Dr. Gary Linkov on Beauty Standards, Facelifts at 20, and Why He Tells Patients "No"
Mighty Pursuit
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Most people are trying to piece their lives together in a hundred different places. A podcast for mental health. An app for fitness. A yoga class for their soul. It’s too much—and not enough. Mighty Pursuit is where it all connects—mind, body, and spirit. We create long-form conversations with scientists, celebrities, spiritual thinkers, and everyday people—exploring what it means to live well in a fragmented world. This is more than a podcast. It’s a space to reconnect the parts of life that were never meant to be separate. Because when they come back together, everything starts to make sense. Go deeper at mightypursuit.com
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In this episode, we're diving deep into society's obsession with beauty—and the surprising truth behind it. Last year, Americans underwent over 25 million cosmetic procedures—a staggering 1,400% increase since 1997. With over 90% of people feeling dissatisfied with their appearance, clearly something deeper is happening. To explore this, we sat down with Dr. Gary Linkov, a globally renowned plastic surgeon with over 1 million YouTube subscribers. Double board-certified and trained at Cornell and Columbia, Dr. Linkov is recognized by USA Today as one of the top cosmetic and reconstructive surgeons in the U.S., leading one of New York City's most respected practices. In this candid conversation, Dr. Linkov shares unique insights into what's truly driving the surge in cosmetic procedures—whether it's personal expression, societal pressures, or deeper emotional struggles. We examine: * Is beauty inherent or culturally shaped? * Why do modern beauty standards feel so overwhelming, and how are they affecting us? * Does plastic surgery genuinely solve our body image issues or just offer temporary relief? * The deeper connections between self-worth, acceptance, and our pursuit of beauty. This episode isn't just about appearance—it's about understanding ourselves better. It might fundamentally shift how you view beauty, your self-image, and your place in the world. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Intro 3:22 - Addressing taboo around plastic surgery 7:53 - Are plastic surgeons profiting off insecurities? 10:59 - Dr. Linkov’s personal journey with body image 17:57 - Is beauty objective or subjective? 23:23 - Chasing beauty trends 28:04 - The unspoken rules of beauty 32:22 - Plastic surgery must be “naturally unnatural” 35:39 - People are getting facelifts at 20?! 42:43 - Sometimes it’s a mental health issue 44:56 - How can Megan Fox have body dysmorphia? 47:07 - Will being beautiful actually make you happy? 52:03 - The pressure to get surgery for Hollywood roles 56:22 - “People who are beautiful get treated better” 1:01:08 - Women are at a disadvantage with body image 1:03:58 - Most dangerous plastic surgeries 1:08:46 - How far is too far with body modification? 1:15:35 - Deciding whether to get plastic surgery Get 20% off your first order of Magic Mind or 50% off the first month of subscription with code MIGHTY50 at checkout: https://www.magicmind.com/mighty50 Related Episodes: https://youtu.be/N7eJjjcaPgc https://youtu.be/IIThL9H6Ees?si=5kVnIsV3vCW5l23M https://youtu.be/CVmpnx-yTro?si=TblESsUsYOlZLW-D https://youtu.be/96Xx5Kll-y8 Mighty Pursuit Links: Website: https://www.mightypursuit.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mightypursuit/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mightypursuit/ X: https://x.com/MightyPursuit Dr. Gary Linkov Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drgarynyc YouTube: @drgarylinkov Visit our Body Image Hub: https://mightypursuit.com/body-image For business inquiries: [email protected]
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