Cosmetic surgery rates surge among Utah women
Emily Havens, [email protected] Published 3:52 p.m. MT April 11, 2017 | Updated 4:32 p.m. MT April 11, 2017
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(Photo: Jud Burkett / for The Spectrum & Daily News)
About 80 percent of U.S. women do not like the way they look, and Utah women are not immune to that feeling considering their extremely high rate of opting for cosmetic surgery.
According to the Utah Women and Leadership Project, two-thirds of Utah's women know someone who has undergone elective plastic surgery. Many researchers are puzzled by the phenomenon, considering Utah is one of the most conservative and religious states in the nation.
While researchers aren't totally clear on the reasons why, some believe cultural factors in Utah are contributing to the spike in cosmetic surgery.
According to the cosmetic surgery data compiled by UWLP, one specific study on women belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints revealed that breast augmentations are sometimes given to women for high school graduation presents, or "mommy makeovers" (breast augmentation, tummy tuck and liposuction) are also given to women as holiday presents.
"I can safely say that a majority of the women who come in for breast augmentation or tummy tucks, the primary reason is a statement such as, 'I've had all my children, and now I need to fix my body,'" said Dr. Aaron Klomp, who practices in the Dixie Regional Medical Center's Health and Performance Center.
