Episode 580: Plastic Surgery, Comparison, and the Hidden Cost of Chasing Perfection

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“We're ice it down the biggest thinkers, entrepreneurs, athletes, and experts”

to uncover the habits, strategies, and mindset shifts that actually move the needle on your health, happiness, and success. And today, on this solo episode, we are talking about plastic surgery. It has become more normalized, more accessible, and more visible than ever. We watch people document facelifts, nose jobs, injectables, and cosmetic procedures in real

time, which can make major medical decisions feel as casual as booking a facial. But behind the polish before and after photos, there can be real complications, long recoveries, and the uncomfortable reality that fixing one insecurity may only give you another one to focus on. So in this episode, I share how social media filters zoom and the fact that we are constantly

seeing our own faces and photos, and on video, is changing the way we view ourselves, and why cosmetic procedures may not fix the insecurity underneath them, what people should understand about the risks and recovery, and why a surgeon's popularity online does not necessarily make them the best person for the job. Before diving in, if you're listening right now, and you've gotten somewhere or something

out of this show, do me a big favor.

“Please hit subscribe if you haven't already, and leave a review of your own.”

I really appreciate those. I read every single one of them, and it really makes a difference on getting the show to more people. So with that being said, let's dive in. Welcome, welcome, welcome back to another episode of Habits and Hustle Solo Edition, where

I am joined by my friend and foil. Sean, I'm calling. Sean, I'm calling. Sean, excuse that, yes, yes, yes, but before we go into this episode, I will love to remind people.

If you have not yet subscribed to this podcast, please do so. It makes a massive difference in the algorithm, and all these things that are on the back end that I had no idea about. So for the last seven years, I've been remiss in telling people. So if you have not yet, please hit the button and also share it with your friends because

that makes a massive difference. So thank you very much. And if you're listening to this, there is all the video episodes up on YouTube, which you can subscribe to Jen's channel on there as well. Thank you, Sean.

You're welcome. On these solos, typically what we do is if you have not, if you're just joining us or haven't listened to any episodes, what we do in these solos is we kind of just explore hot takes, like it's a very much like a conversation. And today, I want to talk a book that, and also I should say conversations that are kind

of in these eye guys that are kind of trending, that are kind of like happening in real time a lot. And the one thing that I really want to talk to you about, Sean, because we talked about it, we kind of touched upon it in another solo, but we didn't really get into it. And I'm sure a lot of you guys who are on social media and just kind of, like in the world,

in the world. Just living out there. A really big thing that I'm noticing a huge uptick in is plastic surgery. I mean, I remember like when I was a kid, if anyone got anything done, it was a humongous secret.

Nobody talked about it. It was definitely not like video. It was definitely not like talked about a video taped and shown in real time when someone's getting their face lifted. Right.

Can we be going to facelay? Yeah.

I've never seen such a, such a craziness in something, like this is one of these things.

I think it's trending and upticking. And I know why.

“I think it's because everyone is comparing themselves to other people.”

It's because of the, we're in the world of video and zoom and I know myself because now I'm on social. Obviously, I do this podcast. I, I see myself constantly. So you see every imperfection, everything.

And it's, I understand it's, it's so consuming. It's really easy to go down that rabbit hole. But I also blend, I didn't say, but and I also believe like whatever happened to being happy with what God gave you and kind of just in hand, like, you know, kind of being natural, right? And I understand it because I like now in this age, right?

Like, I'm middle aged and I'm like, oh, shit, like, look at my, look at my face, my face is falling.

And I, I never liked my nose and I didn't do this, but like, I'm just fearful to be honest.

But you said something that we should be as I should because you said something that was really important. And I want you to say that again, because you said that kind of like in a passing moment, which I think people can, people can possibly, people should hear that.

Well, I, you know, I said that, you know, I got my nose done. I got a nose job. And I, you know, a lot of the gov like recently, but a couple of years ago. And I, you know, I didn't do much to it. It's all like we took down like a crazy amount.

