Black Women

The Hidden Dangers of Cosmetic Surgery Highlights The Death Sentence Over Black Women

Unrealistic societal standards push Black women into dangerous territory, — it’s time to push back.

Amara La Negra Silhouette Illustration | Photo Courtesy of Nappy Afro

Historically, the cultural stigma on aging provided that African Americans, — specifically women, — rightfully shunned the notion of cosmetic procedures and surgeries to enhance their appearance. African Americans are widely known to carry protective genetic benefits that often prevent us from wearing our true age on our sleeves.

However, in more recent times, cosmetic surgeries are on a constant rise in our community, — specifically where Black women are concerned. Since 2010, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) reported that over a million African Americans had cosmetic or plastic surgery procedures each year and accounted for about 8 percent of the total 13 million who underwent cosmetic procedures.

An industry once prevalent in mostly white communities has become more popular amongst African Americans within the last decade. And not only have Black women come to embrace undergoing cosmetic surgeries, but we have also become the industry’s most exploitated target.