Despite the difficult economic situation and strict cultural traditions and norms, the number of plastic surgery procedures carried out on women in the Gaza Strip has risen sharply.
Jala al-Talmis, plastic surgery and laser specialist and director of the Plastic Surgery Center in Gaza, told Al-Monitor: “The growing demand for plastic surgery and laser sessions among women in Gaza is mainly limited to cosmetic aspects such as tummy tuck, liposuction , Rhinoplasty, removal of hair, birthmarks, tattoos, scars and breast augmentation. They are also used to correct congenital deformities such as cleft lip, protruding ears, wrinkles, burns and injuries. The changes are not as big as in other countries. “
Regarding the limited number of cosmetic clinics in the Gaza Strip, Talmis noted, “The first reason is a lack of understanding of what plastic surgery is among the public. Because the field of cosmetic surgery is very broad. The second reason is that plastic surgery is similar to art and talent so not every human can do it. I chose it because I love it like a painter who loves his art. ”
Talmis does not perform any surgical or cosmetic procedures until the patient has been given detailed advice.
He said liposuction is in great demand among middle-aged women because of the weight gain.
Talmis found that around 30 women visit the clinic every day. It is mostly women over 30 who are interested in nose jobs, laser hair removal or melasma. There is also great demand for breast augmentation and abdominal wall surgery.
He noted that the number of patients has increased over the past two years through social media.
He added, “Many doctors are trying to improve their skills in this area through training and attending medical and cosmetic conferences in the Gulf States and Europe. They also import medical equipment such as laser, skin enhancement, and fat removal equipment. “
Several beauty clinics have recently opened across Gaza without a license or legal control. Women have visited these centers after seeing ads on social media without questioning their credibility and license. As a result, many remained botched after collagen injections.
Some of these cases have recently reached justice as many women who suffered facial deformities after injections at a beauty center in Gaza using collagen, an internationally banned substance, went to court.
In the meantime, many women from the Gaza Strip have demonstrated their talent in film make-up, although the film industry in the Gaza Strip almost does not exist.
Women in the field are using simple means to circumvent Israel’s ban on imports of cosmetics used in special-effect make-up as part of the blockade on Gaza since mid-2007.
Maryam Salah, a plastic artist from Gaza, told Al-Monitor: “I am an expert on cinematic make-up and optical illusion, despite the shortage of tools. At first I created simple wounds and scars. I posted my work on social media and gained a lot of followers. “
She said, “I studied fine arts at Al-Aqsa University, but I didn’t get much benefit from my university degree. So I started watching movies and horror scenes. “
Salah added, “At the beginning of my artistic career, I used regular makeup tools like lipstick because I couldn’t find any advanced tools for film makeup. I couldn’t find any training in this area either, as there is a lack of cinema and theater that need such talent. I’ve been in some local films and it’s my dream to be in Egyptian cinema or Hollywood. “
In a visually relaxing, pink-painted clinic, Dalia, a pseudonym, is waiting for her laser hair removal session.
She told Al-Monitor that she “would regularly remove unwanted hair, either with ‘Halawa’ wax”. [paste made of sugar and lemon juice] or Braun devices. Two months after my wedding, I decided to do a full laser hair removal to do my best, “she said.
Dalia added, “I didn’t experience any side effects during the laser sessions.”
Yara, a lawyer who did not divulge her family name, spoke excitedly about her experience of losing 50 pounds. She told Al-Monitor: “I weighed 150 kilograms”. [331 pounds], and I was very upset about the way I looked. Obesity prevented me from moving easily and from doing my job. I even became introverted and jealous of my colleagues. I wish I had such a beautiful body like her, especially since I have suffered from obesity since childhood. I have resorted to a lot of diets and gyms, but none of that has helped me. Eventually I decided to have liposuction and then a body sculpting session. “
She said, “I visited a plastic surgeon in central Gaza after my family gave me encouragement. I started with liposuction and then modeling surgery with advanced medical equipment. The meetings lasted 18 months. “
Yara noted that after examining all cosmetic and slimming procedures in Arab countries, she found that the level of mastery of work in the Gaza Strip is satisfactory. These procedures are inexpensive compared to the prices of the procedures offered in Arab countries and in the West.
Yara used up all of her savings and spent about $ 4,000 as each body sculpting session costs up to $ 70.
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