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The Guardian
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
A moment that changed me: I found my first grey pubic hair
A grey pube. There was no denying it. If I hadn't been contorted into what felt like an advanced yoga position trying to do up fiddly press studs on the crotch of the teddy I was wearing to a party, I would never have seen it. The party was for a novel I had written titled How to Kill Your Husband, and the theme was 'dress to kill'. I had planned on wearing stockings, a miniskirt, a garter belt with dagger, and the ridiculous teddy undergarment that you clearly needed an engineering degree to operate. But how could I dress to thrill when I knew what was lurking beneath? I immediately checked in with girlfriends. Had any of them discovered a grey pubic hair? Yes, yes, they had. What's more, having hit my 50s, there was apparently much more I had to worry about. I would soon need to spend my life savings getting rid of stretchmarks, cellulite, chin sags, eye bags, neck wrinkles, crepey cleavage, pelvic floor lethargy, dry vagina, muffin top and menopausal weight gain; apparently, hormonal changes meant that I would soon resemble one of those giant jellyfish in a Jacques Cousteau documentary, floating about like a flesh balloon. I would also require a Brazilian butt lift. Having dieted for years to be slim and trim, a peachy rear was now the bottom line in beauty. As was the trout pout, a procedure that involved taking fat from your backside and injecting it into your lips, so that you are talking out of your arse – which explains a lot about Hollywood. Then there was labiaplasty, or I could opt for a 'Barbie': a surgical procedure that involves a reduction of the labia minora, resulting in a smooth, flawless 'clamshell' appearance. (In 2017, according to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, labiaplasty was one of the fastest-growing cosmetic operations in the world.) After tightening and whitening my nether regions, the one grey pube problem could be eliminated by simply waxing the whole area, before 'vajazzling' it in Swarovski crystals. But I liked my big luxuriant bush. I checked in with male friends and discovered that grey pubes are very much not on their angst-o-meter. Nor were wrinkles, crinkles, kinkles (knee wrinkles), cankles (thick ankles), waddles (neck fat) or Brazilians. So why did my grey pube discovery feel so significant? It was the first time I confronted ageist sexism up close and experienced the chauvinism sewn into our psyche. While I was being dismissed as a hag, a bag and a crone, a bloke my age would be lauded as distinguished, matured, seasoned, a manther, a zaddy, a silver fox. The fashion police would not be so ready to cast a man out to sartorial Siberia. As I have said so often, it's time it went on a T-shirt, have you ever heard a man dismissed as 'mutton dressed as ram'? In my latest novel, four women seek retribution on the men who have sabotaged their careers for the crime of being menopausal. But every publisher I approached made the repulsed face of a kid who has been offered a plate of spinach. 'Nobody wants to read about middle-aged women,' one explained. 'They're just not that sexy.' For a moment, I lost confidence. Maybe I had passed my amuse-by date? Whenever I read books about women of my age, they usually die of despair in lonely flats and get eaten by their cats … But I don't know any women like that. All my female friends are going up Everest, down the Amazon or tap-dancing on tabletops. I finally found an enthusiastic publisher and, best revenge ever, the book became a bestseller, proving that there is no justification for shelving older female authors. Do I still worry about the odd grey pube? Once I was divorced and dating again, it quickly became the least of my worries. Reared on pornography, younger blokes don't know that women even have pubic hair. But the great thing about being in your 60s (or 'sexties', as I prefer to call it) is no longer caring what other people think. Great sex is about being relaxed and, by this age, you have learned to love the skin you are in, grey hair and all. In fact, I can't believe I'm even vertical, so if you'll excuse me … The Revenge Club by Kathy Lette is published by Head of Zeus (£9.99). To support the Guardian, order your copy at Delivery charges may apply.
BBC News
13-04-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Why more women dey comot dia breast implants?
