Teen liposuction and busty pinatas: narcoaesthetics in Colombia – in pictures

In Colombia, girls grow up in a world where they are seen as decorative objects – and where plastic surgery rules. For her new photoessay Beauties, the 2014 Joan Wakelin bursary winner Manuela Henao captures the teenagers shelling out fortunes for buttock implants, nose jobs and new breasts

Manuela Henao

Thu 23 Apr 2015 07.15 EDT Last modified on Thu 26 Mar 2020 10.42 EDT

  • Estefania and Tatiana, 18 and 19, Medellín. Estefania: ‘I had my liposuction when I was 15, then breast implants at 18. I can’t even remember when I started to want to change my body; I have always had that desire. When I was very little I remember saying to my mum that one day I will have breast implants. It’s about time to have another liposuction. I would also like to have my bum done, and probably a face job.’

  • Tatiana: ‘I had a liposuction when I was 16 and breast implants a month ago. My desire to have plastic surgery built up when I started going out. I remember seeing voluptuous women in clubs and anxiously comparing myself to them. I used to feel so insecure about my body. The majority of my friends feel the same, and almost all of them are willing to have at least one plastic surgery.’

  • In Medellín, it is common to see mannequins with extra large breasts and bottoms

  • A piñata vendor in Medellín

  • The entrance to a bar in downtown Medellín

  • Katerine Herrera, 28, a pole dancer in Medellín. ‘I was studying cosmetology, but then my husband had an accident and I started working at the club to pay for his treatment and look after my son. I’ve had multiple operations: breast implants, tummy tuck, liposuction, butt implants and a nose job. I’ve spent 30m pesos (£10,000) on them. I spend about 1m pesos (£300) on beauty treatments every month. Surgery has hugely boosted my self-esteem and, of course, the money I make dancing in the club.’

  • A young woman shows off her tattoos

  • A woman shows off her elaborate manicure

  • Lucía in her sweet 15 (Quinceañera) dress

  • Breast implants

  • A statue of the Virgin Mary in the back garden of a house in Medellín

  • Alejandra Ramirez, 23, model and diet pill seller, Medellín‘I started saving for surgery at 18 – most of my friends had already had it by then. I was frustrated I didn’t look as pretty as them. Now, I’ve had breast implants for 4.5m pesos (£1000), two nose jobs for 7m pesos (£1900), liposuction at 5m pesos (£1300), and bio-polymers in my butt. I need to remove them because the doctor had no qualifications. I knew the risks, but I really wanted to have my butt done. A friend was rushed into surgery recently because she got black spots and blood clots under the skin. She was in a lot of pain.’

  • A bottle of appetite suppressants. Slimming pills are becoming popular among women in Medellín, often sold by models via their Facebook pages, using their image to promote their business

  • Popular magazines with images of women on their covers

    • Administered by the Royal Photographic Society in partnership with the Guardian, the Joan Wakelin bursary offers £2,000 for the production of a photographic essay on an overseas social documentary issue. Click here to apply for next year’s bursary
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