While out for drinks last night, my friends and I somehow came across the topic of hair removal (the different methods we've tried, which works best etc.) and the next thing I knew, we were all talking about different cosmetic procedures we'd considered having done. 
At first it was just permanent hair removal methods or scar removal but the next thing I knew we were talking about nose jobs and breast implants. 

And although none of us are by any means wealthy, and we're all healthy and smart, we all had at least one certain procedure in mind that we felt we wanted badly enough to spend our hard earned money on (not to mention going through the medical process for).

I had always been against plastic surgery on principle growing up, even as I at times played with the idea of getting certain things done. And I still feel somewhat saddened when I hear of people getting it done because I wish people could just be satisfied exactly as they are. And I feel like I SHOULD be against it from a feminist perspective. But the more time goes on, the more understanding, if not completely open, I feel towards it.

It's not that I think it's the greatest thing in the world or that I'd ever encourage any one to do it but I find it harder and harder to discourage people partly because I'm not one to tell other people what to do with their lives and partly because it seems to have gotten to the point that if getting a procedure done is really going to make you feel a little better about yourself/make you less self concious than maybe it's simply the right choice for that person and shouldn't be treated differently than someone shaving their legs or wearing make up (I know some people may be against doing those things at well but for me personally I never had any qualms about that).

It's not news that a person's physical appearance can affect their lives in pretty much every aspect and it's not like you only have to look in fashion magaizines to see how powerful the superficial is. But even just the psychological effects can be enourmous. It sounds stupid but even little things like shaving my legs or having my hair done can sometimes just lift my mood.
And while I have a list in my head of procedures I'd never consider (rhinoplasty, breast implants), ones I definetely want (scar removal, hair removal) and ones I'd possibly consider (maybe laser resurfacing as I age), I realize that it's just based on arbritrary personal differences and not on some grand principle, in which case I can't really be strongly against someone else getting a different procedure that I might not personally think is a good idea.

I'm not trying to endorse plastic surgery and I'm still somewhat conflicted about how I feel towards it (I almost feel guilty about it) but I think I have to readjust my initial reaction of disapointment when someone  tells me they've gotten something done or plan on getting something done to accepting it as just another personal choice that's perfectly acceptable for a mature adult to make.
But even still, if say I were to have a daughter and she came up to me one day telling me she wanted a nose job or her breasts done, I can't imagine doing anything but trying to talk her out of it.