…ashamed to talk about surgical body enhancement? Another celebrity also jumped into the plastic surgery fray recently. While I personally think Tyrese should play the “quiet game” when it comes to Black women, he amplifies this inherent thought that body enhancement is a bad thing. He decided to weigh in on his view of “manufactured beauty” in a March 16, 2017 Instagram post that has since been deleted, stating, “If your beauty has been purchased that’s fine…own it, enjoy it…Just know that us REAL ones out here see the REAL…”
Legal Vs. Illegal Cosmetic Surgery
It may seem crazy to you that some women are getting backroom enhancement procedures, but this is a real thing. These procedures are NOT safe. Injecting free-flowing in the body can cause silicosis. According to the American Lung Association, silicosis surfaces when the lungs are exposed to crystalline silica. Underground cosmetic procedures increase the chances of silicon being swept directly into your body’s bloodstream.
Legitimate cosmetic surgery is not bad and never happens outside of hospital. Every Black person who I’ve talked to about cosmetic surgery repeats the same mantras: “Black don’t crack!” or “I’m good with what God gave me!” The Black community largely lambastes the idea of plastic surgery, but can this be a part of the reason many women are seeking underground care?
At the heels of another Black woman’s death due to complications with a Brazilian butt lift, our community must have a deeper conversation about cosmetic surgery. A conversation that does not conflate hotel and hospital procedures. There are some clear differences between the two. Hotel procedures are done in unsterile environments by people who are not clinically trained or licensed.
Contrary to most thoughts, the illegal procedures cost nearly the same price as the surgeries performed by board certified physicians. The underground cosmetic procedure movement is not as common knowledge as some have asserted. Black women are continuing to suffer the catastrophic consequences of this movement’s nexus: pumping parties.
If you are considering cosmetic surgery, please know it can be affordable and safe. Not every plastic surgeon can “do” butts or breasts. Do your research. Please write down your questions and talk to friends and family who can give you some great questions for your prospective doctor without the judgement. Finally, chime in. What do you think about cosmetic surgery? #AskingForAfriend?
Dr. Kevin Ahmaad Jenkins is a dynamic speaker, author, and scholar who serves as a Vice-Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellow and lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania. After obtaining his bachelor’s (NC Central University) and master’s (Florida A&M University) degrees focused in medical and legal history, Dr. Jenkins earned a Ph.D. in Sociology and Criminology & Law from the University of Florida. This two-time national journalism award winner examines the influence of race, racism, and law within medicine. High-powered corporate clients, such as McDonalds and ProQuest, have invited him as a keynote speaker for state and global events. Dr. Kevin Ahmaad Jenkins is a blue-collar academician who is one of America’s emerging voices.
