Cosmetic surgery threatens security
I am a law-abiding citizen and my face has never been photoshopped unless you count that one time my daughter posted our photo with a Snapchat filter. Recently, I have noticed a boom in hospitals offering plastic surgery, including cosmetic procedures, across Tanzania. It is like every street corner has a beauty clinic promising to turn you from this to that. Even my own wife joined the glow-up revolution. She walked into a clinic and came out looking like an American movie star. I must confess she no longer looks like the woman I married 10 years ago. I loved her for who she was, but she says she now feels more beautiful with her new face and body. I am still adjusting. We had a family gathering the other day, and I had to introduce her as if she were a stranger. None of my family members recognised her. Now my aunties and sisters want the same surgery. My concern? People are changing their faces faster than I can memorise them. How am I supposed to recognise my relative when they suddenly look like a celebrity? This is a security nightmare! Can the law really allow people to morph like chameleons just because they feel like it? Enlighten me before I start handing out name tags at family gatherings.
EM, Dar es Salaam
We understand your concern (and we agree name tags might help at family reunions!). We have reviewed laws, regulations, and public health guidelines and found no restrictions on plastic surgery, including cosmetic surgery. There is no law that prohibits plastic surgery in Tanzania because such surgery is considered essential for health reasons. Some people need plastic surgery to reverse damage caused by scars, while others undergo procedures for weight loss to avoid diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure. These are just a few examples that necessitate plastic surgery. Tanzania has also entered a new era in which breast augmentation, nose jobs, tummy tucks, and glow-ups are sought after, that is why many cosmetic surgery clinics have opened up. In the past, the elite had to travel abroad for these services. Currently, Government and privately owned hospitals in Tanzania offer various plastic surgery services, including some well-known cosmetic procedures, as they are licensed to do so. So yes, people are free to legally glow up as long as they are not breaking the law.
Your concern about the security implications of widespread plastic and cosmetic surgery is valid, especially in a society where identity plays a crucial role in law enforcement, immigration, and public safety. However, while individuals in Tanzania are legally permitted to alter their appearance through licensed medical procedures, including cosmetic enhancements, this does not compromise the integrity of national security systems. Identification protocols rely on more than just facial features. Biometric data, such as fingerprints, iris scans, and official documentation, are used to verify identity even when physical appearance changes.
Further, any updates to personal appearance that affect identification documents must be legally registered through appropriate government channels. For example, photos on official documents like passports, national identity cards, and driver’s licences must be updated through legal channels. Therefore, although the law allows cosmetic surgery, the systems in place are designed to adapt and maintain accurate identification, ensuring that security is not undermined by personal aesthetic choices. We advise your wife to update her records accordingly. Imagine showing up at immigration, and the officer says, “Madam, this passport says you are Mrs EM, but you look like a certain American movie star, so you are denied services.” Consult your lawyer for further guidance on how to proceed with the update. In terms of your own feelings about your wife’s new look, we suggest you seek counselling.
