Infidelity has always been a deal breaker for most people. Stories of spouses cheating on one another are as old as the institution of marriage itself. When people think of cheating on their spouse, they almost always think of a sexual relationship with another person. However, there is a new form of cheating on a loved one that is gaining popularity across the country and it is known as cosmetic infidelity.
Cosmetic Infidelity Defined
“Cosmetic infidelity” is the term used to describe a situation where a patient keeps his/her cosmetic procedure and the costs involved a secret from their partner. Cosmetic surgery has always been a divisive subject. Some see cosmetic surgery as no big deal and fully embrace it as a necessity when trying to stay young. Others see it as a taboo subject that shouldn't be performed. The tricky nature of cosmetic surgery makes most women hide their procedure from their significant other. Minor procedures like Botox, fillers and laser skin resurfacing rank high among the most frequently hidden cosmetic procedures. Other major procedures like a facelift, breast augmentation and rhinoplasty are more difficult to hide. Patients have to go to great lengths to hide these cosmetic surgery procedures from their partner.
Cosmetic Infidelity for Men and Women
Opting for cosmetic surgery is a huge decision to make. It is a significant step in the life of an individual and, as such, it shouldn't be scheduled without the consent of a significant other. However, studies have shown that almost a third of patients don’t tell their significant others about their plans to undergo a cosmetic procedure. Also, many patients don’t tell their loved ones how much money they are spending even if they let them in on their cosmetic surgery plans.
Cosmetic infidelity is not limited to women only. Many men also have procedures that they hide from their loved ones. As mentioned above, larger surgical procedures such as a tummy tuck are difficult to hide from others. However, some treatments like Botox are relatively easy to conceal.
Steps of Cosmetic Infidelity
Whether it is a large surgical procedure or something as simple as fillers, the first step in cosmetic infidelity is hiding the amount of money being spent by the patient. Depending on the cost of the procedure being performed, there are a number of ways to hide the money. Some patients pay all in cash while others pay half in cash and the other half on a credit card. Some credit cards allow a person to spend a certain amount of money before notifying their partner about larger charges. Many patients will charge that amount on a card and then pay the rest in cash. Other patients pay all of the charges on credit cards by spreading out the charges over a number of cards in their possession.
Another big step in cosmetic infidelity is having the procedure at a time that it is easy to hide from others. Many patients elect to have surgery performed when their spouse is out of town. The time away from a loved one allows the patient valuable recovery time away from the gaze of their partner. Many spouses return from their trip with no clue that any type of work has been done on their loved one. Non-invasive treatments such as a laser treatment or fillers can be done while the partner is away on an overnight trip. It takes about a day for the swelling to go down so the patient looks normal when the spouse returns home.
Finally, some women take advantage of the fact that many men fall into the cliché of not noticing any changes in the appearance of their wife or girlfriend. Many women report having multiple procedures performed and their loved one not noticing any changes at all. The fact that men are often very bad at spotting changes in the appearance of their wife or girlfriend helps the patient have a procedure without being caught.
Why Women Choose Cosmetic Infidelity
Keeping something as significant as cosmetic surgery from your partner is not advisable. However, the social pressure placed on women regarding their looks makes it difficult to sometimes fault a woman who chooses to hide her procedure.
Some of the reasons why women keep their cosmetic surgery a secret include:
No End in Sight for Cosmetic Infidelity
Cosmetic infidelity continues to grow in popularity. As new cosmetic procedures are invented, and existing procedures are refined and improved, the number of people cheating on their loved ones through cosmetic means does not look to be slowing down anytime in the near future. Whether women are undergoing cosmetic procedures to increase their self-esteem, create a spark in their love life or to look the way society feels they should look, cosmetic infidelity will keep happening for patients of all ages.