“Mankind’s essential nature entails self improvement.”
Plastic surgery has been around since the beginning of civilization. Proof shows medical treatments were used for facial injuries more than 4,000 years ago. Physicians in India were using skin grafts for reconstructive work as early as 800 B.C. In the late 19th century the American medical community embraced reconstructive surgery and the history of plastic surgery in the U.S. began. The first major American surgeon to make his mark in the history of plastic surgery was Dr. John Peter Mettauer, who performed the first cleft palate operation in the North American history of plastic surgery in 1827 with instruments he designed himself.
Modernly, the word plastic surgery commonly implies procedures common to liposuction, tummy tucks, and breast augmentation. No longer are the majority of plastic surgeries used to reconstruct deformed features or fix abnormalities, but the public has turned plastic surgery into an industry that enhances and modifies personal appearance. There are numerous types of plastic surgery both surgical and non-surgical that are used to modify personal appearance. Some of these include:- Breast Augmentation (Augmentation Mamaplasty): In this procedure uses breast implants to increase the size of the breasts.
- Breast Reduction: This procedure reduces the size of large and dropping breasts.
- Breast Lift (Matopexy): This procedure lifts and gives a better shape to breast that are sagging.
- Liposuction or Lipoplasty (Suction-Assisted Lipectomy): This procedure removes the extra fat in different parts of the body. The three types are tumescent, ultrasonic and super-wet.
- Tummy tuck (Abdominoplasty): This procedure removes extra fat and skin from the abdomen area.
- Nose Surgery (Rhinoplasty): this procedure mends or modifies the nose.
- Face Lift/Facelift (Rhytidectomy): This procedure removes excess skin from the forehead, face and neck in order to reduce wrinkles from developing.
- Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty): Once this procedure is done the eyes no longer look droopy and tired.
- Botox Injections: These injections paralyze or freeze the face muscles to prevent them from developing wrinkles.
- Facial Implants: This procedure uses implants to improve the cheeks and chin.
- Ear pinning (Otoplaty): This procedure brings the ears closer to the head.
- Hair Restoration: In this procedure hair from one part of the head is transplanted to another part of the head.
- Laser Skin Resurfacing: this procedure decreases the wrinkles that develop on the skin due to exposure to the sun.
- Hyaluronic Acid: This natural substance is injected into the body to be used as skin filler.
Women had 91 percent of cosmetic procedures. Men had 9 percent of cosmetic procedures. Americans spent just over $13 billion on cosmetic procedures; $8.3 billion was for surgical procedures, and $4.7 billion was for non-surgical procedures.
So my question for you is this—What are your opinions on the plastic surgery craze? Why are cosmetic procedures so fashionable? With so many celebrities condoning plastic surgery, the overall attitude towards it seems to be becoming more and more relaxed. There have been numerous television series dedicated to the positive life changing ability plastic surgery has, and more and more prominent figures are coming forward embracing their own plastic surgery experiences. It is common to see movie stars that have had nose jobs (Jennifer Aniston, Ahslee Simpson, Blake Lively) and Botox. Why is our society so open to plastic surgery? What has pushed women and men to dramatically alter their physical appearance?
31 comments:
I think plastic surgery has become a disease plaguing our nation. I remember flipping through the channels and stopping on Extreme Makeover because I heard the words "calf implants." Some guy was worried his legs weren't big enough so he wanted calf implants instead of running the stairs after his workouts. We're taught to appreciate our bodies and love them. We are taught to improve the things about ourselves that we can and to not worry about things outside of our control. Some may argue that plastic surgery puts these things into our control, but like a tattoo, it mutilates the body given to us by our Heavenly Father.
Plastic surgery is, in general, a sign of the vanity of our modern civilization. Especially here in the United States, personal image is obsessed over. I personally feel bad for girls growing up in today's society. All of media and pop culture tell them time and time again that they aren't good enough. And from the looks of the growing trends of plastic surgery, young girls are believing them far too often.