But I, I don't feel like it changed my face like astronomically to the point where the costs that it has cost me were worth it because there are a lot of complications. You know, I had a massive septum perforation left in my, in my septum, which is just a

huge hole in my septum from the first surgery.

And I had to get that fixed. I also had my turbulence reduced as well, because I had a rhinoplasty septoplasty and a turbine reduction, people don't know what those are. Basically, what have rhinoplasty is the outside septoplasty is fixing the septum. So it's deviated.

They fix that. But when they fix the deviated septum, they don't actually make it straight. They just cut out the crooked part and put the, the tissue on top of it and hope it heals. Mine did not, it healed with the, with the perforation.

And then I had a turbine reduction, which is there's these little flaps inside of your nose that are called terminates, and they help create what's called turbine and air flow, which warns up your air, humidifies it before is it goes to your throat. And one of the reasons why originally even got the surgery was because my breathing was so bad, and I was having to mouth breathe so much.

And so I always had like, strept throat and tons of lightness and just as so many annoying

throat conditions.

“And the surgery left me with honestly more complications than I had originally.”

My breathing has been more labored. It's a lot harder for me to breathe. I now, because my nose is smaller, I have smaller canals, which is already also an issue. And I don't think I should have gotten my turbines reduced at all, which is something nobody should ever actually do, and I really encourage people to never do it.

My sister, by the way, got a nose job, when she was like 16, really young, and she's never breed properly. Yes. Yeah. So what I, this is, and I have a lot of friends who also are in the same equation.

This is the part that I really wanted to focus on, is this fact that we all see and hear about all the wonderful things, like, oh yeah, like, people are like, go queen, if you make you feel better, yeah, go for it. But no one ever talks about like the other potentials, like the complications that can happen, or like, how much does it really make a difference, right?

Like, does it really, like you just said earlier, like, you know what, yeah, like, does it make you that much more beautiful, because you got the nose or not turn me into straight Victoria Seeker model, like that was not the, but I also didn't get like a dramatic one. You know what I mean? I think maybe they're different.

You did actually, by the way. Yeah. It was not very different. Yeah. But not compared to what the, like, I had consoles with people who wanted to, like, chop it off.

Like, they wanted to go, like, little button just, like, can you look in the mirror? Yeah, but have you seen another, no, strong? Yeah, but have you seen, but Jen, it's still quite a nose. Have you seen people from Turkey who come in? It's still downturned.

I'm not like, I love you, but you're also not looking at my face. Like, I'm looking at my face. I've been to doctors. Like, this is a whole thing. There are people who wanted to literally go and do a, you mean to a slope.

Yeah, or like a button nose or this, so many people get, like, there are different doctors will do different things. And that's really important for people to know, because a lot of doctors have different

“aesthetics, and you have to understand the doctor that you're going to.”

And, you know, I did do a significant amount of research, not enough, not enough. You need to do way more. And you need to make sure that the person you're going to has both the aesthetic understanding of what it is you're looking for. And also, the internal, like, functions of your organs to make sure that you're not messing

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You said a couple things, so well, maybe now my nose is too small for my face, because

“that's why you can't do anything for your anatomy.”

I think I need to figure it out. You know what I mean? Yeah, no for my face. It's visually, I like it. Yeah, visually.

I happy with that. But I don't know that it's worth the health things it's caused me. Well, I listen. I think in the day, this is what I want to talk about. Like where at what point, because you're just one person who's had that experience.

Right. I'm curious. Like where, again, where is this line drawn? Like, does it really? Like, maybe I don't know.

This is just me talking and riffing with you. Like, how much does it really make a difference? You know what I mean? Like, that's what I'm curious, because then I don't like my nose either. Maybe I should get, I'm too scared of a needle.

Not a needle. I am scared of needles, too. But of going out. Like, the thing is like, this is a thing. If I didn't have to be out for the count afterwards for six weeks, because I

need to exercise for my mental health. Or like, that's the thing, maybe I would have gotten in my nose now. I just didn't want to like have that down time. I'm still swollen years later. I went to dermatologist just last week for my laser facial, which is why I'm healing.

