Cosmetic Surgery : Sacrificing The True You For A New You

It is undeniable that cosmetic plastic surgery has become mainstream across the world. The American Society of Plastic Surgery estimates that 10.2 million procedures occurred last year, which places the demand at a staggering 32 percent increase (Nowak 18, Metules 32ac1). Physical beauty has been proven to reap benefits in our competitive society, and the desire for such is clouding judgement. Psychiatric nurse Terri Metules finds that her patients believe plastic surgery to be painless and risk-free: “[they] think they can get liposuction or a face lift performed during their lunch hour” (32ac1). In actuality, these dramatic procedures have dangers that run far deeper than physical health. Mental processes are highly malleable and more awareness should be brought to many patients struggling with body dysmorphia, depression, anxiety, poly surgical addiction, munchausen syndrome, obsessive compulsive disorder, and other emotional and social disturbances. These

The first applications of plastic surgery have been over 2000 years ago in ancient India, described “Ayur -Veda ". There were attempts to restore noses from the forehead skin, as it was the custom to cut off criminals for punishment ears, nose and lips. First this type of “operation” appeared in 1450 in a similar way in Italy. There, the Sicilian doctor Branca from Catania took the forearm skin for nasal reconstruction.

Cosmetic surgery is becoming the most popular category of surgery, for both men and women. According to Alexander Edmonds “Beauty is becoming a more visible part of medicine, and health risks may become less visible.” Since only one-third of surgeries

Plastic surgery began as bodily reconstruction for wounded soldiers in World War I. The surgery developed in stages, starting with correcting traumatic injuries and deformed facial features. The more cosmetic focus began in the 1970’s, with creating “perfected” facial features and making aesthetically pleasing body parts. Cosmetic surgery boomed in the 1990’s, with 1.2 million procedures performed in the United States alone (plasticsurgery.org). The swiftness in which these procedures have infiltrated society has lead to a change in our view of the value of the body. The modern ease and accessibility of cosmetic surgery has intensified the need for external beauty and has influenced the loss of personal identity.

In recent years plastic surgery is something that has become a very popular trend, and also where many young people are even lining up for it. Plastic surgery is to reconstruct or repair parts of the body, especially by the transfer of tissue it can be used for treatment of injury or cosmetic reasons. It enhances one’s physical appearance, allowing him or her to achieve a look he or she desires. For example, a women’s buttocks can be enlarged or reduced, or a nose can be straightened or lifted. Many people find themselves changing their bodies and wondering if perfecting their appearance would make life a bit more perfect. Plastic surgery can enhance someone’s level of confidence and boost their self-esteem, but it is something that can have very serious consequences people need to be aware of.

Although when it comes to the risks, some psychologists argue that these risks can be avoided in some easy steps. They believe that the outcome of a surgery is dependent on a patient’s satisfaction and that a patient could avoid the risks by consulting their surgeons before the surgery. In order to decrease the risks, these psychologists suggest the patients to discuss the “risks, benefits, limitations and expected results for each procedure undertaken” with their surgeons (Ericksen and Billick para. 11). To be clear, in order to have a successful surgery, the patients should know what they are looking for and what factors could prevent them from being satisfied. Further, a discussion regarding the patient’s motivation, goals, as well as other information can help the surgeons or advisors determine if a patient is capable of undergoing such surgery and how their results might be. These psychologists also believe that psychiatric screening is helpful to the patients to optimize patients’ satisfaction and outcome. By using this method, the surgeons can point out the integral part of patients’ motivations and help them if the expectation is way more unattainable. Even though these risks can be avoided, there is still a need for careful decision about this surgery because there is no guarantee that consulting surgeons will automatically help the patients get what they want and that “patients may never be fully prepared for the mental and emotional costs of cosmetic surgery”

Plastic surgery started in Ancient Egypt when doctors performed a reconstruction of broken noses.But it dates back to 800 B.C. in India.British doctors traveled to India to see rhinoplasties being performed and after that Joseph carpue spent 20 years studying before performing his most major surgery in 1815.(Medscape)From then until now people use these reconstructive surgeries to fix imperfections instead of actual emergencies to try to fix the nose .

