If a woman was aesthetically unattractive, say, 200 years ago, there was (unfortunately) little she could do about it.
A stark contrast to the present-day woman.
Thanks to modern aesthetic technology, women enjoy unprecedented freedom to change various aspects of their appearance, often with minimal side effects and downtime. This raises an interesting question: “Has this made women more attractive today than they’ve been in history?”
The ever-changing beauty ideal
To be entirely honest, it’s a tricky question to answer.
History shows that beauty standards are constantly changing, shaped by factors such as cultural norms, traditions, societal values, media, and fashion. Just take a look at the different ideal body types broken down by place in time:
- Roaring twenties (1920s): Flat chest, downplayed waist, short bob hairstyle, boyish figure
- Golden age of Hollywood (1930s to 1950s): Curves, hourglass figure, large breasts, slim waist
- Swinging sixties (1960s): Willowy, thin, adolescent figure with long, slim legs
- Supermodel era (1980s): Athletic, svelte (but curvy), tall, toned arms
- Heroin chic (1990s): Waifish, extremely thin, androgynous
- Postmodern beauty (2000s to today): Flat stomach, “healthy” skinny, thigh gap, large breasts, and butt
People from the 1920s would not have appreciated the aggressively curvy body of Kim Kardashian, who is arguably the poster woman of ideal beauty standards for the modern woman.
How technology in aesthetics is empowering women
All this to say … while we can’t objectively say that women are more attractive today than they have been in history, we can say that modern aesthetic technology has enabled them to pursue enhancements that align with current beauty standards.
The non-invasive beauty treatments women can choose from today prove this point perfectly.
Laser hair removal
In 1575, the Spanish physician Juan Harte wrote, “Of course, the woman who has much body and facial hair (being of a more hot and dry nature) is also intelligent but disagreeable and argumentative, muscular, ugly, has a deep voice, and frequent infertility problems.”
This aversion to women with body hair extends beyond him and that period.
A recent 2021 research paper found that men still prefer women without body hair, no matter if it’s located in the leg and/or armpit. More specifically, when the researcher asked men to choose the picture they found most attractive, 92.5% chose the hairless women.
And when it came to explaining their answers, the participants stated the following opinions:
- Preferring partners with smooth skin (95.2% of participants)
- Seeing body hair as an emasculating feature (85.7%)
- Considering that females “just look better” without body hair (28.5%)
It’s not just men who find body hair on women unattractive. Women themselves do, too. This 2002 study found that the body hair growth of female participants made them see themselves as “unfeminine, abnormal, and freakish”.
Today, hairlessness is pretty much considered a mandate for the modern woman. But “traditional” hair removal methods are problematic:
- Shaving: Can result in nicks, cuts, and skin discomfort. May result in ingrown hair.
- Waxing: Painful, especially on sensitive areas such as the bikini line and the underarms. May also result in ingrown hairs.
- Plucking or pulling: Painful and time-consuming. May result in ingrown hairs.
- Depilatory creams: Contain chemicals that might be harsh and irritating to sensitive skin.
Perhaps worst of all, these “traditional” hair removal methods only provide short-term results (days or weeks).
But is there a better alternative? Yes, thanks to modern aesthetic technology: Soprano Titanium laser hair removal.
Soprano Titanium laser hair removal
A summary of Soprano Titanium’s benefits:
- Safe and effective for various skin types and hair colors: Traditional laser hair removal machines use one wavelength to target the hair follicle (typically 755nm, 808 nm, or 1,064 nm), each with different melanin absorption levels. The Soprano device, however, combines all three laser wavelengths, damaging the hair follicle and delaying regrowth without causing injury to surrounding tissue. Because of this, it’s suitable for use on anyone — no matter their skin type or hair color.
- Virtually painless experience: The Soprano uses a built-in, patented cooling system called the ICE Plus to keep the skin cool and free of discomfort during the session.