Wen 32-year-old Ukrainian blogger and nutritionist Kateryna Krupkina share on social media say she don comot her breast implants, she neva expect di massive impact her revelation go get. Her Instagram video don attract 7.5 million views, and she tok say she don receive "more dan one thousand" messages from women wey dey consider to comot dia own too. "I just realise say bigger breasts no make me happier, healthier, or more beautiful," she tell BBC News Ukraine, adding say her decision ultimately come afta her young daughter tok say she wan get "big breasts like mommy". "Di moment make me realise say I dey set di wrong example for her," she tok. Kateryna no dey alone. Around di world, growing number of women dey choose to comot dia breast implants. But why? Multiple reasons Di latest data from di International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), di world leading professional body for board-certified aesthetic plastic surgeons, indicate say breast implant removals, wey dem dey call "breast explants", don increase by 46.3% since 2019. Meanwhile, breast augmentation, wey remain staple in cosmetic surgery through di 1990s and 2000s, only see 5.4% increase during di same period, dropping 13% from 2022 to 2023 alone. Medical experts believe say di primary reason for breast implant removals na for aesthetic and cosmetic. Dem tok say pipo don dey trend toward "smaller, more natural-looking breasts". "Women wan look different in 2025 dan dem bin look five or ten years ago," Dr Kristy Hamilton of di American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) tok. She dey chair di Social Media Subcommittee of ASPS. "Di implants wey dem dey place in di 90s and 2000s dey veri large. Now, women wit implants dey either downsize or, if dem get plenty of natural breast tissue to begin wit, dem fit dey explant completely, doing lift, and adding fat transfer or not to regain portion of di volume," she tok. She add say "smaller breasts overall na im dey in vogue". Dr Bruno Herkenhoff, president of di Brazilian Plastic Surgeon Association (SBCP) for Rio de Janeiro, agree. "Some patients no longer identify wit highly enhanced breasts," e tok, and add say e dey perform more breast implant removals dan augmentations for im practice. E say anoda factor be say "some women prefer to avoid di need for future implant replacements" since implants typically last 10-20 years and require surgical removal and replacement afterward. Dr Herkenhoff also tok say di growing awareness of complications like breast implant illness and autoimmune reactions don influence some women to comot dia implants or avoid augmentation altogether. "Now more information dey about silicone disease and autoimmune reactions. Di body fit react to silicone and develop symptoms such as joint pain, hair loss, and weight gain." Also some cancers dey, wey dey associated wit implants, e tok. "E fit form in di capsule surrounding di implant. Wen dem diagnose am, to remove di capsule usually resolve di issue." "E dey exceptionally rare but real," e tok, and add say e dey happun wit certain types of implants wey she no dey use in her practice. Kateryn get one of di implants, and she say her decision to comot her own "multiply by ten", although no medical tests reveal say she get cancer. "But I no think say dat na di primary reason more women dey do explant. I believe say na about di aesthetic shift," Dr Hamilton tok. She argue say di changes in breast implant techniques fit also drive di trend of breast implant removals. According to her, older techniques position implants behind di muscle, e dey make di breast movement look unnatural look wen dem dey waka. "Wen you see women wit older implants, dis na major problem for many—dem go flex dia chest while exercising, hugging someone, or even doing yoga, and dia implants go fly to di side." She tok say for newer techniques, dem dey place implants in front of di muscle, leading to more natural results. Wider trend Both experts highlight say di trend toward more natural look extends beyond breast implants. "Dat na true across di board - for di face, nose, breasts, and body," Dr Hamilton tok. Dem say di overuse of some non-invasive cosmetic procedures, such as fillers and Botox, in di past dey lead to unnatural results, causing patients to reconsider dia approach. "We don see examples wia too much filler look very unnatural," Dr Hamilton tok. "Facial harmonisation don almost become facial demonisation. Many pipo end up wit di same face. Now, patients wan more relax appearance, without exaggeration," Dr Herkenhoff tok. Dr Hamilton also note say many of her patients dey avoid fillers entirely, especially pipo wey dey unfamiliar with dem. "A lot of patients wey dey new to dis treatments no dey interested at all to even try dem becos dem don see too many examples of di misuse." She add say industry previously emphasised di need for frequent filler injections, go backfire. "Wen dem tell us, 'Oh, you need to get filler every three to six months,' I tink say na mistake