Is cosmetic or plastic surgery helpful, or damaging to an individual’s mind and body? The two main branches of plastic surgery are reconstructive and cosmetic (“Plastic Surgery Addicts”). This is the reason why the terms cosmetic and plastic are used interchangeably in the medical field. Some people may think that all surgery is the same, although cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries are not identical. The difference is that reconstructive surgery is used to fix parts of the body that are damaged (Lee). Cosmetic surgery is used in removing, altering or rearranging tissues of the body (Lee). The word plastic does not actually refer to real plastic. “Plastic surgery” comes from the Greek word “plastikos”, which means to shape or mold (Olesen 10). The significant issues of cosmetic surgery, such as self-esteem problems, surgeons making mistakes, risks and people becoming addicted make me believe that it is unnecessary.
There is a one in 250,000 chance of dying when going under the knife, but why risk going under for cosmetic surgery at all? (Olesen 50).Plastic surgery is not something that has just been recently developed. It has been around since as far back as 800 B.C. in India (“Cosmetic”). As one of the punishments, people’s noses were removed. Surgeons would try to repair them to the best of their ability. War also played a large role in plastic surgery. This was considered reconstructive surgery because soldiers who had it done were usually severely hurt in battle. Cosmetic surgery became more modern and well known in the 1960’s and 70’s (“Health Questions”). Cosmetic surgery is sure to expand its influence in the future as technology continues to improve.
There are many reasons why patients have low self-esteem and assum...
... middle of paper ...
...y." World Book Advanced. World Book, 2010. Print.
Matthews, Sarah. "Addicted to Plastic Surgery: The Facts." Plastic Surgery. 29 May 2009. Web. 28 Apr. 2010.
Mimon, Diana. "Tara Reid Talks About Plastic Surgery." About.com. Web. 28 Apr. 2010.
Olesen, R. Merrel., and Marie B. V. Olesen. Cosmetic Surgery for Dummies. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley, 2005. Print.
Pilcher, Georgie. "How Could She?; This Woman Faked Cancer to Con Money for Plastic Surgery." EBSCOhost 18 Nov. 2010. Web. 28 Apr. 2010.
"Plastic Surgery Addiction." Breast-Plastic-Surgery.Org. 5 Jan. 2008. Web. 29 Apr. 2010.
"Plastic Surgery Addicts." Medical News Today. 6 Nov. 2007. Web. 29 Apr. 2010.
"Teens and Cosmetic Surgery." Issues and Controversies on File 9.22 (2004): 465-72. Web. 22 Apr. 2010.
"What Is Cosmetic Surgery? What Is Plastic Surgery?" Medical News Today. 30 June 2009. Web. 5 May 2010.
Nordqvist, Christian. “What is Cosmetic Surgery? What is Plastic Surgery?” Medical News Today. 30 June 2009. Web. 13 March 2014.
Teenagers take extreme measures in order to “fix” themselves (by having Plastic surgery). Plastic Surgery is a surgical process used to repair deformities and glitches in a persons body. Nowadays, teenagers tend to have plastic surgeries to improve physical characteristics they feel are flawed and/or to fit in with peers, to look similar to others. In fact, it is only the pressure that has been put upon these minors that makes them want to look flawless or perfect in order to feel comfortable in their own skin and avoid any unwanted judgments. Most teenagers are not mature enough to clearly understand the problems and consequences that are accompanied with cosmetic surgery. Therefore, cosmetic surgery should not be allowed for minors.
Cosmetic surgery is essentially not a bad thing. Some people suffer facial and body injuries or are born with a deformity which can only be corrected by plastic surgery. Cosmetic surgery can also be a life saver in cases of extreme obesity. However, some people-especially young females- are becoming too obsessed with their looks and body. The quest of finding the perfect body has led many to the operating table, opting for multiple cosmetic surgeries.