The first American Plastic Surgeon was John Peter Mettauer. He performed the first cleft palate in 1827 with surgical instruments that he designed himself. However, since 2000 BC reconstructive surgery techniques was being carried out in India. A man by the name of Joseph Constantine Carpue performed the first major surgery in the Western World by 1815.

Young adults all over the world should recognize the societal pressures placed upon them to look a certain way and thus see cosmetic surgery as unnecessary. As reported by Dan O’Connor in the article Journal of Health Care Law & Policy, “Adolescents should never be exposed to choices for cosmetic procedures,” meaning that no teen boy or girl should be given the thought of a different kind of beauty besides natural. The young adults seeking cosmetic procedures are merely choosing to do what is expected of him/her by a society demanding they should look a certain way. According to O’Connor, “The struggle by having cosmetic surgery at a very young age in order to meet those standards, can interrupt the natural growing of body tissue.” At first, the reality is that looks won’t equal worth; however, that is easily overthrown by a small percentage that says looks do equal worth. This meaning that, the certainty and the fact that a teenager feels bad about themselves is blamed not due to the perceptions, but upon the reality that their body does not meet those perceptions.

The first “nose job” was performed around 2,600 years ago in India. It was performed by a man named Sushruta. Sushruta was a surgeon from India who wrote the first treatise (a piece of writing that deals properly and methodically with a topic), on the basic principles of surgery. This treatise has been translated and passed all over the world leading to many new discoveries in the surgical world. Many of these discoveries from the treatise deal with plastic surgery, mainly nasal reconstructions, or some might call them “nose jobs.” The medical knowledge dealing with plastic surgery from India (circa 600 B.C.), has had a large impact on what plastic surgery is nowadays.

We live in a society where people worship beauty. As far as recorded history people have gone to extremes to seek beauty. From foot binding in China to wearing strangulating corsets in Victorian era. People from different race and culture have experimented in every way possible way to look beautiful prior to this popular age of plastic surgery. It’s very common to hear people complain about their appearance, whether it’s their crocked nose, thin lips or flat chest. Remarkably, plastic surgery has been the solution for people who complain. Most people tend to think of plastic surgery as only cosmetic surgery and not as reconstructive surgeries. Plastic surgeries seems to be an invention of modern technology; however its roots lie in the ancient history of India. An Indian surgeon contributed towards the establishment of plastic surgery, it was intended to correct physical deformities acquired during birth, accident, disease or war. These surgeries did not gain the popularity it has today until the First World War. It was during the late 60’s, when doctors started realizing the endless possibilities of plastic surgeries. With the help of this surgery a trained surgeon can replace an amputate body part, remove skin cancer, get rid of unattractive scars and visible birthmarks or rescaling a nose or enhance body parts. Today more and more people from different age groups opt for plastic surgeries to obtain dramatic physical changes. These surgeries were envisioned to restore

Although young adults should refrain from cosmetic surgery, many would argue cosmetic surgery can better young adults. Culture and society pressure people to consider surgery. There is a high success rate in cosmetic surgeries, and high success allows patients to have satisfaction in their choice. However, a person’s mentality can decrease their satisfaction ( ). Young adults can be more successful if they feel better in their own skin, naturally or medically. However, surgeons have boundaries in consideration of surgery. They cannot be too quick to agree on surgery, because it can cause higher chances of mental issues ().

It is no secret that the world operates adhering to strict and unrealistic beauty standards. Rather than embrace everyone for their individuality and uniqueness, society shuns those who do not fit to the ideal, forcing pressure and negative self-images on people. In order to conform to these set standards, people take drastic and life changing measures to alter their appearance, which comes in the form of plastic surgery. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, cosmetic plastic surgery is defined as “surgical and nonsurgical procedures that enhance and reshape structures of the body” (American Society of Plastic Surgeons 2017). The issue is, is there actually a benefit to undergoing

People who are dissatisfied with their appearances have alternative ways to improve the way they look, such as makeup, clothes, hairstyle. However, some people will choose to undergo cosmetic surgery to enhance their physical appearance.

After a recent study in 2013 by professionals on patients’ mental health before and after cosmetic surgery, psychiatrists discovered a correlation between cosmetic surgery and increased mental health issues, especially for those who hold unrealistic expectations or have a