As comic conventions have enjoyed a steady rise in popularity over recent decades, so too has cosplay. With the San Diego Comic-Con attracting more than 130,000 attendees in 2017, it is clear to see that dressing up as your favorite character is no longer just a simple past-time for some. A basic internet search will present you with images of countless individuals who have gone far above and beyond the cosplay call of duty to imitate their comic-book heroes. Where a realist-looking costume used to be all that was expected of a cosplayer, plastic surgery is rapidly becoming commonplace amongst those most eager to evolve from a mere human into a beloved fantasy figure.
Anyone can be a Wonder Woman
Pixee Fox, a Swedish-born model who now resides in the USA, wanted nothing more than to look like Wonder Woman. Her desire was so great that she spent $120,000 to be transformed into her favorite comic book character. Pixee’s procedures were extreme and include four breast augmentations, labiaplasty, two blepharoplasties (eyelid augmentation), a brow lift, butt lift, liposuction and eye-color changing implants. She also went as far as having her jaw broken, shaved and then re-set into the desired shape. In 2017 she underwent her most radical procedure – having 6 ribs removed to give her the perfect hour-glass figure. Despite having countless procedures done herself, Pixee doesn’t necessarily want to promote a pro-plastic surgery message. What she wants to do is encourage people to just be themselves and to do what will make them happy.
Elves, elves everywhere
Thanks to the Lord of the Rings franchise, along with games such as The Legend of Zelda, elves have become a hot commodity. So hot, in fact, that Canadian model Melynda Moon underwent surgical procedures to remove parts of her ear and having it stitched back together so that she could boast a signature elfin look. Moon isn’t the only one who went through extreme measures to achieve the desired appearance. Luis Padron is such a huge fan of fantasy characters such as elves that he spent more than $35,000 on procedures that turned him into a walking, talking, living elf. The Argentinian had a nose job, liposuction, his eyes tattooed, his hair and skin bleached and his ears augmented. Apart from the procedure costs, he is also required to spend thousands of dollars a month on the upkeep of his appearance.
Is that you, Superman?
As much as we love Superman, we know he does not exist in real life. Herbert Chavez, however, took it upon himself to become a real-life Clark Kent, complete with sculpted jawline and red cape. Chavez, who had 23 surgeries over a period of 18 years to transform him into his favorite superhero, describes himself as Superman’s biggest fan and felt that the only way he could truly honor his favorite comic book character was to become him. The Filipino’s surgeries include a nose job, jaw realignment, liposuction, and fillers. He attempted to have his abs sculpted as well but was turned down by several doctors after they realized that he was injecting himself with illegal, poisonous fillers. Chavez appeared on E!’s Botched detailing the procedures as well as his reasons for wanting to look like Krypton’s last son.
Cosplaying can be very rewarding, both as a fun past-time and on a more professional level. While it is entirely your own prerogative if you want to spend thousands of dollars on plastic surgery to resemble your favorite comic-book character, it should never be to the detriment of your health. Don’t fall for too-good-to-be-true offers from fly-by-night surgeons, rather do your research, save up the money and have your body augmented by a reputable doctor.
