age of vanity.