Barbie at 50: Do patients want to look like Barbie?

It seems that many people in our society have an obsession with youth for beautiful appearance. The toy Barbie doll is one example of this. She has been an icon for the last four decades because she stays "perfect". Do you think that Barbie has, in some way, led to unrealistic expectations in... more

Fortunately, the vast majority of my patients are not requesting impossible dimensions or hard-to-maintain youthful appearances. Most of us in the cosmetic industry occasionally see a patient with BDD (body dysmorphic disorder) or those with unrealistic expectations, and hopefully we have the common sense to... more

Happy Birthday, Barbie! Honestly, I do not think that Barbie, the doll, has led patients to requesting hard-to-maintain appearances. There are many reasons why we strive to maintain youthful appearances: media pressure (digitally enhanced photos in magazines and use of very young models), competition in the... more

Barbie has been around for a very long time, and only recently has the desire for facial rejuvenation become main-stream. Patients now are smarter and understand that the best results are more natural and soft because of less invasive procedures and the fact that patients are PREVENTING the signs of aging by... more

We all want to look good unless very eccentric.  On my website I have a chapter on "vanity" which I would recommend as a realisitic way of viewing body image, including occasional plastic surgery. http://www.zubowicz.com/subpag,43-atlanta-buyer-beware.htm

I disagree with many of your statements in :"Barbie is an icon of feminine beauty that seems to mirror our society's obsession with youth and appearance. No matter how old she gets, Barbie stays firm, slim, pert, and pouty. Do you think Barbie has in some ways led to patients requesting impossible... more