Why Cosmetic Surgery Should Be Limited

Cosmetic surgery, a type of elective surgery undertaken to alter a person’s appearance for reasons beyond injury, illness, or disease, has become increasingly pervasive in society in the past few decades despite sparking controversial debates. (Coleman, 171) While reconstructive surgery is condoned, cosmetic surgery occupies a gray area where physicians “dedicated to saving lives, healing, and promoting health” perform “invasive surgical operations on healthy bodies for the sake of improving appearance.” (Miller, 353) Nevertheless, demand for it is higher than ever with people looking to surgery as an easy method for changing their appearances. This essay will argue that cosmetic surgery is indeed ethical for physicians to perform by examining it through the perspective of the four basic principles of medical ethics: autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice.

Plastic surgery is not a new field of medicine. Traditionally, plastic surgery dealt with fixing abnormalities of the body, but recently people are enjoying the luxury of plastic surgery simply because they are not happy with their appearance. People make appointments with plastic surgeons for procedures such as rhinoplasty, liposuction, tummy tucks, face lifts, and most commonly breast augmentation. These people look forward to desired results from such procedures without considering the risks. Many risks accompany plastic surgery, but they are rarely discussed in the media. Death is even a possible conclusion of the surgery. Why would people subject themselves to such conditions as having

“Cosmetic Surgery is the reshaping of body parts through surgical procedures” (“Cosmetic Surgery”). “In the United States the organizing bodies of plastic surgery were founded between the world wars, with the American Society of Plastic Surgeons established in 1931 and the American Board of Plastic Surgery established in 1937”(“Plastic Surgery” 2). Cosmetic surgery can be various things such as Botox injections or elective surgeries such as breast augmentations and correction for nose deformities (“Plastic Surgery” 7). Men and women have both been known to undergo cosmetic surgeries for their

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.

Cosmetic surgery is very well known from coast to coast, as well as reconstructive surgery. But it seems to be that cosmetic is heard of and talked about more than reconstructive. But Why? Reconstructive surgery is for when someone has an accident and something on their body needs to be fixed or repaired. It is not a choice, it is a requirement if they hope to look even similar to their original state. Cosmetic surgery, on the other hand, is a choice of your own, and a stupid choice if i do say so myself. You should think twice about having cosmetic surgery, as it can seem like a good idea at the time, but the results may not be as pleasing as you expected.

In the year of of 2007 87,000 teenagers got cosmetic plastic surgery but almost half of the surgeries were to get new noses, which is a very disturbing thing to hear because there are children with more serious reasons to get plastic surgery not being seen about their problem. In 2008 there were 160,283 kids and teens under the age of 18 years old that had gone to the doctor to talk about getting plastic surgery but in 2007 the number was 205,119; before this everything was different and more simpler, the numbers were down to 145,094 in the year of 2006. “Lifes hard enough without adding a physical burden. But at the same time, does that teach them problems have a surgical solution?” comments Hema Sundaram, who is a dermatologist and cosmetic laser surgeon in Washington D.C. Dr. Sundarams question is full of different debatable things like ‘Is

These days, cosmetic surgery has quickly built up everywhere throughout the world. As indicated by a yearly report of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) in 2015, the United States is the biggest market of cosmetic surgery in the world. About 16 million cosmetic procedures were performed in the U.S. in 2015, with the five most common surgeries being breast augmentation, nose reshaping, eyelid surgery, liposuction and tummy tuck (“Plastic Surgery Procedures”).

Every year more and more people around the world are choosing to have cosmetic surgery. It seems to be an easy fix to problems that people perceive, even if the problems are natural, like breast size. In a sociological study done in the UK, the author found that “[T]o have breast implants requires a major medical procedure, but they are sold as a fashion accessory and the procedure is framed as a beauty treatment rather than an operation by those who sell it” (Taylor). While many cosmetic surgeries are fairly simple procedures, there is very little benefit to outweigh the extreme risks, and many doctors are more interested in making money than fully explaining all of the risks to their patients. Many patients would be better helped by

In today society cosmetic surgery has become more and more common. Some people see this operation as a way to improve their appearance. Often caught up in the advantages of plastic surgery such as boosting their self-image, and/or improving their physical attraction, they fail to realize the negative effects of cosmetic surgery. The truth is cosmetic surgery is not always successful, so people should be ready to accept the risks of this operation, particularly, health diseases, psychology disorders, and economics problem. As a result, cosmetic surgery has more cons than pros and people should be conscious about it.

Plastic surgery is becoming a widespread pandemic in the United States. More and more people everyday are electing to take this surgery which, for many people, is an unnecessary change to their body. People in this country and around the world need to realize the dangers and consequences of choosing this surgery. In the United States, there should be increased restrictions on plastic surgery because it would help people better understand the risks and stop some from taking the unnecessary surgery due to the associated health risks.

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

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

To sum up, plastic surgery is aimed to make humanity look better. Thousands of people have these operations performed each year. However,

Plastic surgery is not the best choice for anybody because you never know what your final outcome is which Allison A. stated in 2008. Doctors cannot guarantee you will come out successfully from the surgery room. She also said that it is like a game where you do not know if you win at the end of the play. People turn to cosmetic products for better appearances but when it’s not enough or not satisfying to them, they turn to plastic surgery. They never think about the consequences of what they want to look like or the dangers and risks that are involved. Veronica S. (2007) believes that cosmetic surgery is more harmful than it is beneficial. Unnecessary surgery seems to put women in danger for the sake of Hollywood beauty. We all handle healing differently. Some may heal well and some won’t. Hykra (2005) states that if you have pre-existing health conditions cosmetic surgery can be really dangerous. He also reports that people with heart condition, diabetes, or if you are a smoker, or have allergies you may experience complications that others may not.