“How do they do it?” wondered Team Costhetics, longing to be like the Olympians who are luminously camera-ready seconds after they complete an event.
Does super-human ability come with supernatural beauty? Not at all! “Between the necessity for successful sports stars to maintain their looks and the constant risk of physical trauma that comes hand-in-hand with their job, plastic surgery has become widely accepted with pro athletes,” reports TheSportster in its article Top 15 Female Athletes Who Have Had Plastic Surgery.
Olympians are people first and athletes second. Just like other high-profile people, they turn to the help of surgeons and aestheticians so they can look their best from every angle. What gets the gold medal when it comes to beauty in the Olympic Village? Here’s what we found out…
Rhinoplasty
There was blood in the water when Olympic gold medal swimmer Stephanie Rice broke her nose in a pool accident. The injury left her with sinusitis, a deviated septum, and reduced air flow. Her family urged her to keep her nose surgery under wraps, but she decided to go public. “It’s not easy to open up about personal things but I would hope that my candidness helps someone else in some way,” she told the Daily Telegraph.
Microblading
Unwilling to rely on the promises of waterproof eyeliners and mascaras, Olympians often choose permanent enhancements. Microblading is the most popular form. Cosmetic tattoo artists use advanced techniques to feather and shade the area, and create natural looking brows. There is a potential risk of infection with makeup tattoos, so it’s important to have the work done by or under the supervision of a medical professional.
Facial Fillers
Running is a terrific exercise, but it can leave elite athletes with a face that is slim to the point of being bony and wrinkled due to sun exposure. In other words: old-looking. The answer, say aestheticians, is to add volume to cheeks, rather than filling in wrinkles. As volume is added to the cheeks, the lines around the mouth tend to be lifted and erased. The fillers approach yields a softer, more natural appearance.
Lip Augmentation
The lips of Olympians are exposed to some of the harshest conditions imaginable, from the icy cold of winter snowboarding slopes to the drying, chlorine-filled water of pools. Olympic gymnast Mckayla Maroney denied rumours she plumped up after her quest for gold, but others say it has helped their lips stay attractive.
Laser Hair Removal
No Olympian wants to be caught with their hair down there showing. Plus, hair creates a physical drag on swimmers when every second counts. Bikini waxing only lasts for about a month, so hirsute athletes who need help often choose laser hair removal. Unlike waxing, a series of laser treatments can leave you hair-free for months or even years. Adding to the appeal is the fact that hair that does return is generally finer and lighter in colour.
Like you, Team Costhetics will be watching this year’s Olympic Games from the safety of our homes. Next go-round, we hope to be able to be there in-person to lend our “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi” to the festivities.