Why Women Who Dress Modestly Are Getting Cosmetic Surgery

Who is cosmetic surgery for?

“It’s for me.”

“I did it for myself.”

This is what many women answer, when asked why they pursued cosmetic surgery. For women who dressed modestly, this response is offered even more emphatically; for these women, the only person who might see their new-and-improved body is the one looking back at them in the mirror.

Since the pandemic, over three quarters of cosmetic surgeons reported an increased demand of plastic surgery, as per a survey from the American Society of Plastic Surgery. Surgeons believed that demand was driven by many factors related to the pandemic, including: wanting to look younger after aging from pandemic stress and noticing things during those constant video calls…that they now want to change. The top five surgical procedures in 2021-2022 were: liposuction, facelift, breast augmentation, tummy tuck, and breast lift. Tummy tuck and breast lift were most commonly sought by patients in the 31-45 age group.

What’s surprising is that these trends are being seen even among women dress modestly. Dr. Ira Savetsky, an Orthodox Jewish board-certified plastic surgeon who practices on the upper east side of Manhattan shared, “I’m seeing increasing numbers of Orthodox women seeking plastic surgery to restore their bodies. While some refer to this as ‘cosmetic surgery,’ I would argue that this is more of a reconstructive surgery.”

Dr. Savetsky ties this trend into the higher number of pregnancies for Orthodox women. Pregnancy, and especially multiple pregnancies, can result in separation of the abdominal muscles, excess loose skin, and breast changes; all of these can negatively impact a woman, both physically and emotionally. “I believe women in general, and Orthodox women specifically, have stepped into a new phase of confidence and independence, blazing trails in all aspects of their lives. Now, more than ever before, Orthodox Jewish women are serving as CEO’s of Fortune 500 companies, founding their own successful start-ups, and taking leadership roles in health care, law, politics, and the community. This revolution comes with empowerment to look and feel their best. The female Orthodox Jewish patients I see are truly making the decision to have these restorative surgeries for themselves; not to impress anyone else.”

Dr. Savetsky shares that most women come for the consultation alone; the occasional husband who accompanies his wife usually limits his questions to risks and complications. “What was once taboo, has certainly become more accepted in many communities. Today, Orthodox Jewish women are much more open about their surgeries, particularly among their peers. Despite their modest attire, these women greatly value their physical appearance.” He says that these women express that their cosmetic surgery aligns with their religious priorities, which include the “power and holiness” of beauty.

While there are no objective reports or data on this topic, I attempted to gather some information from my followers on Instagram, who are mostly from the Orthodox Jewish community. In January 2023, I asked on my stores: “If you’re someone who won’t wear a bikini of public (for religious reasons or otherwise), would you still get this type of surgery?” (e.g. tummy tuck, mommy makeover, breast surgery)

Some responses included:

“Yes of course, you want to look good for you”

“Absolutely if it makes me feel beautiful why not even if I don’t show it”

“To look better in clothing”

“Yes. its for yourself. not for others to see.”

While women who dress modestly may not “flaunt it” or even disclose their surgeries to their friends, it appears that many would go under the knife for cosmetic reasons, whether to improve their appearance under clothes or the view in their own bathroom mirror. A minority of women responded that they would pursue surgery to improve loose abdominal skin causing discomfort (after pregnancy or c-sections), a minority shared they oppose plastic surgery because of the negative messages it sends young women about their bodies.

Dr. Alan Matarasso, a plastic surgeon and past president of the American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS) shared that many people don’t appreciate that cosmetic surgery is often pursued by individuals who want to restore their appearance for themselves, not specifically to “show it off.” He reports treating many Orthodox patients after massive weight loss, including men and women. “The reality is, people care about how they look whether they’re covered or not.”

As cosmetic surgery becomes more popular overall, this trend will likely continue even for women and men who dress modestly. As one instagram responder wrote:

“I think feeling your best contributes to overall healthfullness.”