Making Cosmetic Surgery Freely Available on the NHS

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Making Cosmetic Surgery Freely Available on the NHS

Cosmetic surgery is an individual's choice and if you want to have it

done and you have the money then go for it. However, having it done on

the NHS should only be available if it is for `medical' reasons, which

can include psychological ones. I don't agree with people who have,

for example, breast reduction surgery on the NHS just for cosmetic

reasons.

Opting for a surgical procedure is a serious matter. While many

celebrities are having the procedures to appear youthful in their very

competitive job market, others are doing it to simply feel better

about themselves or to feel more attractive.

Why are more and more young women opting for cosmetic surgery? In this

society teenagers' having cosmetic surgery is not new. It's been

happening in the USA for years. In the richer American cultures for

their 16th birthday, boys get a car, girls get a nose job. Even over

here the issue is old news. In 1998 the BBC investigated younger and

younger girls having cosmetic surgery, and plastic surgeons willing to

offer it to them. In 1999 they reported what women wanted; Emma

Bunton's nose, Melinda Messenger's breast, thighs of Naomi Campbell,

etc. Recently WHSmith began stocking 'cosmetic surgery Magazine'.

In 2001, the news was full of debates around cosmetic surgery

particularly breast enlargements. It caught nearly everyone's

attention when 15 year old Jenna Franklin, who was egger to have

breast implants for her 16th birthday. Her mother, herself had two

breast operations, and who runs her own plastic surgery business, said

she and her husband would happily pay the £3,250 for the operation.

Jenna was slim and pretty, but explained her decision saying she was

unhappy with her body and that a breast enlargement would give her

more self confidence and get rid of her hang ups. She also asserted

that you need big breast to be successful in life, naming various

celebrities such as Britney Spears and Pamela Anderson as proof.

Critiques said 'If she waits a while, her breast might grow bigger.

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