Plastic surgery is one of the most growing fields in medicine. Reconstructive surgery is one of the branches from plastic surgery and it is defined as surgeries performed to restore facial and body defects caused by a disease, trauma, burns, or birth defects (Nelson, 2010). When it first started, it focused on helping people who are having difficulty blending in society. For instance, during the Renaissance era, in the late 1700s, doctors worked on enhancing the appearance of patients suffering from the nose deformation caused by syphilis using plastic surgery. Enabling them to blend in society and cover the disease. Also, after World War I, because there were a large number of soldiers with disfiguring injuries, the United States of America relied on plastic surgeries to improve the life of wounded soldiers (Nelson, 2010). The other branch of plastic surgery is cosmetic surgery. This type of surgery is performed to preserve or restore normal appearances, or to enhance it beyond the average level (American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, 2014). For the last couple of years, Plastic surgery marketing has focused massively on cosmetic surgery procedures rather than reconstructive ones. This type of advertising is having negative effects on society by increasing the number of needless procedures, changing the true meaning of beauty, and harming females’ self-esteem.
My research paper will explain the benefits of plastic surgery. People often have a lot of doubt when it comes to plastic surgery, but it can actually have many positive attributes, both physically and psychologically such as improving one’s health, lifestyle, and confidence
Sullivan, Deborah A. "Tightening the Bonds of Beauty." Cosmetic Surgery: The Cutting Edge of Commercial Medicine in America. N.p.: Rutgers UP, 2001. N. pag. Print.
Some people’s obsession with plastic surgery is obviously getting out of control. It starts with only getting one thing fixed or corrected but then quickly escalates and before you know it, a face that once was all-flesh turns into plastic. According to a study conducted by Nigel Mercer (2009), “The number of official cosmetic surgeries has more than tripled to 34,000 since 2003”. The two reasons why plastic surgery should be banned are because of its high health risks, and because of the additional pressure it puts on people to look picture-perfect.
Most of us don't like some aspect of our appearance, whether it's sagging eyes or excess weight in particular areas, to name a few complaints. Lately a record numbers of Americans are doing something about it by having plastic surgery. Since 1995, the number of cosmetic procedures, which range from liposuction to facelifts, has almost tripled (English 23). Is that a healthy choice-or a dangerous trend? Aging has become the field of the future for plastic surgeons whose patients have reasons not always valid in the search for youth and beauty.
Cosmetic surgery is becoming a trend world-wide today because humans can never be fully satisfied in terms of looks; however, this type of surgery has many serious perils rather than some benefits that we already know.
Turner, L. (2004). Cosmetic surgery: the new face of reality TV [Electronic version]. BMJ: British Medical Journal, 328(7449), p. 1208. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.328.7449.1208
Marcus, Miriam. “Ten Plastic Surgical Risks You Need To Know.” Forbes, n.p. 10 October 2007. Web. 17 February 2012.
Colins, Joan. N.d..”The Pro’s and Con’s of Plastic Surgery”. Retrieved on January 28th, 2008. From http://cseserv.engr,scu.edu/StudentWebPages/KNguyen/researchpaper.htm
As cosmetic surgery can improve the overall mental and physical well being of a person, and increasing self confidence and self esteem. The world of cosmetic surgery is portrayed through media and our favourite celebrities, showing men and women that it is okay to change the body or face they came into the world with. Cosmetic surgery will continue to increase in the number of individuals that receive surgery to fix their
In 2007 alone, Americans spent $13 billion on 11.7 million cosmetic procedures. This is a fact that, to me is astounding. In such a world of debt and loss of jobs this industry has flourished with out even a hint of slowing down, for some this has become and addiction. Many major television networks have covered the dramatic growth and addiction of the procedure, which such shows as “MTV’s True life I’m getting unusual plastic surgery” or “True life I hate my plastic surgery” as well as “botched” and “My strange addiction”. Now the shows show different spectrums of this billion-dollar industry. For example on an episode of My strange addiction on addict has had 125 different procedures to look like the Ken doll which has cost him up to nearly $160,000. On botched this show centers on procedures that have gone wrong. In once instance the show features a woman named Alicia that has had a breast augmentation that has gone completely wrong from the position of the implants to the location under the skin where they were put
Cosmetic surgery consists not just of enhancing someones beauty, but also to help those who have been badly damaged in an accident or who have physical birth defects. Many believe that women are the main gender that go for cosmetic surgery. Yet studies have shown that 11% of men are also getting cosmetic surgery - in fact since 1992, the percentage of men getting cosmetic surgery has gone up by 50%. Middle aged men see plastic surgery as an investment in their career prospects. It is important to know that it is neither sex nor age which makes some type of aesthetic surgery procedure feasible, but what is important is a good general health condition.