On Allie Rowbottom’s “Aesthetica”

Post-surgery, after the bed rest and the pain pills and the bandages and the baptism by antibacterial gel, the woman posts in the forum. Pictures of pain: swollen, reddened flesh and fresh scar tissue. But she also debuts a new shape—a snatched waist where there were once folds, hard angles where there used to be soft curves. Like any body just born, or any body at all, hers is a work-in-progress and as such, begs documentation. Along with the pictures, she writes, “in love with my new silhouette,” the way it looks “natural” despite the nature of its creation, through sculpting scalpels and syringes. Other women comment back, fawningly, hoping she’s happy, asking if she’s in pain, sending heart emojis and healing vibes.