I underwent surgery in July of 2024 because I had trouble breathing through my nose and I made an agreement with my doctor to also improve the nose septum deviation I had on the outside. The procedure was called septorhinoplasty. It is a functional and aesthetic surgery combined into one excruciating procedure. I was in the hospital for 8 days, and I witnessed firsthand just how poorly the nursing staff regards patients who undergo any plastic surgery, regardless of whether it is functional or not. Because of their bias, I was treated as if I was less human and as if my post-surgical pain was not as bad as the pain of other patients. On top of the pain I was going through, I was openly judged for my decision to improve the quality of my life. The entire situation was extremely stressful and I couldn’t wait to be dismissed home.

This made me wonder about the nature of judging people who decide to improve their lives: why do we loathe disfiuration, but are equally aghast with plastic surgery? Is the negative judgment a result of some anthropological, unconscious instinct that guides us through our search for strength in a sexual partner or a member of our tribe? Or is it perhaps because the shadow part of ourselves is signaling to us where we need to improve, as a human being? Why do we judge people who undergo plastic surgery? What is it within us that compels us to do so?