And it's literally, he was like, you're still very swollen. Really? Yeah. How long has it been? Two years?

Are you, and you're still swollen? Yeah. But that, it takes like, I mean, obviously not the same that I was swollen.

You know, from the first year of surgery, but it takes time.

Like, these things are, you're going in and really like messing with your body. And people don't understand the severity of that. Because that's the thing, right? Everyone's so flippin'. They're like, yeah, just go get your nose out.

So be clear. Like, you'll be fine. Just go get your boobs out. Or just go get your face. Not casual.

Like, people are like, making it sound like a face lift. It's like literally going to starbucks for a latte. Right. I'm like not casual. Yeah.

I'm like, um, that seems not so casual. It seems like very, very invasive and scary. Even this laser facial, which like, they were like zero down time. Zero down time. Zero down time.

Then I get the instructions for after care. And it's like, stay out of the sun for two weeks. Do this. Do that. Like, that's not zero down time.

Look at a facial. Zero down time is, I can go and do every single thing that I was just doing before and look exactly the same. But down time is different for people. Like, everybody talks about in different ways. And I think if to get really specific about what that's going to look like for you.

But I just would really caution people. I don't think people shouldn't do it. You know, I think that my situation could have been prevented by a number of different ways. I just think you really want to do a lot of research on your doctor. Don't go to the cheapest person.

Don't go to someone who's going to save you money. Never consider cost. And if cost is a heavy factor for you, then don't do it. Wait till you can actually afford to go to someone who's not going to mess you up. I mean, genuinely, it's one of those things.

Don't cheap out on. You know, a lot of people try and like they'll go here. Look at that. Just don't just go to someone.

But the problem is though, Shawnee, because now it's become so popular like that.

That the prices have also skyrocketed. So something that maybe would have cost eight thousand right now cost 20,000.

“So that's why you say early people are like flying to Turkey like by the drove.”

So there's all these funny pictures I'm seeing. I think the planes full of people with the hair transplant with like the bad. It just all over their faces. Because it has because of all the different things. So I mean, or they're going to tear water or whatever, a Mexico to get these things in.

But like I guess my point is a little bit different than what you're saying. And that is that like, you know, I think beauty comes from like if you from within. Like if you are someone who is confident and carries yourself a certain way and is like happy with who you are and what you look like. That's really hot. I do think so.

Yeah, I don't know. I mean, yes, I know. I think that I think. And that comes in the scenario. There's some people who I've seen and I'm like, yeah, you really need that.

Listen, I like that. It really helps you. Like that's like night and day can change or like that's crazy. Yeah. The caveat to what I'm saying is I am not begrudging anyone.

I like I said, I'm putting myself out there saying, if I wasn't such a scaredy cat, I probably would have done something. Right. But I'm just a scaredy cat. And so I chose to focus on how to do the best I can with what I was given. Which is honestly great.

And I know that we need more examples of that because it's kind of like just become. But it's hard. We're living in a time when like you keep on. We get constantly reminded of like, oh, and like it's a place psychological tricks on us. Like we think, oh, you mean, you could just get a face lift and you'll be good to go like in a few days. No, you will not be good to go.

We should be people should be a little bit more upfront and honest about what the possible complications and like what the downtime is.

“And like in like real life, who has all this ability to have downtime and not do anything for weeks on end?”

I mean, humans were not built to see themselves. We were not created to see our reflections. We were not created to see our own outer caseings. We just were not, you know, and cameras and mirrors and all these things are modern inventions that have honestly really degraded our own personal self-love.

I think I'm also probably just stating things too polionically like, oh, yeah, why don't we just love the way we look. I'm not trying to sound that way if I do I fall down. You're saying because I don't mean it that way, but I really don't.

“But I think we would be like that and able to do what you're saying more if we just didn't have like these cameras like these angles.”

It's like, we were not meant to know what we look like from the back of our head. No, I think this is what I think. I think pre-COVID when we were forced to stare at each other on Zoom and we didn't have social media to the extent we have it. And all these things, like there was a reason why it wasn't like it wasn't like everyone in their dog running to get surgery.

