Introduction
Throughout the twentieth century, the use of modern plastic surgery has evolved from a procedure used to provide treatment for disfiguring facial of the soldiers during WWI into a slave of modern beauty culture, more commonly known as “cosmetic surgery” (Gillies H, 1920). Although, the term “plastic surgery” and “cosmetic surgery” are used interchangeably, they are intrinsically different. On one hand, cosmetic surgery aims to enhance a patient’s appearance, which can be performed in all areas such as breasts, nose of body shape. Plastic surgery, on the other, aims to reconstruct facial and body defects such as burns, which are critical to their rehabilitation. (American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, 2016). Despite the optimistic view of such invention, some serious criticisms have been raised regarding the side effects of the patients undergoing a cosmetic surgery. Whilst both academics and publics have long debated on this matter, there is still a significant lack of literature which emphasizes specifically on young people despite the increasing figure of teenagers undergoing cosmetic surgery. For this reason, my research papers aim to focus specifically on the perspectives of international students’ in the UK on the procedure of cosmetic surgery.
Literature Review
Plastic surgery has been with humanity since Egyptian era, however, the origin of modern plastic surgery was first performed on injured soldiers in the United States during Word War I to provide
A academic journal written by Agarwal Pawan highlights society's misconception of plastic surgery in the new millennium. A study was conducted in India to assess the knowledge and provide evidence to support this misconception over the education of plastic surgery among the public, medical and nursing students, and general practitioners. The varying knowledge of these 4 population groups highlights the
In “The Pitfalls of Plastic Surgery,” by Camille Paglia, she argues that American surgeons are being too narrow minded with their work because they use the same models as a representation of what their clients can look like. She suggests that getting plastic surgery has become such a normal thing in America and that society pushes women to get work done in order to get that “perfect” look. Paglia also points out that plastic surgery has “leveled the playing field” with wives and their husbands mistresses (694). Also, she believes that plastic surgery is not only critical in keeping a job, but also in keeping a relationship. Although I agree with some of Paglia’s arguments, I view some of the issues differently such as, needing plastic surgery to keep a marriage, that plastic surgery is for non intellectuals, that Hollywood’s environment encourages women to change their looks, and that nothing good can come out of plastic surgery.
The article The Making of the Modern Face: Cosmetic Surgery by Elizabeth Haiken summaries briefly the American culture that is at the origin of cosmetic surgery. It reports how cosmetic surgery emerged from reconstructive surgery and how such a practice had effect on common culture. It also deals with the racism that emerged from the restrictive immigration laws which favoured Europeans and, the consequences of these laws on others minorities and the appeal of cosmetic surgery it created. Moreover, it looks over the surgeons who perform cosmetic surgeries and their thoughts about cosmetic
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
Diane Stresing discusses about the addiction in cosmetic surgery. She explains why people are addicted to cosmetic procedures. According to her article, the addiction is more psychological than physical. The reason leading to a cosmetic surgery addiction is the psychologic problem named Body Dysmorphic Disorder, which makes patients feel unsatisfied with the surgery’s result and leads them to temptation getting another surgery. According to the article, patients have BDD might spend much time for hiding their defects, then they have cosmetic surgery. However, patients with BDD feel unhappy and uncomfortable
Thesis: Plastic Surgery has been a problem in American society. People shouldn’t feel ashamed of their body, their looks, or be insecure about any body part because everyone is beautiful in their own way. Problems of plastic surgery include expenses, health issues, and medical malpractice.
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.
Next, the evolution of cosmetic surgery overtime has lead to present day uses. In the past, cosmetic surgery was used to help soldiers deformed by war. It was a method used to restore the veteran’s features, in order for them to feel comfortable again. The surgery was purely done to lessen the violent effects of trench warfare. However, overtime, the general public gained an interest in cosmetic surgery, ranging from a positive to a negative approach. This was partly due to increase in different ethnic backgrounds, which ultimately lead to “an emphasis on self -representation and made people feel they had to look a certain way to be ‘perfect’,”(Lieberman, 1998). This integration of different cultures created a drive towards looking one’s best, which caused the idea of cosmetic surgery to stray from a medical/restorative approach, to an opportunity for transformation.
Sullivan is a nonfiction account of the political and social views of cosmetic surgery as it grows into a custom of society today. The unique point of view the author provides allows the reader to fully grasp the many components that have made the reputation of cosmetic surgery. This insight acquired from the abundance of sources cited in the bibliography of this book ensures that the information and data provided is credible and relevant to the topic at hand. This book can relate to virtually any topic of discussion pertaining to cosmetic surgery as a growing industry. The broad spectrum of topics, viewpoints, and references throughout this book will easily weave into the support of my claim that the growing industry of cosmetic surgery demands greater recognition in society. Specifically, points in the book that stood out to potentially support my claim include, the potential problems the future of plastic surgery holds, the varying consequences a changing ideal of beauty entails, and finally, the power of commercialism in today's society. This book, in my educated opinion, would be a great choice for anyone uneducated on aesthetic surgery or anyone thinking of getting or performing such
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.
Plastic surgery is becoming really common and popular among the Hollywood stars now a day. In fact, the Hollywood stars are becoming really curious about their physical appearance and their overall looks. Well, when someone is a part of this glamorous industry of the Hollywood, she is expected to look pretty and gorgeous. What we can say about this fact is that their charm and beauty is a kind of source of bread and butter for them especially in the case of female stars. When it comes to the female stars, these female Hollywood stars actually cross all the limits and boundaries to stay young and hot.
Attention-getter: Modern plastic surgeons can alter almost any aspect of physical appearance, from facial features to body shape.
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
Other failures related to cosmetic plastic surgery are often linked to the use of Botox. For instance, e all know or have seen this one person who has received an excess of Botox injections and ended up having unnaturally, protruding cheeks. Although using Botox is nonsurgical, it is still classified as cosmetic plastic surgery because it restrains our muscles from carrying out any movement. Many people believe that since this process does not involve cutting through a patient’s skin, it does entail as much danger as surgical operations. Researchers claim the opposite. Less commonly known as botulism neurotoxin, Botox is a toxin produced by a bacterium. Contact with this bacterium can actually cause the person to contract a fatal disease called botulism. Poupard expressed his concern in his work, “The same chemical that caused a dreaded disease is now used to paralyze completely healthy and functioning facial muscles and is the most common minimally invasive cosmetic procedure performed today.” Are we voluntarily putting our lives in peril simply for the sake of smoothing out unpleasant wrinkles? Has our society become too consumed by image and appearance that we have come to this point where we would do anything to become a tad prettier? Even more frightening is the fact that this medical field is largely unregulated, especially in the United States. Friedman clarifies, “…Any licensed physician can perform plastic surgery, and – in some states – even dentists are allowed to
Plastic surgery manly used for correct deformity since birth or tissues damaged because of illness or any anther several situations , most of plastic surgeon's works for appearance and function restoration such as : trauma , hand fractures , congenital deformity( ear reconstruction ,cleft lip and palate ) ,cancer ,and post cancer cases like mastectomy for breast reconstruction , facial reconstruction , burn and scar revision and peripheral nerve repair and many of cases which called cosmetic or aesthetic plastic surgeries it's used to help the patient to achieve what he think it is the desirable look for him ,also for increase his self esteem and satisfactorily toward himself such as: thighs lift , tummy tuck , fat liposuction breast lift and eyelid lift and much more different surgeries. In the past years there is noticeable progress in the plastic surgeries in different areas such as : flap physiology, bone biology , tissue engineering and craniofacial .(1)(3)(5)