Dear LPG, 

I have a question for LPG readers this morning that I have no doubt has crossed the minds of most people that have lived in our world since time immemorial.  It is a question that, when I was young, would perhaps have been more of a concern for the ladies among us but, I bet that everyone can find one aspect of their appearance that they would improve.

We, who are now older, have lived through the development of all the cosmetic procedures that people go through to make themselves appear more beautiful although the thought of my voluntarily going under the knife for any reason is a prospect that I would find horrifying.

I often wonder about how the results of improving your younger looks will evolve as you get older but, while I will never know because I have never had the funds or the guts to have a go, those who have had a little work done will never know how they would have shaped up without. 

When it all started it appeared to be about ladies trying their best to make themselves a more attractive prospect for marriage or jobs where looks are important but, I suppose Michael Jackson was one of the people who had the money early enough in his life to do what I believe to be quite a lot of harm to his looks before he was old enough to really consider all the consequences.   I often wonder if it was he that opened the floodgates for so many men to get involved.

Having seen the many articles about cosmetic surgery procedures that have gone wrong on the internet and those television programmes that feature such details, I think that I am grateful that I was never in a position to afford it myself, although when I think of the stories of the many people who are being treated for cleft palates and other facial deformities, case in point that of Katie Piper, there are also some good reasons for being ‘done’.   While there are many variables in between, I think that I have sighted what I think are both ends of the spectrum. 

A very long time ago, and as a much younger adult, like many a female, I took a look in the mirror and decided on the aspect of me that the good Lord could have improved upon but, looking back, I think I am happy not to have had the opportunity. 

FF, Bromley 

FF offers a little information on the people she mentioned in her message…

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