Like people that you would never expect people who are dropped it even before.

I can't believe I even did it. I was such a like, I was so scared to catch so long. I was scared. And I also just thought it was crazy. You know what someone said to me also is kind of around COVID-19, too.

Like Snapchat filters, which was maybe before. Yeah. Snapchat filters and then face up and all the face filters. Like a lot of doctors say that people come in with like filtered examples. Or AI or whatever now.

And they're like, I want this, you know, done to me. So, you know, that's definitely I think taking a toll. But it's also become way more accessible now for people. Way more accessible. Way more accessible.

Everybody in their mother. Like I mean, it's just not even funny how accessible it is. How many people do you respond every corner in the city? Well, that was what I was going to say. I don't, but by the way, that could just be in LA or Miami.

Of course. These men are popping up like like Starbucks. But it's so, but my spot is also another like cities all over the world. But like, but like, but I just do think that they're, it's become. And for more places.

And it's so much easier to get to actually hilarious headline that came out recently, which was that celebrities. Now that plastic surgery is becoming so much more accessible. And the low class poor people of the world are getting plastic surgery. Celebrities are going back to their natural self.

Yes, I know. Did you see that? Yeah, I saw that. And then I saw that other discussion, which is like, okay, so now the upper echelon is going going out your mouth.

Okay, did you hear that? That convinced us into doing all of this plastic surgery. I love that. Okay, so I was going to bring that up. That was part of my notes in the plot in this segment.

I want to repeat that because that's very interesting. That now because there's a, there's a big headline about this. Yeah. That because now everybody in their dog is getting so much surgery, the celebrities now feel like they are kind of like, kind of like part of the whole,

you know, basically the, the common for the common folk, so now they're going. Oh, natural. They're like not getting surgery. They're not wearing makeup.

Well, they are getting surgery. They are wearing makeup, but they're doing it way more natural. And that's the thing is that now, but, but those cost a lot of money. So like to get the super natural nose job or the supernatural. I lift this.

It's going to cost you 10 X the cost, right? Now. So now it's coming out of reach. So now shitier plastic surgery. That's a bit more generic.

A bit more. It's so accessible, but the fine tune, fine touch, perfect whatever. That's far more expensive. Same thing with like filler and bow talks. Like, you could just go to any month's point and get shot up like crazy.

You'll look a little insane or you could spend, you know, two X the cost per unit and go to somebody who's going to make you look exactly like your teenage sex 10 X. I'm sure. No, for month's post I was like two X.

But like as in to say like a really good person. Now instead of it being so obvious, they're trying to make you all natural. It's like a whole.

It's it's it's it's obviously funny how they flip the script, but they always do that, right?

Well, becomes accessible to the poor when it's done become unacceptable to the rich. Versus vice versa.

“Like you must always maintain that that that separation, that class.”

Yeah. It's going to but but also like face lifts are insane. The cost of a facelift. I don't know that people understand. Oh my god.

There are fake. These facelift are like 250,000 dollars. No more. But can I tell you something? It's a it's a king for the fancy people. I have my hair.

250,000 dollar hair colorist. Okay, my hair colorist. Okay, she's 68 years old. I'm going to shout out to her and she. She wouldn't care if I said this. She's 68. She literally looks 40. I love that.

Okay. I'm sure she wouldn't mind if you don't know. She got she got a lower facelift by. Oh, really good dog.

But she always looked really.

But this is my point. But she also probably looked so good. I talked about this actually yesterday when I got my hair done. She said to me. And it's so true.

It's like if you are pretty before you're going to be pretty after. If you're going to be ugly or you're going to be uglier with a tighter face after. It's not going to change like what you said earlier. Yeah, but your nose is out. It's not going to make you gorgeous because you changing what if you are.

If you are something before, you're going to still be that just enhanced. Yeah.

“You know, I believe the so my point is she was really pretty before.”

She looked really young before. So with this, but she went to a guy who is like super under the radar. Nobody knows him. He's not on social media. And he was $24,000 for her lower facelift.

