How do people afford to 'fix' themselves?

[KevinTheKoala]

I live in an area of the country where almost everyone seems to have cosmetic procedures and treatments, I have no idea how they afford it - they can't all be millionaires! I am ugly, there is no getting around that there are so many things I would like to fix (my hair, my nose, my lips, my skin, my boobs, my weight, my teeth etc.) some of those things I can try to get around - I am going to start dieting and exercising, I can try fake tan but I'm awful at it and I burn at the mere mention of actual sun, I'm trying to improve my skincare but you can't fix acne scars without surgery but for the most part I need help. I know that certain things are my own fault (my teeth have been neglected due to a severe phobia of dentists, my hair is quite damaged due to being neglected through bouts of depression but it's also just extremely thin) but a lot is just bad luck. My sister used to joke that I was like Danny Devitos character in twins - I got all the bad bits.

Am I missing a trick, is there some way that people in average jobs are affording these procedures? I know I am unattractive and I don't think I will ever be stunning, but I feel physically ill when I look in the mirror and being surrounded by beautiful people doesn't help. I just want to fix the big issues...or come to terms with my appearance (counselling does not work for me I've now seen 6 councillors at this point so no point in repeating that cycle).

This op.
Everyone has beauty and faults in themselves and for people to call you the runt is just nasty. Is this because you're small? I'm 5'2 and if anyone ever called me shortarse or a runt I'd remind them good stuff comes in little bundles.

We have so many damaged people thanks to the media and social media it's just wrong. It's terrible what people feel they have to do to themselves to look "normal" eff that I'd sooner be ugly than look a carbon copy of everyone else that's had too much work done. Imagine how bad they'll look when they're much older.
Don't be down on yourself op x

@KevinTheKoala I'm so sorry that you have been spoken to in such a cruel way by these people. I can relate and have dealt with the same thing and I know that it can totally do a number on your self esteem.

Like others have said, we may not like how we look but others can see things differently. I have always thought red hair is absolutely stunning. In my own experience I had to learn to be a better friend to myself, therapy never worked and i knew that all the beauty treatments in the world would not make me feel better. Little things that were affordable maybe like getting my hair done every 8 weeks made a difference along with using moisturisers that suited my sensitive skin, instead of using a cream just because it was popular and it worked for someone else.

I think when we have dealt with bullying and cruelty like this, we can question and put ourselves down a lot, but we are worth so much more than that. Look after yourself op💗

OP well done for starting to diet and exercise! And sorting out your hair and going to the dentist! You will start seeing a big difference soon!

Other things that will have a big impact:

Get your eyebrows threaded and dyed. Go to a Blink salon if there is one near you. It’s straightforward afterwards to maintain the shape yourself and dye them with eyelure at hone. Eyebrows will make a massive difference to your face.

Get a makeover at a department store for a natural, everyday look. I like Bobbi Brown. Then buy the same / similar colours they used at Superdrug by a cheaper make like Makeup Revolution or Nyx.No7 makeup is also very good quality and reasonably priced.

For the next birthday or at Christmas ask for cash or a vouchers to be used towards having your colours done at House of Colour. Cheap clothes in the right colours will look expensive and classy.