For his photo series 'A New Kind Of Beauty,' London-based photographer Phillip Toledano photographed individuals who voluntarily underwent several plastic surgeries in order to bring their bodies closer to some personal ideal. Many of the subjects are famous for their nip-and-tuck tendencies and unusual appearance.
The series' protagonists appear cold, detached and almost lifeless owing to their unconventional and somewhat manufactured appearance. However, the photos aim to quell exactly this kind of judgment and prompt the viewer to consider who really has the right define a person's face as human, warm, emotive or otherwise.
Toledano hopes that viewers will not instantly judge the people in the photos, as he believes they are in some ways at the forefront of the human evolution. He points out that tattoos and piercings were once considered outlandish but are now quite mainstream; in the same way, the increasing prevalence and decreasing cost of plastic surgery may in the future come to redefine what it means to be a 'normal-looking' person.
Provocative Plastic Surgery Portraits
Phillip Toledano Snaps Serial Plastic Surgery Recipients
Trend Themes
1. Personalized Plastic Surgery - Plastic surgery tailored to individual ideals and standards could disrupt traditional cosmetic surgery practices.
2. Evolution of Beauty Standards - As plastic surgery gains prevalence, society's view of what is considered "normal-looking" will continue to shift.
3. Alternative Self-expression - Plastic surgery provides a new form of self-expression, similar to tattoos and piercings.
Industry Implications
1. Cosmetic Surgery - The cosmetic surgery industry could benefit from expanding their services to offer more personalized and customizable options.
2. Fashion and Beauty - As plastic surgery becomes more prevalent, the fashion and beauty industry can adapt by expanding their marketing and product lines to include a wider range of "normal-looking" individuals.
3. Art and Photography - The increasing use of plastic surgery as a way of self-expression presents new opportunities for art and photography to explore the changing definition of beauty standards.