Imagine, for a moment, that an alien arrives on Earth, more specifically, in Spain and discovers how we human beings are through what he sees on television. Probably, I would conclude that the inhabitants of this planet are thin, attractive, with 'hair' and dazzlingly white smiles. In the case of women, in addition, I would think that, in us, wrinkles do not emerge (not even of expression), nor gray hair and that our eyebrows, regal and haughty give us a mysterious (disturbing) feline look.

Or, if this is too much to imagine, let's do ourselves the exercise of observing how many of the familiar television faces of all life have directly 'disappeared' from the screen (this usually occurs more in the case of women) or are still there, preserving a youth and freshness (this also occurs more in them) that escaped us long ago.

Is television not 'for old people', nor for people with excess kilos or wrinkles? Would there be a place, on today's screens, for a José Luis Balbín smoking a pipe with a crooked tie, surrounded by his gang or a María Teresa Campos, elegant and well-coiffed, but with the appearance that any woman of her age could have? Starting from the premise that the image (and the voice) is the unquestionable letter of introduction in this medium, to what extent does the pressure to look eternally young and handsome push television people to 'depart' from the front line when they reach 'an age' or to undergo aesthetic retouching? Well, as those who experience it in their own skin tell (never better said), the theme goes by areas and even by chains (something that is obvious). While in the news it is barely noticeable, in entertainment programs, the physical bar is raised much higher.

INFORMATIVE

"I don't feel that pressure right now, although I confess that there has been a moment in the past when I did experience it, somehow. However, today, I perceive that television has given a change and maturity is beginning to be valued upwards. Of course, TVE does not feel that 'tyranny of youth' and I think that distinguishes this channel. Moreover, here we are beginning to emulate European television channels that bet more and more on older people and, in addition, without fixing too much, "says Marta Carazo, correspondent in Brussels of TVE.

"In what may be that there is something more slavery (although it is not my case because I am always on the street, but on the set)," he continues, "is in the aesthetics, something that does not happen in other large European chains. A Belgian news presenter, for example, comes out with a shirt, a ponytail -well made- and, at most, with a makeup like the one we can do at home. And, on the other hand, in our television, we do take great care of makeup, hairstyle, etc."

Good proof of the enormous importance that is given, today, to makeup and hairdressing was the 'ink that ran' the appearance of Marta Reyero, presenter of Cuatro al Día Fin de Semana, on screen without first going through 'sheet metal and paint' that January 13, 2021 in which Filomena left us all blocked by snow.

"Aesthetics is, both for my colleague Marta Reyero and for me, the last of our priorities in our task because, that adrenaline that is generated before starting a news, pushes us to be absolutely focused on the ladder and on the information that we are going to tell that, for us, is what is truly relevant, "says journalist Roberto Arce.

However, Arce acknowledges that this "lack of 'concern'" for his appearance "is not something I brag about because, in fact, at home they always tell me that I should pay more attention to details such as the collar of the shirt or my hair."

On whether or not age conditions 'survival' on screen, he confesses that "when I started on television, in the late 80s, they said I had too much of a child's face to give the news. Now that I'm 57, sometimes, I wonder if I'm not old enough for this, but... I think I'm not so bad! -Jokes-. In any case, what gives credibility is not wrinkles, but vocation and passion for this profession."

What is undeniable, as noted by a television reporter of all life 'sotto voce', is that, from a certain age, they are losing prominence while, they remain gray, overweight, with wrinkles and 'nothing happens', something that, as a spectator or as a companion, should sting.

Tax or self-imposed, who more and who less, recognizes having undergone surgical interventions or more or less invasive treatments to be there. "And I understand that they not only do it to feel better but also to look better on camera with the shot of security in oneself that this entails," says this journalist who ratifies that, at least in the case of news, "men do not usually receive instructions beyond going with an appropriate label or keeping a decorum that, On the other hand, it has its logic."

As did Hilario Pino, the Bruce Willis of Telemadrid who burst it at the end of the 80s, those who have undergone treatments to implant hair, although others, such as Ramón Fuentes have made their baldness their hallmark. "A few years ago, I remember a presenter being encouraged to frown 'something' to appear less tense, a suggestion that went in one ear and out the other. In any case, what is clear is that this is image and everyone wants to show their best version. To do this, too, you play with lights and planes. In the end, the better you feel, the more self-confidence you will have and pass on to others."

ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMS

The frontline television experience is experienced differently in entertainment programs. "In my case, I am happy to say that, although you do feel that constant pressure when you are exposed, if you ever resort to an aesthetic treatment I have not been 'pushed' by that pressure, but by my own, which is enough. But, being in the first, second or third line, does mean having to face many 'opinions / criticisms' in which they will judge any aspect related to your physique. If the leather skirt you wear makes a 'strange' shine that causes the optical sensation that you have a belly, they will tell you that if you are pregnant; If it is very short, you have very wide thighs, etc. In this scenario, you are the one who decides what importance you give it. However, I must point out that there is still a more effective solution than aesthetic medicine: do not read Twitter, nor the comments and, if you do, do not take them seriously, "María Verdoy, presenter of Mediaset.

