Stand-up comedian and actress Amy Schumer is no stranger to self-deprecation. It’s kind of part of her brand of humor — but she recently shared a message of self-love by publicly revealing that she underwent liposuction. Amy Schumer’s liposuction story is one of confidence.
“C section. Hysterectomy. Lipo. This summer is about letting the love in. Trying to be healthy and strong for myself and my family. I want to feel hot too. In my prime. Let’s go. Who’s with me?” she shared in an Instagram post where she showed off the results of the procedure.
She had alluded to getting liposuction back in January, posting a beach picture and giving shoutouts to her physician among other health and wellness professionals.
”I never thought I would do anything but talk to me after your uterus doesn’t contract for 2.5 years and you turn 40,” she wrote in the caption. “I love the honesty. Everyone deserves to feel good,” commented a fan.
Schumer’s liposuction reveal is an act of body positivity
You may be wondering: If she altered her body, how is this revelation about self-love? And that’s exactly why Schumer’s honesty is necessary. While confidence is an inside job too, there is nothing wrong with doing what feels right for you to be more comfortable in your body — it’s your choice, natural or not.
“I think it helps because, in reality, so many Americans (particularly women) undergo cosmetic surgery at some point in their lives. Seeing celebrities undergo liposuction drives home just how common this procedure is and helps soften the stigma. Women shouldn’t feel ashamed for wanting liposuction. You can believe in body positivity and also get cosmetic surgery; the two aren’t mutually exclusive,” says board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Katerina Gallus.
By being open about getting work done, Schumer is not only breaking stigmas but also reminding others that it sometimes takes more than “grilled chicken and walks,” as she put it, for celebs to look the way they do. In a world where airbrushing your Instagram photos is as prevalent as throwing a basic filter on them used to be, this matters. Especially when you are bombarded with the contradicting message that “natural” is better.
“Whether good or bad, these celebrities are role models for many women and young girls. Portraying unrealistic imaging of aging or other body features can really negatively impact others’ perception of body image. By being forthright, we all can see just how beautiful each person is within all of the choices they have made,” says Jordan D. Frey M.D., founder of The Prudent Plastic Surgeon.
The link between cosmetic surgery and self-confidence
“Imagine if someone made you wear clothes you didn’t feel comfortable in, would you be able to go out and about and socialize like you normally do?” says Dimitrios Pexaras, psychotherapist and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. It would feel restrictive, right? And that is what it can feel like to be insecure about a particular body feature. In that sense, ironically, making the choice to alter that feature can actually help you feel more comfortable expressing your authentic self.
“While achieving your aesthetic goals feels empowering, the benefits to well-being are often more strongly felt: the time spent worrying about a perceived appearance flaw is gone, and that insecurity is replaced with greater confidence and ease,” adds Gallus.
That being said, context is everything, and cosmetic surgery is not a magic fix for deep-rooted insecurities caused by mental health issues that no amount of external intervention can solve.
Take Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), a mental health disorder characterized by a preoccupation over perceived flaws, a distorted body image, and behaviors such as obsessive mirror checking. Frey and Gallus both say that it’s crucial for surgeons to screen patients and assess whether they are suitable candidates – potential BDD would be a red flag and most physicians would refuse to treat someone exhibiting signs of it.
While Schumer alone can appreciate the motivating factors behind her decision, based on what she has shared, it appears to come from the state of mind that would make plastic surgery a confidence booster: She made lifestyle changes, she is taking charge of various aspects of her well-being, and this was one tool in her arsenal of self-care.
“She revealed that for the first time in a very long time, she is feeling herself and feels good. We have an individual who made a cognitive decision to undergo liposuction in order to ease her mind from anxiety and insecurities, and this person now can go public posting about her body confidence to the world, which is extremely empowering – not just to herself but a lot of people who idolize and follow her,” says Pexaras.