driven by di aesthetic industry… and I tink say e don backfire becos pipo don dey start to look odd." Patients now dey focus on subtle treatments, she tok. Among di new procedures gaining popularity, collagen stimulation, wey dey enhances skin quality without excessive volume, dey at di top of patients lists, according to Dr Herkenhoff. Collagen na di most abundant protein for di body, dem dey find am in bones, skin, muscles, and tendons. However, di level dey decrease wit age. Di reality of 'natural' look Kateryna embody dis new trend. Afta she comot her breast implants, she also reduce her lips to dia natural size and she stop to dey use Botox to mask wrinkles. "I dream of my actions becoming trend and women no longer dey obsesse ova dia look," she tok. One senior source from one leading global cosmetic company don confam to di BBC say di industry dey bet on di "natural beauty trend". However, "e no mean spending less on beauty products or avoiding cosmetic procedures; rather, na about refining your look in a way wey go appear effortless and enhances natural features," dem tok. In 2023, global beauty market retail sales grow to $446bn, up 10% from 2022, according to one McKinsey consultancy report citing data by market research company Euromonitor. Di source add: "Women still dey wear makeup, but di 'natural look' no necessarily mean wearing less - na about using products wey dey create di illusion of natural skin while maintaining polish appearance." Medical experts also tok say di shift toward more natural look no mean say pipo don abandon cosmetic procedures, both invasive and non-invasive. "Instead of simply adding volume to di face, we don dey focus on procedures wey dey lift and reshape," Dr Hamilton tok. International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery statistics show say plastic surgeons perform 15.8 million surgical procedures worldwide in 2023, 5.5% increase from 2022. Non-surgical procedures also see nearly 2% increase during di same period.
Arab News
08-04-2025
- Health
- Arab News
Nose job boom in Iran where procedure can boost social status
TEHRAN: All of the women in Iranian model Azadeh's family have had nose surgeries, each feeling the pressure to conform with Western beauty standards in a country where female bodies are heavily policed. To Azadeh, smoothing out the bump in what Iranians would call the 'Persian nose' she was born with proved a lucrative investment. Since the 1979 Islamic revolution, Iranian women have been required to dress modestly and cover their hair, and the beauty industry has become almost entirely centered on the face. Having rhinoplasty — a nose job — can make a major difference, Azadeh told AFP. 'After the operation, not only have I earned myself a modelling job with better social standing but I'm also earning three times more and I'm more respected by clients,' she said. Azadeh, 29, asked that her surname be withheld because women models can face social pressure in Iran. According to the US-based International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, more than 264,000 cosmetic operations were performed in Iran in 2023, with rhinoplasty being the most common. Across Tehran and other Iranian cities, brightly colored billboards advertise beauty clinics and cosmetic procedures, offering promises of sculpted noses, flawless skin and perfect teeth. Many people with bandaged noses can be seen on the streets, a testament to the popularity of rhinoplasty. 'It has become more of a cultural trend,' said rhinoplasty surgeon Hamidreza Hosnani who performs up to 20 operations a week at his well-equipped clinic in the capital. And that trend has evolved, becoming more and more tied to social identity and status, especially as more women have defied the strict dress code. Such defiance became more marked following the mass protests sparked by the 2022 death in custody of 22-year-old Iranian Kurd Mahsa Amini. In Iran, where the minimum wage is around $100, basic rhinoplasty costs up to $1,000 — significantly cheaper than in other countries, Hosnani said. Millions of Iranians have long struggled with soaring prices and a plunging currency, driven in part by years of international sanctions. 'I even had to borrow the money required for the operation from my friends and family, but the money was well spent, and it was completely worth it,' Azadeh said. Reyhaneh Khoshhali, a 28-year-old surgical assistant, had the operation four years ago, and regrets not having it sooner. 'My nose really did not look good aesthetically and I wanted to be more beautiful,' she said. 'If I could go back, I would have had the operation earlier.' For years, Iran has hosted highly advanced medical centers, even becoming a destination for foreigners seeking high-quality and affordable cosmetic surgery. However, the procedures can also come with risks. The Iranian authorities have repeatedly warned about the growing number of unauthorized clinics performing cosmetic procedures. In February, a dozen unlicensed practitioners were arrested and several operating theaters in Tehran's Apadana Hospital were closed because of unauthorized cosmetic procedures, the health ministry said. In 2023, three women died in a single day — November 7 — during cosmetic surgery in three separate incidents in Tehran, media reported at the time. Ava Goli has yet to undergo her rhinoplasty operation, and said that finding a reliable doctor involved some research. 