Unveiling the best kept beauty secret in Indian match making
by Priyanka Bhatt
In every culture, finding a good husband can be one of life’s biggest challenges for both the daughter and the parents. However, the pressure is particularly high in the Indian community. At all weddings and gatherings, daughters are paraded to “meet” other families and sons with the hope that they will find them attractive, ultimately thinking of the young woman as a suitable mate.
While the word “arranged” is often substituted for the word “setup,” the intent of the parent finding the ideal husband for their daughter is there. Many parents complain about how they are unable find an acceptable partner for their daughter through this process. Most prospective husbands demand an educated wife (who they want to stay at home!!) who is also a Bollywood Knockout.
Even though every parent looks at their daughter as beautiful, sometimes they need just a little extra ‘something’ in the highly competitive market of match making. This process traditionally involves buying a standout sari, fabulous jewels and makeup. However, there is a new secret ingredient that has people talking . ethnic rhinoplasty. Yes, I said it – some daughters may want to consider improving not just their Facebook profile but also their nasal profile.
Enter Dr. Anil Shah, cosmetic surgeon to Bollywood stars and one of the most talented rhinoplasty surgeons in the world. Dr. Anil Shah has a dream pedigree, former NYU professor that now teaches at University of Chicago, has written over 50 scientific articles, and, most importantly, understands Indian beauty at every level.
I spoke to Dr. Shah about the possible problems with this popular emergence of ethnic rhinoplasty, especially since more and more prospective Indian brides are turning to plastic surgery. “The problem I see is that many surgeons who operate on Indian noses do not understand what beauty is in the Indian community. Unfortunately, I see many patients who have already been damaged by other surgeons and now actually look worse. These noses require much more work to fix the nose and make it look attractive,” Dr. Shah said. I’ve seen Dr.Shah’s work, and at other end of the spectrum, his “natural beauty” techniques are so subtle that even a discriminating Auntie will have difficulty determining ‘did she or didn’t she!?’
Despite his talent and wild success, I asked myself “How did Dr. Shah become an authority on Indian beauty?” As it turns out, one of the secrets to Dr. Shah’s success is that early on in his career he was able to work within the fashion community of New York City. This introduced his name as one of the ‘go-to’ guys in the world for beauty.
“Models and actresses depend on their face for their career, and on a certain level we all depend on our faces to look good and feel good. Making a nose fit with a person’s face and ethnicity can help enhance an individual’s beauty.”
While he can’t disclose his clients, Dr. Shah smiles like a proud father of all the marriages he has helped give a nudge in the right direction.