Reputation Management Online

Thinking about Katie Price inevitably led to thinking about plastic surgery and what it means for a celebrity. We all know about Michael Jackson and his endless trips to the surgery for a little more construction, and the British male population have followed with admiration the varying shape and size of Jordan’s breasts as she has had them augmented and then reduced.

In the UK, plastic surgery is seen as lacking authenticity and somehow revealing of the mindset of a celebrity. In other words, if she (or he) needs it, there must be something wrong.  Most people treated Michael Jackson’s addiction as symptom of a wider psychological malaise and no just a bit of fun, but then again it was okay Pamela Anderson to have surgery.

Plastic surgery is usually considered a sign of lack of superficiality. If we perceive the celebrity as superficial then “some” plastic surgery is ok; but too much is not. The principle applies differently to each gender.

Men with plastic surgery are disparaged – so if you are a celebrity, hide it. Blaming image-obsessed media a la Kenny Rogers does not work. Act like Tom Cruise who must have had some but has never shown it. Be careful you don’t do a Mickey Rourke who used to be so cool and now according to one critic looks like a “prison bitch”. Paul McCartney has done his reputation no good (or his looks) by acquiring a cosmetic sheen on his face.

For women your choice depends on your career needs and your reputation.

1. If you have a reputation as a “real woman” then take it easy and hide it. You dont want to lose your reputation as an authentic, know what I like woman. If you are going down the surgery route a have a reputation management plan in place.
2. If you are perceived as “superficial” then remember that cosmetic surgery may help in the short term but …
   1. You will never be seen as a beauty thou you may be seen as sexy
   2. You will never be seen as authentic – so developing your serious career will be difficult
   3. You will be tarred with it. People will nod their heads and say I told you so.

Whatever you do, don’t do a Jocelyn Wildenstein who was reviled as bride of Frankenstein. What her plastic surgeon was thinking: god only knows!

The most important thing to remember is that people will talk and you need to know what to say.

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