As homo sapiens, as human beings, we are a species with hair, stretch marks, some fatty tissue, wrinkles and hundreds of similar features that “today’s society does not accept or like”. We are all unique with our differences, some would say flaws, and our own characteristics. I tell my female patients who come to me because “my husband (or my lover) is uncomfortable with the appearance of my legs”: “This is not a problem with you, it is a problem with him”. Unless you are unhappy with the appearance or for other reasons (pain, edema etc.), then you are welcome. In the past, and unfortunately still today, many individuals believe that varicose veins are “purely aesthetic problems.” Although some varicose veins may indeed be solely an aesthetic concern, there is an exceptionally high prevalence of varicose vein disease that will cause medical problems due to varicose veins and therefore it is not only “cosmetic” but “medical”. So how do we know what is “normal” and what is “abnormal” or “defective”? Or rather, since this is my job and I have techniques such as ultrasound and Doppler, I can tell, but how will you, reader? Today, the beauty industry, phenomena, TV series, social
media impose prototypes and trends on everyone, especially women. In the meantime, whoever wants should have any aesthetic intervention, I am absolutely not against it, especially if it will make her/him feel better. The point I want to underline here is that it is very important to choose what is “healthy first” and then “beautiful” by being affected as little as possible by the trends that tell women what they should look like. Appearance is very important for many reasons, and everyone accepts this. I am not disrespectful to your intelligence or distorted in my perception of reality to write to you here that it is not the outer appearance, it is the inner beauty that matters :) Both are important. Appearance is also important for self-confidence and for many other reasons. In addition, our appearance is important for respectability, position, network in society. As Mevlana said “people are welcomed with their clothes, entertained with their knowledge and sent off with their morals”. Looking beautiful brings self-confidence and therefore courage, joy and success. Our goal should be “healthy beauty”.