Thanks to the inescapable presence of social media, everyday we are shown faces that seem to be blessed from the gods themselves: no wrinkles, sharp cheekbones, a smooth nose. 

Being surrounded by all this perfection practically begs for comparison, but how fair is it to compare your untouched face to those that have been under the knife?

Procedures like botox, rhinoplasty (nose job) and buccal fat removal have become increasingly common in the past few years. From Lea Michele to Emily Blunt, it seems that every day a different celebrity debuts a face fresh with cosmetic enhancements.

As average people without a plastic surgeon on speed dial, it feels like a new facial surgery or enhancement is invented each day. 

Each facial feature is seen as an opportunity for fixes, and each bump is a sign of our imperfection. It is near impossible to not feel inadequate when compared to these Hollywood stars and Instagram influencers. 

Despite this constant pressure, it seems that the tide has been turning against celebrity enhancements. 

Where stars were once praised for their subtle tweaks and unique methods to age gracefully, they are now being heavily picked apart and criticized. These trends, along with some recent examples, suggest a change in the general consensus towards plastic surgery. 

Calling back to the previous mentioned actresses, Lea Michele has been torn apart mercilessly online for her alleged buccal fat removal surgery. Many online claimed that she has “ruined her face” or looks “sick” from her supposed time under the knife.  

Similarly, Emily Blunt has faced backlash for what many believe to be a combination of fillers and botox. Fans made their negative opinions known as they consistently compare old pictures to her current appearance. 

Even young actresses like Jenna Ortega are not safe from criticism and speculation, as online users have continued to argue on whether she had buccal fat removal surgery or was simply the victim to severe makeup and lighting from a singular red carpet appearance. 

The user @kangminjlee on X even wrote that, “Whoever created buccal fat removal should be arrested and tried for crimes against humanity,” in response to images of Ortega.

So what has caused this shift in thinking surrounding plastic surgery? 

The first aspect of this likely revolves around the current financial climate. Numerous citizens are struggling to support themselves and their families during these trying times, and watching a celebrity spend money on frivolous things like plastic surgery only rubs salt in the wound. 

It can be compared to the typical reaction to a brand influencer trip to some tropical resort. People simply are not interested in watching rich people be rich anymore. 

Each demonstration of extensive wealth is a slap in the face, and each syringe of botox is a sign that a person has it better than most citizens in the United States. 

The second aspect behind the shift in opinions towards plastic surgery is simply the overabundance of it.

When every red carpet image you see clearly has signs of enhancements, it becomes hard to tune out anymore. 

Watching a movie where the main actress can barely cry because of her botox injections quickly ruins the experience, as does seeing aging actors with multiple plastic surgeries pretend to be high schoolers. 

The knowledge that normal people do not look like that, yet we are expected to understand that they are can be maddening. The average 20-year-old does not have a perfectly flat nose, just as the average 60-year-old does not have a clinically smooth face.

While plastic surgery is nothing to detest or be ashamed of, it is easy to understand how this frustration blossoms. The average person is simply tired of constantly being sold manufactured beauty that they are somehow expected to measure up with. 

Despite the rising tensions, plastic surgery does not seem to be going anywhere. As technology advances, it will likely become better and better to the point that it is near impossible to tell when someone has been under the knife or syringe. 

The best a person can do is to remember that all of it is unnecessary. No one truly needs plastic surgery or injections, and it is important to remove your opinions of yourself from the eurocentric beauty ideals that seem to be ever present in today’s society.