I don't really mind plastic surgery to some extent. If you start looking like Joan Rivers then there's a problem. I don't think there's anything that I would ever get. Maybe I would get liposuction if I ever got super fat. I don't think that a plastic surgery is as bad as a tattoo though. If we "mutilate" our body by getting plastic surgery, don't we also "mutilate" our body by getting fat? If you make that argument, I think that it goes both ways.
I think plastic surgery was initially quite a positive thing. When the surgery was for restoration and reconstruction purposes, the results were great. The people back then were actually in need of the help because of some traumatic event.
Nowadays, a traumatic event is that you have a couple of wrinkles, or your body doesn't look as perfect as the fake models on TV and magazines.
This modern, plastic surgery crazed has stemmed from the society is designed to make us feel like we are not good enough. The media's messages tell us that we could be so much better, and that we don't have to settle with how we are. It's not wonder that the majority of surgeries are for women since they are the primary targets of today's media.
I think plastic surgery is so popular because of the fact that we value perfection and unattainable, everlastin beauty in our society. Also HDTV hasn't done anything to help celebs hide anything that they might not want the camera to see. In order for them to make sure no one knows they have a weird birthmark or wrinkly skin, they have to actually have surgery done, rather than being able to mask it with makeup like they used to. I think that sometimes plastic surgery is warranted, like it you have twins and no matter what you do you can't get your skin to stretch back in, so you get a tummy tuck. I don't know, I know that our bodies are sacred and that they are temporary vessels for our spirits but I don't think that embellishing them to a point, in the form of plastic surgery, is going to make you incredibly vain, plus once you're resurrected it'll change back anyway.
I think it's mostly a bad thing, but can also be a good thing. If your face is all messed up from being in a car accident or something, then yea, plastic surgery's a good thing. But for those who are too scared to let their age show and continue to be in a midlife crisis, I think it's gotten way out of hand. LIke we learned in class, advertising makes us think we are never physically good enough, so instead of feeling good about ourselves, people are instead, paying thousands of dollars to look as perfect as possible. It's probably addictive. They will never be as perfect as they want to be because they will feel there's always something else they will need to perfect.
I had a few friends in high school who asked for "boob jobs" for their senior gifts from their parents. Overtime, it has became a popular thing to do at our high school because my younger sister could also name many of her friends that received such gifts. I can only think of a few circumstances when someone would need plastic surgery. It's sad when people are so unsatisfied with themselves that they turn to such drastic means to appear perfect.
If they're doing plastic surgery to help with a deformity or because of and accident (i.e. fire) or something like that, than I'm totally cool with plastic surgery. If they're doing it just to "enhance" their image, than I'm totally against it. It's not natural and it's actually pretty scary. What often happens is that the celebrities will get plastic surgery and it won't look quite right and they'll just keep doing it over and over again until they look like Michael Jackson.
We put a large amount of emphasis on looking young and healthy. The younger, the better. Plastic surgery has become so good and so high quality that all the people who have wanted to look better now can.
Our society has made us believe that aging is a sin and that not looking like a celebrity is something to be ashamed of. Plain and simple. In some cases, yes, plastic surgery can change lives by boosting confidence in someone because they were ashamed of some of their features. Sometimes I watch dr. 90210 and just cringe and why people are getting all of this surgery just to look like everyone else.
The problem continues to snowball because the obsession Americans have with analyzing others and criticizing their flaws. During the Golden Globes or any awards, we have tv shows and magazines devoted only to analyzing the quality of the clothing - outfits that cost thousands and thousands. Then these same fashion gurus are thrown in front of a camera and bright light and they want to look critic-proof. In other words, this is all a sign of the vanity of our country and an attempt to fill in the emptiness within. There are cases when people truly feel better about themselves after surgery, but often it's done for reasons of the world (of course). I think it's ok in certain cases, but when I see attractive women who are unhappy with their beauty and then proceed to spend thousands to refine it, then it gets sad. Look at Ashlee Simpson - how can anyone "buy" her lyrics now that she's been shown to be so obsessed with changing who she is? Tattoos and plastic surgery have a lot in common.
i think people should make whatever change they need to in order to feel good about themselves, however a lot of times that's a lifestyle change or mental change. i think a lot of the people who get multiple surgeries are insecure and have issues that won't be solved by the scapel. I do think that there's too much of the notion that you have to conform yourself to society's view of beauty and that plastic surgery facilitates that philosophy.
