plastic surgery

“Here in Beirut, they love plastic surgery. They don’t just love being beautiful and glamorous – though the city does have a shop that sells only gold shoes – they love the whole process of spending money to change your appearance. Beiruti hoydens go out in the evening with bandages still on their noses, to show the full-time people-watchers of Lebanon the status symbol that is having the money and leisure to make themselves even more beautiful. Older women, I am told, like to go away for a special holiday and come back all healed up. Banks here offer loans specifically for Botox or plastic surgery, which is getting cheaper. You could bounce a squash ball off the breasts at the private beaches. Surgery is a national obsession.” >>> the rest by Alice Fordham