Journalist and founder of 49 Comunicación, Patricia Cerezo does not walk with hot cloths. "I can't deal with all this hypocrisy of naturalness because everyone knows this is not so. On TV, I don't see a face my age or younger that isn't retouched. They may not be punctured, but there are many other alternatives: laser, stem cells, collagen inducers, etc. People, especially women, take great care of each other."

What is certain, he continues, "is that communicative skills or connecting with the audience prevail over other factors such as youth. In fact, I'm 51 years old, and right now, I'm working a lot on screen. My daily fight is that they don't put on my makeup much, because I don't see myself!" she says.

Cerezo assures that, indeed, "yes you live to a pressure of always being great. Whenever I hear 'how beautiful you are and how good you are on camera', I wonder if they will also tell men."

"Is it possible to survive in an audiovisual scenario without retouching? It should be! It is true that, in general, both men and women have to assume the fact that the audiovisual is image. However, it should be said that, when I arrived on television, with few exceptions, we were reserved a role of 'vase woman' in entertainment spaces. I fought with all my might against that. I didn't accept any show where I was only asked to 'show off' my physique without speaking. I came from the fashion world and it could seem that I was there because I was tall or had certain measurements. Therefore, I have always been concerned with training and showing that there was more inside than what was seen on the outside. And it is true that I had to work hard to prove it, "says Mónica Martínez, journalist and trainer in Communication.

Retouching, in his opinion, "does not fall within the professional 'duties'. In any case, "it should never be something imposed, but a free choice: if you want to do it, let it be for yourself. I think the important thing is to feel comfortable with yourself to be confident and, if that's not the case, touching up can be an option."

The pressure to be or look young, he says, "is felt by all of us who work in television. What should be encouraged is that there are more older people on television, especially women, something that does happen, for example, in the big American television networks. In Spain, on the other hand, mature women have some presence in the news, but they hardly appear in entertainment and that is something we should change."

How do you look at all this, from the point of view of psychology? Brígida Higueras Madsen analyzes it. "The position of women in the media has not only not improved in recent decades, but we could even talk about a setback. Today, the multiple advances in aesthetic medicine seem to have been detrimental to body and social diversity, especially in the case of women, but I would dare to say that also of men, who are being subjected, for the first time, to the aesthetic touch-ups of scalpel, Botox and hair grafts, among others, to continue appearing in entertainment programs."

This psychologist points out that "the progressive disappearance of great female figures of television and their replacement by women of young appearance and always thin and attractive gives much to think about".

And, even, it goes further. "A woman has to have a very consolidated career to stay on television without being a victim of aesthetic violence. And very few achieve this. Honestly, it does not seem that they have anything easy to succeed just because of their talent andthis penetrates deeply into the collective subconscious. You only have to try to remember current presenters with a non-normative body. It is clear that we should reflect on the path we are taking as a society and whether this is where we want or where it is psychologically convenient for us to continue."

At this point in the report, it seems clear that, regardless of age, aesthetic touch-ups are more than the order of the day on television. The question is: what would be the keys to retouching without losing your identity and, simply, seem to have a good face like many of those stars that come to mind for all of us? Marta García-Legaz, dermatologist and medical communicator at IMR (Ricart Medical Institute), clarifies it. "First and foremost, have a good aesthetic doctor who advises you what you need without putting extra volumes because the aesthetic footprint will be there forever. It is not about not aging, but about improving and beautifying without transforming. Also, it is important to start having treatments before having a flaccidity; and influencing prevention. Finally, it is essential to be prudent and respect the replenishment times of substances without exceeding the quantities."

Verónica Lòpez Couso, doctor at International Dermatological Clinic, assures that "there is always some treatment involved, whether cosmetic, hydration, improvement of skin quality through lasers or lighting techniques or collagen/elastin inducers that help us look elegant and natural without resorting to an 'overfilled' appearance". And it reminds us that aesthetics is first and foremost a medical specialty that helps us maintain healthy, glowing skin."

For Juanma Revelles, dermatologist and director of Le Boost, it is essential "consistency in skin care, identifying the needs at all times to be able to address them with the least aggressive options possible". An approach seconded by Elizabeth García Bonome, aesthetic doctor and founder of Clínica Bonome (Tenerife). "People go to an aesthetic clinic not only to increase the lip or relax the brow but to strengthen their self-esteem. But for me, the idea is not to take care of yourself only on the outside, but to approach it throughout life and from a multidisciplinary point of view, taking care of the quality of the skin, eating well, protecting it from the sun, etc. There are increasingly simpler treatments, less invasive and with more natural results that allow the patient to join their normal life immediately. More is less. It all depends on the doctor and his ethics. We are not NGOs, but you have to know how to say 'stop' to the patient. Improve, always, but without changing the factions," he concludes.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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