For many celebrities and public figures, getting used to be in front of the camera and in the center of all attention, being the trendsetters or in the top "100 sexiest celebrities", they have to manage to have the best appearance in public. That's why plastic surgery comes in handy for most of the to fight with time and to maintain their appearance. And since they are the trendsetters, many of the public would take what they do as trendy and cool, and that is when plastic surgery is introduced widely to the public.
honestly you can work out and get facials all you want but sometimes there are just features that we are born with. instead of accepting ourselves we are taught that we dont have to, we dont have to settle with what we were given we can change into something completely different rather easily via plastic surgery.
i think that plastic surgery is absolutely appropriate for some people. i think that like all things however it can be used in excess and abused. i mainly just feel sorry for people like that though because its SO blatantly obvious that they are starving for outward validation of their personal worth.
This is a result of other problems. This is a symptom of some other disease.
To be competitive in Hollywood- the place were looks matter more than anywhere else- actresses often feel they need to alter their appearances. Nose Jobs are extremely commonplace there, and many other procedures have become less and less rare.
At that point, I can understand the appeal of plastic surgery. It is the livelihood of an actress, and lets face it, she might not be getting that lead part if she didn't get a nose job (the camera is so much less forgiving than the stage). She also needs to be extremely thin.
However, it is clear that some people take it too far, and get less needful things done. But some people also take the same problems and express them through even more self destructive behaviors such as anorexia.
There is likely a common cause for these different problems, and we should be addressing that.
cosmetic surgery is only an accessory to becoming a fashion icon now. it's not the question whether or not to do so, but when. i commend the people that with slight physical imperfections, keep their image the same. it is possible to have a makeover and not have plastic surgery. the result ends up even better because it does not change their physical makeup. god intended us to be grateful for the bodies we have.
As the son of a plastic surgeon I realize that there are essential medical procedures that are a must when it comes to plastic surgery and other procedures that are ridiculous. My dad foes a lot of work in the ER with children and adults alike to reconstruct whatever limb or facial feature that might have been damaged in an accident, but more importantly he does a lot of work on peoples hands who form complications in the work place.
When it comes to cosmetic surgery though, few people really need to be worked on. But in a society so focused on outward appearance people think it is necessary in order to make them happy, but it doesn't work, because they just become hungry for more body "fixes." From my understanding it becomes an addiction, once you have a face lift you will only see something else wrong with yourself and need to have more done.
I could write an essay to answer all the questions about this interesting topics... I am just going to say two things:
(1): 11.5 million people ... What the??? WOW!!!!! That is Crazy!
(2): Kids from parents who have gone under the knife - will still be 'ugly'- Money cant change everything! Haha!
Oh and I agree with Kristin- It is a 'disease plaguing our nation'! I didn't even need to read through all the explanations of the surgeries- I mean... Nip Tuck... Extreme makeover. Those terms are part of our everyday vocab!
The masses watch TV and subconsiously relate and wish to be those hero's and super stars on television. We see special effects, computer touch ups and begin to think that we can "edit copy" what we see on TV and then "edit paste" it onto us. Media is screaming you aren't good enough, you need all these things to make you better. As a guy, these thoughts probably aren't as prevelant. I glad that guys don't feel those pressures as strongly as women. I would hate it. The pressures I do feel to conform are real, but the gospel seems to bring proper perspective
I don't really have a bad attitude towards plastic surgery. If it makes you happy, go ahead. I guess it's growing rampantly these days because we live in a vain world. Physical appearance seems to be everything. I think it's necessary if a person really needs it. Like in the show "Jon and Kate plus 8". She really needed plastic surgery cos she had sextuplets. That's ok.
