Skip to main content

More Gazans undergoing cosmetic surgery

Despite of and because of the social, economic and political problems in Gaza, more residents are having cosmetic surgery in the hope of living better lives.

A sample of Botox is seen at the Long Island Plastic Surgical Group at the Americana Manhasset luxury shopping destination in Manhasset, New York September 30, 2010. Patients of the office will have the opportunity to schedule an Americana personal shopper on their behalf to shop for them during their appointment.  REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton   (UNITED STATES - Tags: SOCIETY HEALTH) - RTXSVHL
A sample of Botox is seen at the Long Island Plastic Surgical Group in Manhasset, New York, Sept. 30, 2010. — REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Pregnancies significantly changed Safa Ahmad's physical appearance, which began to affect her marriage and cause her psychological problems. About five months ago, Safa, a 28-year-old living in Gaza City, had breast implants in the hope they would help her feel better psychologically and improve things at home.

“My husband wanted to marry someone else because of the changes in my looks after I gave birth to three sons," she told Al-Monitor. "But by coincidence, I heard about cosmetic surgeries in Gaza, and I suggested to my husband that I have one. He immediately agreed, so I got silicon breast implants, and they drastically changed my looks as well as my marital and family life. My husband then let go of the idea of marrying someone else.”

It's not only women in Gaza getting cosmetic surgery. Men are also having it. Ahmad Hassan, 32, felt stuck in life after a number of girls rejected his proposals of marriage because wrinkles on his face made him look like a man in his 50s.

“I had cosmetic surgery to remove the wrinkles covering my face so I could have a normal life and find a girl who accepts me. Dozens of girls rejected me before I had the wrinkles removed," he told Al-Monitor. "About two weeks after the operation, I was in a relationship.”

SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE

Continue reading this exclusive analysis

Original reporting and analysis unavailable elsewhere. Subscribe to AL-MONITOR to read this story and access everything we publish