There was a time, when the idea of plastic surgery in Kenya felt like a rumor and something you only heard about or saw in glossy American tabloids. It felt like a distant reality reserved for Beverly Hills, not something that happened in Westlands. If someone had “work done,” it was a scandal or a secret to be guarded with one’s life.
It was seen as foreign, almost taboo and certainly not something an ordinary Kenyan would admit to. But walk through the streets of Nairobi today or scroll through your social media feed and you’ll notice a seismic shift. What was once considered un-African or purely for the ultra-wealthy has become a surprisingly normalized, even celebrated part of modern Kenyan culture.
This shift is a complete reimagining of self-care and ambition. We are seeing a generation that refuses to apologize for wanting to look a certain way. The narrative has stopped leaning more towards the ‘fixing flaws’ culture into an investment on one self. It is now considered as part of self-care.
You hear it in conversations at brunch or in salons or even online where women openly discuss “mommy makeovers” to reclaim their bodies after childbirth. It’s no longer shocking to hear someone mention they’re saving up for liposuction or a tummy tuck the same way they would save for a car or a plot of land. The stigma hasn’t entirely vanished but the shock has for sure worn thin. The procedures are becoming more and more accepted and celebrated in the current society as opposed to a while back when it would almost be considered a crime if one had undergone such procedure.
A massive driver of this change is without a doubt the influencer economy. For Kenyan content creators, their image is their currency and they are unapologetic about maximizing its value. We’ve watched personalities like Vera Sidika, who was essentially the pioneer of this conversation bear the brunt of the backlash years ago, literally walking so that today’s generation could run.
Influencers like Risper Faith and Lydia Wanjiru can document their journeys openly, treating cosmetic surgery not as a dirty secret but as a career move. They vlog the consultation, the surgery and the recovery, turning the entire process into content that demystifies the experience for their followers. By doing so, they have framed cosmetic surgery as a tool for empowerment and brand building, which in turn has faced a backlash of its own from their own followers who still do not see the need to change their bodies.
However, this rapid normalization comes with its own set of complexities. The rise of local clinics has made these procedures more accessible than ever before one no longer need a ticket to Turkey or South Africa to get a Brazilian Butt Lift or a Hairline Reconstruction. This convenience also has its downside.
The recent tragic stories making headlines, where lives have been lost or forever altered due to botched procedures, serve as a heartbreaking reminder that this industry is still finding its footing in terms of regulation and safety. It brings a very human, very painful reality to the glossy “before and after” pictures we see online. It forces us to ask if the pressure to conform to these new “body tea” standards is moving faster than our ability to ensure safety.
The embrace of cosmetic surgery in Kenya reflects a society in transition. We are becoming more individualistic, more globalized and perhaps a little more forgiving and open to the desire to change. Whether you see it as a liberation of the body or a worrying trend of conformity, cosmetic surgery in Kenya is no longer foreign. It is here, it is local and for better or worse, it is becoming almost part of our culture.