'I saw some people whose nose job did not look good... and yeah, it really made me scared at times,' the 23-year-old told AFP. Yet the demand for cosmetic surgery in Iran remains high — and the pressure to keep up is not limited to women. Bahador Sayyadi, a 33-year-old accountant, said he had to borrow money so he could have a hair transplant. 'My financial situation isn't great, but thanks to a loan I got recently, I will be doing the procedure just in time before my wedding,' he said. 'Men should also take care of themselves these days, just like women.'
Khaleej Times
08-04-2025
- Health
- Khaleej Times
Nose job boom in Iran where procedure can boost social status
All of the women in Iranian model Azadeh's family have had nose surgeries, each feeling the pressure to conform with Western beauty standards in a country where female bodies are heavily policed. To Azadeh, smoothing out the bump in what Iranians would call the "Persian nose" she was born with proved a lucrative investment. Since the 1979 Islamic revolution, Iranian women have been required to dress modestly and cover their hair, and the beauty industry has become almost entirely centred on the face. Having rhinoplasty — a nose job — can make a major difference, Azadeh told AFP. "After the operation, not only have I earned myself a modelling job with better social standing but I'm also earning three times more and I'm more respected by clients," she said. Azadeh, 29, asked that her surname be withheld because women models can face social pressure in Iran. According to the US-based International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), more than 264,000 cosmetic operations were performed in Iran in 2023, with rhinoplasty being the most common. A cultural trend Across Tehran and other Iranian cities, brightly coloured billboards advertise beauty clinics and cosmetic procedures, offering promises of sculpted noses, flawless skin and perfect teeth. Many people with bandaged noses can be seen on the streets, a testament to the popularity of rhinoplasty. "It has become more of a cultural trend," said rhinoplasty surgeon Hamidreza Hosnani who performs up to 20 operations a week at his well-equipped clinic in the capital. And that trend has evolved, becoming more and more tied to social identity and status, especially as more women have defied the strict dress code. Such defiance became more marked following the mass protests sparked by the 2022 death in custody of 22-year-old Iranian Kurd Mahsa Amini. In Iran, where the minimum wage is around $100, basic rhinoplasty costs up to $1,000 — significantly cheaper than in other countries, Hosnani said. Millions of Iranians have long struggled with soaring prices and a plunging currency, driven in part by years of international sanctions. "I even had to borrow the money required for the operation from my friends and family, but the money was well spent, and it was completely worth it," Azadeh said. Reyhaneh Khoshhali, a 28-year-old surgical assistant, had the operation four years ago, and regrets not having it sooner. "My nose really did not look good aesthetically and I wanted to be more beautiful," she said. "If I could go back, I would have had the operation earlier." Unauthorised clinics For years, Iran has hosted highly advanced medical centres, even becoming a destination for foreigners seeking high-quality and affordable cosmetic surgery. However, the procedures can also come with risks. The Iranian authorities have repeatedly warned about the growing number of unauthorised clinics performing cosmetic procedures. In February, a dozen unlicenced practitioners were arrested and several operating theatres in Tehran's Apadana Hospital were closed because of unauthorised cosmetic procedures, the health ministry said. In 2023, three women died in a single day — November 7 — during cosmetic surgery in three separate incidents in Tehran, media reported at the time. Ava Goli has yet to undergo her rhinoplasty operation, and said that finding a reliable doctor involved some research. "I saw some people whose nose job did not look good... and yeah, it really made me scared at times," the 23-year-old told AFP. Yet the demand for cosmetic surgery in Iran remains high — and the pressure to keep up is not limited to women. Bahador Sayyadi, a 33-year-old accountant, said he had to borrow money so he could have a hair transplant. "My financial situation isn't great, but thanks to a loan I got recently, I will be doing the procedure just in time before my wedding," he said. "Men should also take care of themselves these days, just like women."
