I resisted the temptation to get a procedure — thanks to my family

‘Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder!” My doctor suggested plastic surgery for my Bell’s Palsy which had not completely healed after three years of various treatments. I refused, as I saw deep in my husband’s eyes. His love for me was the only beauty I needed and he gave an emphatic ‘no’ to my childish fantasy.

True love needs no external props to prove it. My smile, for me, was my identity as I was fondly called ‘Sunshine Surya’ or ‘the smiling girl’ by my close family and in my social circles. That is when I had to face the greatest shock, which paralysed my face, distorting my smile. The pain and suffering were unbearable. But my close friends and relatives, with whom I keep contact through social media, made me emotionally and spiritually strong. Then 80 per cent of my recovery over the period of three years was a result of these emotional bonds. For the remaining 20 per cent healing, I have stopped worrying!

The connectivity with distant family members becomes easier. I love people and Nature, so I always ‘take the best and leave the rest’. However, over indulgence and over dependence on social media, at the cost of ignoring one’s family and friends, is a major flaw. Both need to be harmonised by effective time management.

Artificial or superficial beauty never lasts long. A loving and caring heart is all that really matters in the end. In my opinion, plastic surgery should only be the last resort to restore beauty in critical cases. Social media users should support natural looks and denounce surgeries, which are mainly for business purposes. Some surgeries do have dangerous side effects too! Beware! From Ms Surya Susan Bijoy Freelance journalist based in Dubai