Cosmetic Surgery After Divorce: Revenge or Confidence Booster?

A survey recently conducted in Britain revealed that more than 25 percent of people choosing cosmetic procedures, whether it’s Botox or breast augmentation, are newly divorced women.

Good Morning America explored this trend and asked the question: Are these procedures done to confidently re-enter the single life or were they some kind of revenge?

Alicia Hunter, who is 43 and a mom of two, lost 60 pounds, got breast implants and had Botox injections after her divorce. “I always thought it would be a little bit life changing, and it has been,” she told GMA.

“If I hadn’t lost weight and done some tweaking, I don’t think I would ever set foot outside the house,” Hunter added. “I don’t think I would have the guts to go out and be in the dating scene.”

Hunter also said that her ex gives her more compliments now than when they were married.

ABC’s Ashleigh Banfield asked Hunter: “Is it revenge surgery?”

Hunter said that she believes for some people it probably is, but for her it was not. She said she did it to boost her self-confidence.

Dermatologist Dr. Marina Peredo also said that many women do it for themselves. In fact, she had some cosmetic procedures done after her own divorce.

“Break-up is hard, they feel like they failed at something,” Peredo said. “It’s very hard to start after many years of marriage, and I think they take time and are doing something for themselves for a change.”

Dr. John Turk, a plastic surgeon estimates that about 20 percent of his clients are post-divorce, and he said that he warns ex-wives about taking drastic action if they are bitter or angry about their divorce.

But the women featured on GMA considered their procedures confidence boosters, not revenge.

Kelly Langford, one of Dr. Turk’s divorced patients, said, “I think coming here and seeing Dr. Turk is definitely, after you see your lawyer, probably the most important step after that.”