And it is incredible. Oh, well, that's okay. Deal. Okay. But also he just does the work and doesn't need the whole, you know, who plough around him.

He doesn't need to be on social.

I mean, that's what I think. Let me finish this important.

“I think the second some a plastic surgeon put himself on social.”

Right away, psychologically, I think he's not as good as somebody who's not on there. 100%. Okay. They're spending more time creating content than creating whatever it is. Surgery is what they're doing.

Absolutely. And it's a big red flag. It's a massive red flag. So this is my, this is my, my big hot take or take away. Maybe try to find a doctor who's not trying to be famous on social media.

Be a social media plastic surgeon and find one that's just super good. And they're, they're head is down doing the actual work offline. And you're going to save yourself also 90 90% of the money. Because the doctors I see who are in social. They are charging 10 20 times.

We're talking like the $300,000 facial. The 500,000 facial. And they say it's because they're doing this special thing like D plane. This did it. Meanwhile, you go talk to the doctor that my hairdresser went to.

And he's like, we all do D plane or we all do this. We all do that. We're just not like, I'm just not blabbing about it on social media and charging you 500,000. But that guy that can, you know, obviously, not Kim Chris Jenner went to. Yeah.

Dr. Klein. I think it's his name. I don't know. I don't know if he was a social media guy not. I'm not sure.

No. He just be super. He blew him up. Because other people are taking credit for his works. So she dropped his name.

She was like, no way. Because I don't think he was a. Because he was not really. Obviously, that is going to send you. But he was very unfair. You know, true.

Without him even trying.

“He was, he was the only, I think he was the anomaly where he was.”

Like extremely expensive, but not necessarily a social media. No, there's really high quality doctors that are fortunate. Who are not very active on social. It's not necessarily. No, no, I agree.

That's why I meant to say. Yeah, it's not necessarily.

It's not always correlated.

But it does make it. But I'm saying 90% of the time. Yeah. That that is the situation. But of course,

There's some that are Manhattan who have such a high. Even here. Yeah. Who have such a high caliber. Their patients are so rich.

Yeah. That they can charge whatever the hell they want. Or they're very big experts in their field. The guy who did mindset and preparation, who I love Jason Hamilton.

I think he's, if anyone's looking for a nose person. He is literally the guy to go to. Like he's such an expert in his class for septums. No, you don't understand. There are very few doctors out there who will actually fix a septum preparation.

Okay. I said, I don't know. Because I don't know who he is. I don't know. I don't know.

I don't know. I think there's some doctors. But like, if they're very published in their field or if they're very, you know, if they're like, there are doctors who within their space are incredibly famous in that field. But they're not necessarily famous to the general public.

Yeah. Verses like the ones who are like the celebrities influence or whatever. But I also think that there's like there's some caveats there. You want to kind of feel out what kind of influence or doctor the person is. Because sometimes they just have a killer team.

And it's not really them doing lunch or sometimes they care so much about it. And they're all caught up in their all, you know. And that's not necessarily someone you want. Yeah. No, I totally agree with that.

But listen, don't cheap out. It's really important. Love yourself also. And if you have insecurities before genuinely, like you will have them after. That was my point.

That's the point. You will have them after. Or you find other ones, by the way. Like you might, you know, like I like my nose. No, I've other shit.

I don't like, you know what I'm saying.

“And also, I still sometimes didn't pick up my nose, right?”

Yeah. Okay, that's another great point. Onto the next. What else do I got to fit? Like it's just, you know, love that.

It's so true. It's like, when you actually have, now you have that taken care. Right. You're going to fix it on something else. Right.

You lose weight. You get in shape. You look great. Now all of a sudden you have another like thing. I don't like it.

I'm sorry. Now it's like a little bit of a loose skin under the arms.

You never noticed before.

Like that is human nature. Do some extra. Yeah. 100%. Okay, you guys.

I got to wrap this. But Sean, you're the best. Thank you for coming again. Don't forget to subscribe. I love you too.

I'll come back on my face with you. Bye.