Searching for perfection

Sep 20 2007 by Emma Johnson, Liverpool Daily Post

Thousands of women say self-esteem is linked to how they look. Emma Johnson reports

THEY may say beauty is only skin deep, but try telling that to the thousands of women around the world who say their self-esteem is inextricably linked to how they look and are considering a trip to the surgeon to hold back the years.

Constantly bombarded with images of celebrities looking perfect, and with cosmetic procedures more available than ever before, it may come as no surprise to discover that women in the UK feel more under pressure to look good than anywhere else in the world.

According to a new international survey by Allergan (the makers of Botox), 59% of women in the country feel they have to look good, compared to 49% of American women and just 30% of our Italian counterparts.

Moreover, a third of all women say their beauty regime has a significant impact on their self-esteem and just 4% of women would use the word “attractive” to describe their own face.

The survey also revealed that women in Europe spend on average £30 on beauty treatments each month and more and more are considering turning to wrinkle-relaxing injections in the future.

Dr Tracy Bell, of Liverpool’s APT (Age Perfecting Treatments) spa, in Hanover Street, is not surprised at the findings.

“In recent years, women have been exposed to a deluge of media images of celebrities appearing to age effortlessly well into their 60s, and it’s a real pressure on women today,” says Dr Bell, who expects the trend for aesthetic medicine (fillers, botox, etc) or cyber beauty, as she terms it, is set to explode.

While women want to stay looking good, the survey also revealed one of their biggest concerns is remaining as natural as possible. Although 80% say their wrinkles bother them, no-one wants to end up with the dreaded “wind-tunnel look”, preferring instead to achieve a “refreshed” look and citing celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Nicole Kidman as natural-looking role models.

* www.ageperfectingtreatments.co.uk

emmajohnson@dailypost.co.uk

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