I like to see the glass as half-full. 11.5 million people had cosmetic surgery in 2007. That's 11.5 million people walking the streets of America who are less ugly than they were 2 years ago!
A family friend who is a cosmetic surgeon explained his profession to me this way:
"There are people in this world that do everything they can to take care of their bodies and to look and feel their very best. Some of them, though, have one or two things about their appearance that have bothered them their whole lives and that can't be fixed without cosmetic surgery. The fact is that these things can really effect people's sense of self-worth, even their spirituality. By fixing a bump in someone's nose, I can actually help them to worry about more important things."
We should be grateful for the blessings of modern medicine -- vaccines and scalpels alike -- and exercise sound judgment in how we use them.
Plastic surgery is a very, very common occurrence in our society. I am sure that we all know many people who have had a cosmetic procedure. I once asked a family friends, who is a plastic surgeon in L.A., about the work that he does. He said that a large majority of the work that he does are breast augmentations. He also told me about the things that have can go wrong with the different procedures and that cured me of ever wanting to have plastic surgery.
People are more concerned with their image than ever and plastic surgery reflects that. Personally I don't feel as strongly against it as some others, what about a tummy tuck after having children? Sure it's altering your appearance, but is that opposed to God's will in this case? There are obviously differing circumstances like reconstructive plastic surgery.
A little plastic surgery here and there doesn’t hurt anyone. My only concern is that people are using plastic surgery to compensate for a lack of personality and other valuable attributes. I think that if a woman after having a couple of kids feels the need to get a breast lift or augmentation that’s fine with me. Or if a man has got a little chunky and has made an attempt to lose weight and wants just a few more pounds off the mid section and want liposuction. That’s ok too.
In our society there seems to a generic equation for beauty. You have to have a nose like Jennifer Aniston's (new nose) and abs Daniel Craig, and cheeks like Jessica Simpson. We have put what is beautiful into one category. People think being a certain breast size will change their life. We don't value to rare and exotic beauty. It's unnoticed and underappreciated. I think plastic surgery is fine to an extent. It might even be needed in many cases. But why can't we just be happy with the way we are without coveting Nicole Kidman's chin?
I think just as you pointed out, celebrities and the media are forming the public's opinion on the issue of plastic surgery to be more relaxed and accepting. I think it really is sad that there are so many people that aren't comfortable in their own skin. But even more astonishing is the money which is pouring into the various procedures from botox to rhinoplasty. It is important to look at why plastic surgery became so important in the beginning, for reconstructive or corrective reasons. The first plastic surgery as you pointed out was done by a doctor in the early 19th centry to fix the cleft palate. Hopefully, plastic surgery won't continue to increase as it has been and get even more out of control.
I think people, especially women, have a fear of growing old. I feel like there is some sort of taboo with growing old naturally. I think the aging women is beautiful, I've heard so many times that every wrinkle in an aging face tells has its own story. I can understand some surgeries, but nose jobs, lip injections, and face lifts are things I think are stupid. If you should act your age then you might as well look your age.
I think there has been a desire for quite awhile now among adults to always be perfect. This includes work, family, and looks. This is just another way to enhance that "perfection" that I think gets taken way to far.
It also increases people's thoughts that they can change anything and adds to the "I want what I want when I want it" mentality.
Our society demands perfection. We see it daily on television, in magazines and advertisements. It is not surprising at all that 11.5 million people in one year felt that their appearance was inadequate enough to require surgery to fix it. It's very sad in my opinion.
I think in many cases, plastic surgery is a great thing. However, many people become obsessed with the idea and change every single thing about their body. Some people are born with crooked noses. Go ahead and change that if you feel so inclined. I am from Orange County, and several people in my ward have had plastic surgery. I do not think this makes them bad people. In todays society we are surrounded with what is claimed to be perfection. In order to fit this, many people do get surgery. This shows a lack of self esteem.
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