Society's numerous beauty standards don't come without price

Looking good doesn't always come easily. The age-old cliché — "beauty is pain" — seems to have proven itself true more often than not.

Even for the lucky ones who are born attractive, some upkeep is necessary to maintain such a state. With constant pressure to be good-looking and fit, many people go to extremes in the hope of achieving the impossible goal of perfection.

Hair removal is a process that is used by many women to signify beauty. From eyebrow to Brazilian waxes, hair removal is not a pleasant experience. Sticky, hot wax is dripped onto the desired area and ripped off faster than you can say "yeeeow!"

Yet, most women continue to subject themselves to this torture in order to have perfectly-arched eyebrows and baby-soft skin. Most would say the end result is well worth the pain — myself included.

The hair issue doesn’t stop there. The conquest for the perfect haircut and color is an ongoing process for many women. Stylists highlight, lowlight, dye, layer and angle with one goal in mind — hopefully, the perfect look for you.

Looking young and flawless is not painless — especially for those who are neither. TV shows such as ABC’s "Extreme Makeover" and Fox’s "The Swan" demonstrate this. These shows take people who believe they are unattractive and turn them into cookie-cutter "beauties" and "handsome" men.

The road to perfection is far from pleasant — breast enhancements, facelifts, rhinoplasty and liposuction have become common assets on people.

After watching ABC’S "Wife Swap," I was shocked by a typical day in the life of the rich, but not-yet famous, Jodi Spolansky. Much of Spolansky’s day is spent completing three separate workout sections with her personal trainer. I have to wonder if fitting into smaller Gucci pants is worth all the rigorous exercise, muscle soreness and money. Her day is topped off with a facial, manicure, pedicure and a four-hour-long shopping session.

The pedicure part made me stop and think. I have one word for men — stilettos. These gorgeous shoes make women’s legs appear longer and more defined, but this does not reduce the pain they trigger or the possibility of permanent damage they could cause. Still, most women wouldn’t think twice before slipping on a pair before a hot date or a night out. Maybe if they considered these consequences ahead of time, they would change their minds.