Can Plastic Surgery Help Your Modeling Career?

Models may want to consider certain plastic surgery options, or perhaps make the most of their finest assets.

There are several questions in my in-box concerning plastic surgery. Some agents hyperventilate at the mention of teenagers having plastic surgery, but if a young man or woman has the necessary requirements for a modeling career except for a flaw which could be surgically corrected, it would be wise for that young person to at a very minimum consider the surgery. At this point, I would stress that any consultation should be done with a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, or the equivalent authority in your own country.

Less-than-perfect noses are a fairly common cause for concern, and the following question from a reader and new model typifies this. My husband, Ian, is a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery who performs a variety of procedures on models from time to time. When he decides to perform the surgery, he must be sure that the patient is having the procedure for her own self-esteem and not to impress anyone or to get a job. Here is a question about a rhinoplasty (nose job) and his answer.

Q: I have started my modeling career and I love it, but I have been told that my nose is holding me back. It has an ugly hump, and I am wondering if I should have surgery to correct it. Is this a good idea, and do you think it would help my career?

A: Dr. Ian Matheson, M.D. C.M., replies: "Cosmetic surgery is a serious decision, and a rhinoplasty (nose job) will not guarantee a successful modeling career. However, taking down the hump and making the nose look smaller could possibly add to your self-confidence, which is a crucial element for a model. One often finds that a patient with a big nose can also have a receding chin, and the combination of a rhinoplasty and a chin implant can often greatly improve a profile.

"The before-and-after photos provided [in this article on pageantrymagazine.com] are a good example of that improvement. In this case, the patient had the bony hump and the cartilage that were protruding on the dorsum of the nose lowered. The nasal bones were then fractured and moved inward. A silicone chin implant was placed over the bone at the front of the chin. The post-operative photograph shows the results."

This next question concerns parts modeling, an area of specialization that includes hands, feet, legs, eyes, lips, armpits (deodorants), and backs (sun and skin-care products).

Q: Everyone has told me that my hands are beautiful and that I should be a hand model. How do I get started and what is involved?

A: Hand modeling is a versatile and lucrative branch of the industry in both print and television. It can be as grueling and demanding as any other type of modeling. The good news is there is no height requirement. Clients are specific about the hands showing their products. A small hand can make a product look bigger.

I interviewed Dani Korwin, who owns Parts Models Inc., in New York City, which has been in business for 20 years. Dani worked as a regular model for a period of time before realizing that "there was a need for specialization." Dani's agency covers all body parts, but the focus is on hands, legs, and feet. Her input covers various aspects of this specialty.

She says: "If a model has the right body part, I would say she can make a living in the business. This is not like the fashion and beauty end of the industry. There is a longer shelf life, so to speak, for the models. My advice is to take a realistic view of yourself and realize this is a business like any other business. If you want to be successful, you really have to devote yourself to it full-time. This enterprise is not a hobby and it is not something to be done on a part-time basis. It is a profession and clients, advertisers, magazines, and photographers spend good time and good money for the model and model services."

Dani emphasized the importance of regular manicures and pedicures, the use of nourishing creams morning and night, and the use of sun-block on a daily basis. Models are advised to submit photographs to Parts Models Inc., 7529 FDR Station, New York, NY 10150. Dani adds, "This is the only way we will consider anyone. If we are interested, we will schedule an appointment." The modeling agency's web site is www.partsmodels.com.

I am asked loads of questions about the minimum height requirement for fashion models. So many girls want to be international runway models despite the fact that they are less than the 5'9" mandatory minimum height required by designers. Here is a question from a girl who tells me she is a successful print model but would like to model in Paris and Milan.

Q: When I see models on the runways in Europe, I know I could look as good and walk as well as they do. But I am 5'7" and am told I am too short and it will never happen for me. Is this true?

A: My immediate response is never say never, especially in this business and in the world today. However, the odds are against you for the simple reason that there are thousands of girls who are over 5'9" with the same dream. Designers prefer to use tall models because they feel their creations look better on them. Also, the more of the garment there is to show, the more opportunity and room there is for ruffles, pockets, buttons, and so on.

Doors have opened worldwide for the plus-size model, and there is a glimmer of hope for the petite. For example, English fashion icon and designer Victoria Beckham (a former member of the Spice Girls pop-music group and the wife of footballer David Beckham), who is 5'3", did a fashion shoot in England last fall wearing designs by Valentino, Versace, and Armani. Nicki Hilton, who is definitely not of high-fashion-model height, was in Robert Cavalli's runway show at the same time. A number of stars have become designers and don't always require that their creations are shown by top models with perfect statistics. Famous designer Jean Paul Gaultier has always veered away from the classic mold. On his runway in Paris, he uses tall, short, heavy, and thin models as well as senior citizens. Gaultier's interest is in interesting models rather than the obvious super model type.

So, while I don't want to give false hope, don't give up your dream. I am pleased to hear that you are doing so well as a print model. Keep up the good work in this area. Take part in local fashion shows. Do television commercials and take acting classes. This will broaden the scope of your experience. The more exposure you have through people you meet in the industry, the more aware you will be of new opportunities. There may well be a breakthrough in height requirements for the petite models in the future. After all, change is the only constant in this business.

See this article at Pageantry Magazine: Playing Up Your Best Parts

Eve Matheson is the author of The Modeling Handbook , a bestseller in the industry. She has been writing about the modeling and acting world for over 20 years. Her new book Model Scoop And Acting Info provides a wealth of information on how to have a happy, successful, safe career and is now available. Eve is a journalist and the mother of a former international model. She has worked as a model, and in radio and television as a writer and presenter. Eve lives with her husband, Ian, a plastic surgeon, in Tampa, Florida.

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