It’s the controversy heard round the morning talk show circuit– Kelly Clarkson, the original American Idol winner who is best known for her “I am who I am, love me or leave me” attitude, appears digitally slimmed down on the cover of September’s Self magazine, an issue slated to hit the stands on August 25th.

Apparently the My Life Would Suck Without You songstress whose weight is constant tabloid fodder looks a lot thinner on the cover than she does on tour– and many pundits and fans are outraged, especially since the article discusses how Clarkson feels oh-so comfortable in her own (non air-brushed) skin.
Self magazine defends their decision to digitally slim down the singer. “'Do we retouch? Yes! Did we alter her appearance? Only to make her look her personal best,“ writes Self Editor-in-Chief Lucy Danziger in her blog.

Kelly Clarkson is comfortable “as is” and certainly has every right to object to others manipulating her image to suit their editorial tastes. Who wouldn’t? How women feel about their looks is a deeply personal and individual matter. Striving to look their “personal best” is a choice many women make to please themselves, not their friends (or in Clarkson’s case the media).

That said, some women would love to have a glamorous magazine wave a magic paintbrush over them, erasing pounds and years off of their appearance. And while such re-touching may help sell magazines, a little nipping, tucking, zapping, or suctioning could actually put Photoshop and other digital photo enhancing tools out of business and enable you to look your personal best in real life (as well as reel life).

Here’s how:

Laser Liposuction
Sure a few click of the mouse could digitally slim you like it did Clarkson, but then what? You may look okay in that photo, but that’s it. There is no substitute for laser liposuction to get rid of those pesky pockets of fat that are resistant to diet and exercise. Laser Lipo can slim and reshape specific areas of your body (think love handles and muffin tops) while tightening and lifting your skin, and improving your body contours and proportion.

Non-Invasive Body Contouring
Liposuction not for you? Maybe Thermage will do the trick. This a non-surgical skin tightening procedure that uses radio waves to lift and firm skin in your stomach, knees, arms, legs, hands or butt. It can also help banish sagging skin and fat that remains after pregnancy or massive weight loss, and help give you that Photoshopped look for good.

There has also been a lot of buzz about Zerona lately, a non-invasive fat reducing laser therapy designed to break down fat cells, allowing your body’s natural cleansing processes to whisk them away.

Velashape is another option, and reality show star Kim Kardashian, who seems to embrace everything cosmetic technology has to offer, is a fan. Velashape attacks cellulite with radio-frequency and light energy to shrink fat cells and tighten skin.

Laser Skin Rejuvenation
Maybe it’s not your body, but your complexion that makes you shy away from joining family photos or posting your Facebook profile shot. Never fear, laser skin rejuvenation procedures are safer and more effective than ever before.

No matter what the issue, there is a laser to treat it. Got acne scars? Talk to your doctor about Fraxel, which resurfaces the skin, making it smoother and revitalized with minimal downtime. Or maybe you are a candidate for V-beam laser to get rid of the rosacea that always makes you look like you are blushing in family photos – including your wedding portrait. Other procedures such as microdermabrasion and chemical peels are also tried and true when it comes to restoring your skin’s natural, photogenic glow.

Botox and Fillers
Of course there’s always the most popular treatments to smooth out unwanted wrinkles and creases on your otherwise picture-perfect face. An ever-growing number of wrinkle fillers and injectables are available to plump up your lips, banish frown lines, crow’s feet and any other nuance that makes your face look less than Cover Girl ready.

Bottom Line: Be Comfortable In You Own Skin
Kelly Clarkson has found her happy place when it comes to her body, and that’s a terrific thing. Today, women have a seemingly endless array high-tech tools to help them look younger, thinner and more vital than ever before. What you decide to do with them is entirely up to you, as it should be. After all, every woman should be her own Editor-in-Chief.


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