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Nose job boom in Iran where procedure can boost social status
All of the women in Iranian model Azadeh's family have had nose surgeries, each feeling the pressure to conform with Western beauty standards in a country where female bodies are heavily policed. To Azadeh, smoothing out the bump in what Iranians would call the "Persian nose" she was born with proved a lucrative investment. Since the 1979 Islamic revolution, Iranian women have been required to dress modestly and cover their hair, and the beauty industry has become almost entirely centred on the face. Having rhinoplasty -- a nose job -- can make a major difference, Azadeh told AFP. "After the operation, not only have I earned myself a modelling job with better social standing but I'm also earning three times more and I'm more respected by clients," she said. Azadeh, 29, asked that her surname be withheld because women models can face social pressure in Iran. According to the US-based International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), more than 264,000 cosmetic operations were performed in Iran in 2023, with rhinoplasty being the most common. - A cultural trend - Across Tehran and other Iranian cities, brightly coloured billboards advertise beauty clinics and cosmetic procedures, offering promises of sculpted noses, flawless skin and perfect teeth. Many people with bandaged noses can be seen on the streets, a testament to the popularity of rhinoplasty. "It has become more of a cultural trend," said rhinoplasty surgeon Hamidreza Hosnani who performs up to 20 operations a week at his well-equipped clinic in the capital. And that trend has evolved, becoming more and more tied to social identity and status, especially as more women have defied the strict dress code. Such defiance became more marked following the mass protests sparked by the 2022 death in custody of 22-year-old Iranian Kurd Mahsa Amini. In Iran, where the minimum wage is around $100, basic rhinoplasty costs up to $1,000 -- significantly cheaper than in other countries, Hosnani said. Millions of Iranians have long struggled with soaring prices and a plunging currency, driven in part by years of international sanctions. "I even had to borrow the money required for the operation from my friends and family, but the money was well spent, and it was completely worth it," Azadeh said. Reyhaneh Khoshhali, a 28-year-old surgical assistant, had the operation four years ago, and regrets not having it sooner. "My nose really did not look good aesthetically and I wanted to be more beautiful," she said. "If I could go back, I would have had the operation earlier." - Unauthorised clinics - For years, Iran has hosted highly advanced medical centres, even becoming a destination for foreigners seeking high-quality and affordable cosmetic surgery. However, the procedures can also come with risks. The Iranian authorities have repeatedly warned about the growing number of unauthorised clinics performing cosmetic procedures. In February, a dozen unlicenced practitioners were arrested and several operating theatres in Tehran's Apadana Hospital were closed because of unauthorised cosmetic procedures, the health ministry said. In 2023, three women died in a single day -- November 7 -- during cosmetic surgery in three separate incidents in Tehran, media reported at the time. Ava Goli has yet to undergo her rhinoplasty operation, and said that finding a reliable doctor involved some research. "I saw some people whose nose job did not look good... and yeah, it really made me scared at times," the 23-year-old told AFP. Yet the demand for cosmetic surgery in Iran remains high -- and the pressure to keep up is not limited to women. Bahador Sayyadi, a 33-year-old accountant, said he had to borrow money so he could have a hair transplant. "My financial situation isn't great, but thanks to a loan I got recently, I will be doing the procedure just in time before my wedding," he said. "Men should also take care of themselves these days, just like women." pdm/mz/srm/ser/tc
