Ethics in Cosmetic Surgery

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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 referring them to a psychologist to help with body image issues they may have. In elective cosmetic surgery there are medical risks involved, such as the risks involved in anesthesia and the risk of infection. There is also the monetary risk of never being able to pay off the cost of the surgery. All of these risks need to be made clear to the patient before the doctor allows them to undergo cosmetic surgery.
There is risk associated with any sort of medical treatment, but one of the main risks when undergoing surgery is a complication from the anesthetic. The simplest of cosmetic procedures only require local anesthesia, where just a small part of their body is numbed. This is the least dangerous type of anesthesia, and allergic reaction is the most severe complication and is extremely rare. Larger operations, such as liposuction or other abdominal surgeries, require the patient to be under general anesthesia. In general anesthesia, the patient is completely unaware of their surroundings, and t...

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