Fillers On Your Mind?

Cosmo intern Jia Noor Singh Bhandal's (very) quick and (very) easy take on the cosmetic procedure.

- Jia Noor Singh

You've hyper-analysed 1,000+ YouTube videos of duck-lipped influencers documenting their cosmetic procedures. In fact, you've also exhausted every IG filter (Paris, Ciao Bella, Bold Glamour, you name it...) for that perfect glazed donut skin and snatched Bella Hadid's bone structure. Finally, you've convinced yourself that the clinic you found in Turkey is really not that shady...or even expensive. The benefits of pretty privilege clearly outweigh the cost of procedures, right? Logic à la girl math.

Not surprising that US economist Daniel S Hamermesh argued in his book, Beauty Pays: Why Attractive People Are More Successful, that attractive people are more likely to find professional success. They're hired sooner, offered better salaries, and get promoted easily. My generation gets this. Aarna, 17, says, "Pretty privilege is very real.

So why wouldn't you improve your looks if you can afford it?" Personally, I don't want to be poked and prodded for a quick makeover anytime soon. But given the number of young celebs (and my closest friends!) going in for a quick fix, a deep dive to understand this manufactured world of beauty was calling my name.

The pandemic taught us many things—the most important lesson being to live life to the fullest. Post COVID, social media has boomed and the world is in the palm of our hand. People are now obsessed with self-care and wellness—the seven-step skincare routine is as habitual as brushing your teeth every morning. Everyone is in the quest to look good in order to feel good. And this is where cosmetic procedures come into play.

But here’s the catch: There are significant risks associated with cosmetic procedures for teens (you’re gagged, I know).