- Time-efficient: Thanks to a larger handpiece and an innovative scanning technique, the Soprano Titanium can treat a full back (and two arms) in just two to five minutes.
- Long-lasting results: Soprano Titanium has been clinically validated to reduce hair count by 75.6% following four treatment sessions, with results potentially lasting months to years.
Skin “tightening”
As you age, your face naturally loses volume from fat loss and a decrease in collagen and elastin production (proteins that work together to provide structure and strength to the skin). This can make your cheeks appear hollow, your temples look sunken, and your skin sag.
Your face’s youthful plumpness diminishes, leading to more pronounced lines and wrinkles.
The result? An older-looking face that’s perceived as less attractive.
How can the modern woman defy age and maintain a youthful appearance? Answer: Morpheus8, a radiofrequency micro-needling treatment that leaves skin tighter and firmer — one of the most advanced non-invasive beauty treatments available.
Here’s how Morpheus8’s skin-tightening technology works and what to expect:
- What happens during the treatment? During a Morpheus8 treatment, ultra-thin needles that emit radiofrequency energy are stamped into the skin to create a controlled injury, prompting collagen and elastin production. Reminder: these are the two key proteins responsible for skin firmness, tightness, and smoothness.
- What are the benefits? Some of the benefits include less noticeable fine lines and wrinkles, smoother skin texture with smaller-looking pores, a reduction in acne scars and marks, plus skin that looks firmer, tighter, and “lifted”.
- How long do results last? Typically, a year. That said, everyone’s capacity to stimulate collagen differs, and an individual’s lifestyle habits will affect the ultimate duration.
- How long does a session take? Depending on the treated area, sessions usually last 30 to 60 minutes.
Note: Morpheus8 can also be used to firm thin, crepey skin on the body, such as the abdomen, thighs, and arms.
Body contouring
How can a modern woman achieve Kim Kardashian’s voluptuous curves while maintaining a petite waist?
Search for tips online, and you’ll be bombarded with articles detailing her strict diet and six-day-a-week workout plan (with sessions starting at 6 a.m. and lasting up to an hour and a half each).
But as any woman who’s ever tried to get rid of their belly fat would tell you, it’s a really stubborn area resistant to even the “best” diet and workout plans.
And it’s not just in their minds or that they’re not trying hard enough.
There are two receptors within our fat cells, alpha and beta, which react differently to lipolysis (the breakdown of fat). Beta receptors respond better and accelerate the process, whereas alpha receptors don’t respond as favorably and make fat loss harder.
Unsurprisingly, research shows that the belly contains a higher concentration of alpha receptors, which explains why most women find achieving Kardashian’s trim waist challenging.
Unless they leverage the power of technology in aesthetics and opt for nonsurgical body contouring, of course.
Example: the Alma PrimeX, a completely non-invasive treatment that allows the modern woman to shape her body as she pleases by combining the most advanced ultrasound and radiofrequency (RF) waves in one powerful system:
- Ultrasound waves: Selectively target and destroy fat cells below the skin’s surface while leaving the surrounding tissues unharmed.
- RF waves: Gently heat the deeper layers of the skin to stimulate collagen production, tightening sagging skin and smoothing out cellulite. Alma PrimeX uses a built-in cooling mechanism to soothe the skin and prevent discomfort.
A summary of Alma PrimeX’s benefits:
- Specific targeting of unwanted fat cells in the body
- Remove and improve the appearance of cellulite
- Firm the skin, improve elasticity, and smooth skin texture
Modern aesthetic technology has made women more confident
And that has, in our opinion, definitely made women more attractive than they have been in history.
When women feel empowered and secure in their own skin, they give out a radiant allure that transcends traditional notions of beauty.
At Roxana Aesthetics Clinic, we are committed to staying at the forefront of the latest advancements in aesthetic technology. Our mission is to help women achieve the face and beauty of their dreams in alignment with current beauty standards and/or personal preferences.
We believe true attractiveness begins with confidence. And Roxana Aesthetics Clinic is where confidence starts.