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Is Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery Good For Teens?
Why are so many teens considering plastic and cosmetic surgery? Do they not know the risks? The rates of teenage plastic cosmetic surgery have gone up in the recent years. There are many bad negatives to getting plastic or cosmetic surgery.
Cosmetic Surgery, Suspect Norms, and the Ethics of Complicity
Cosmetic surgery does not operate under the same distinct goals that regular medical practices operate under: the removal, relief, or curing of maladies. Cosmetic surgery is mainly deemed as a luxury, one that is allotted to those with the means to send money on something that is often deemed purely superficial. These surgeries do not stem from a base of medical necessities however there is a certain level of suffering that can accompany some of the patients want for surgery. The suffering, coming from mostly issues with self image, are directly related to social norms. These social norms are ones constructed by society as a whole based on what they deem as “beautiful”, “expectable”,
Cosmetic surgery is a vile trend throughout the U.S. society. The world has always appreciated beauty, but this is now taking a toll on children who because of their age are unaware of the lasting consequences. While there is no age limit for any conclusive procedure, cosmetic surgery is more glorified to be glamorous than safe, and it is time to stop putting teen´s bodies in danger.
In the first two texts there are numerous views concerning adolescent cosmetic surgery. Among these views are, for example, Diana Zuckerman, president of the National Research Center for Women and Families, whom are mentioned in both texts. As she is quoted in the second text , Seeking Self-Esteem Through Surgery, an article by Camille Sweeney, posted on New York Times website, January 15 anno 2009, “They may not be any happier with their new look, then what?”. Said quote depicts quite well the general skepticism that Diana Zuckerman seems to hold in both texts. It generally seems that she is concerned that many teenagers, whom desire cosmetic surgery, may be somewhat rash in their decision to go to such lengths to acquire the modern beauty ideal. Among other opinions, that surface in the texts, are the one of Valerie Ulene, author of the first of the text, Plastic surgery for teens, an article that were posted on Los Angeles Times website, January 12, 2009. Valerie Ulene, whom is a specialist in preventive medicine in Los Angeles, expresses a concern, not unlike Diana Zuckerman. She furthermore concludes her article with, that she has no regret s not persuading cosmetic surgery on her nose. She considered said procedure as a teen, though not seriously. Concerns like those of Diana Zuckerman and Valerie Ulene can also be associated with the opinions of John Canedy, a cosmetic surgeon mentioned in the first text, and Ann Kearney-Cooke, the director of the Cincinnati Psychotherapy Institute, whom are mentioned in the second text. Furthermore are there listed, in text 1, that many unnamed surgeons argues, that the cosmetic procedures improves the self-esteem of the teens, and as such the quality of their lives. Previous mentione...
“Individuals are encouraged, even expected to make ‘lifestyle’ choices to maximize their life chance and simultaneously held responsible for managing and minimizing the risk associated with these decisions” (Leve, 2012:124). Media discourse is part of everyone’s day to day life, ideals of bodies are shown in all these media communication’s in order to appeal to the consumer. This could be considered to have made society become obsessed by looks, meaning that individuals feel the pressures to keep up with how people are represented in the media, for example recognized celebrities in magazines. According to The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, or BAAPS, there was a 16.5 percent increase of procedures in 2012. These statistics show that cosmetic surgery is becoming normalized, “This is how we live now. Anything that makes us feel better about our appearance, whether it involves needles, knives or acid, is acceptable’ (Wiseman, 2012)
red the real meaning of plastic surgery? Do you know when plastic surgery was first developed? Despite the consensus that plastic surgery involves surgery done using plastic or artificial materials, plastic surgery is actually derived from the Greek word “plastikos”, which means “to mold or shape” whereas “surgery” is obtained from “kheirourgos”, “kheir” being “hand” and “ourgos” being “work”. It dates back to as early as 600 BC, when a nose was reconstructioned by a Hindu surgeon using a piece of cheek because it was damaged in battles or caused by punishments as slaves. However, the idea of beauty has been distorted in which one believes to obtain would require the help of an approach that is not necessarily needed. In today’s society, a person is being pressured into looking a certain way in order to be called beautiful. With the media and the Internet highly influencing consumers every day by presenting picture perfect celebrities with smooth skin, perky chests and bottoms on television, it is likely that the media would hold an effect on the persuadable youth who are healthy with no defects but yearns for the unattainable. Surgical makeover shows such as Extreme Makeover and The Swan showing back-to-back episodes of a group of “ugly” women given a gift to look and feel beautiful has shown how many people in society lacks the self-esteem and confidence. For them, it is to undergo plastic surgery. It is no surprise that in the annual report entitled “Global Aesthetic/Cosmetic Surgery Procedures Performed in 2011”, United States ranked first among countries performing breast augmentations.
Cosmetic Surgery Today
Flipping through the pages of Vogue's latest edition, 23 year-old Susan seems quite upset. She struggles with the thought of lacking the perfect body and delicate features in order to be considered attractive. Surprisingly, Susan is not alone in this kind of an internal struggle.
In 2012, more than 236,000 cometic procedures were preformed on patients nineteen-years-old or younger. Plastic surgery has become extremely popular in this generation especially teenagers. Plastic surgery is the remodeling or reshaping of the body parts. Society has put this picture in a women 's head of a perfect face or body. People are disappointed in the way their bodies look because they aren 't what others think is “perfect”. They want a change. They want to be apart of this tend. But have you ever thought about the risks you are taking as a teen who 's body is still changing? There are some major side effect that could possibly change ones mind about undergoing such a serious surgery such as plastic surgery.
Most people in today’s world have or will receive some sort of cosmetic surgery. Okay, so you are thinking so what? Well, believe it or not, there are a bunch of adults out in the world who want to ban certain cosmetic procedures. Critics say it tarnishes the way young teens view themselves as people and makes them want to alter their body to conform to what is “beautiful” in social media. This has got to be put to rest; adults should be able to make changes to their body where they see fit. Discrimination against people who want, get, or have plastic surgery done to them is senseless.
We all have insecurities about our bodies. Whether it's our stomachs, our thighs, or our noses, there will always be something about ourselves that will never be good enough. But some are taking this obsessing about our imperfections to an entirely new and dangerous level. Plastic surgery's role in Americans' lives is starkly increasing. In fact, according to ediets.com, last year "Americans spent almost $8.4 billion on more than 15 million procedures - greater than 2 million more than the previous year." The all- too-common trend we are witnessing leads us to question the direction of values in our culture. Are happiness, success, and confidence achieved solely in physical perfection? Are those of us who don't have the physical attractiveness of celebrities but cling to our natural ...