Essay About Cosmetic Surgery And Todays Society

Is Cosmetic Worth The Risk?
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In todays society the picture of beauty is a rail thin supermodel with the body of a goddess
posted on billboards all around the world. Children are brought up today playing with Barbie
dolls with the body measurements of would be 39-18-38. Because of these pictures and other
figures of beauties projected all over, a person is convinced to believe that to be beautiful and
happy, one must look like these images. To most, the easiest way to achieve this is by
having cosmetic surgery performed. With the change of times, also has come the advancement
of medical procedures, yet how safe can a person be who is having cosmetic surgery performed
on their body? No matter how good the technological advancements, there is always the risk of
not only the surgery resulting in unwanted outcomes but in some cases death.
Society today has brain washed not only todays women, but also the men to believe that in
order for a person to look beautiful they must look like the images seen on television, in movies
and on the cover of magazines. These images portray grotesquely thin women and muscular men
with the infamous six-pack abs. The Hollywood figures that are so famous for their looks and
bodies also encourage the belief that thin is beautiful. These images are plastered all over
billboards, television shows, commercials and magazine advertisements. In a society where
appearance is everything, times can be ones worst enemy.
What is cosmetic surgery? Cosmetic Surgery is a subspecialty of medicine and surgery that
restricts itself to the enhancement of appearance through surgical and medical techniques. It is
specifically concerned with maintaining normal appearance, restoring it, or enhancing it beyond
the average level toward some aesthetic ideal. Cosmetic surgery is a multi-disciplinary and
comprehensive approach directed to all areas of the head, neck and body.
The most common procedures are liposuction, rhytidectomy (face lift), and breast
augmentation. Each operation has its own specific dangers. Liposuction can lead to pain,
numbness, bruising, discoloration and depigmentation, facelifts can damage nerves, leaving the
persons face permanently numb and breast augmentation can cause encapsulation, where the
body reacts to the presence of foreign matter by developing and enclosing capsules of fibrous
tissues around the implant. An even more serious matter with breast augmentation is the
probability of leakage of silicone into the body, “gel bleed”. Even if the recipient went through
surgery and cam out satisfied, he or she must still endure swelling and discomfort before weeks
of healing. There are many other permanent risks that are more likely to occur after an
unsuccessful surgery such as disfiguration. The recipient would have to live with it or go
through many more surgeries to try to fix the problem. There are many risks that can happen
after an operation, but many consumers seem to focus on the benefits rather than the risks.
Busy lifestyles keep many people from being able to exercise daily to maintain a fit and trim
body. Leading many to feel they have no choice other than to resort to cosmetic surgery. This
however, can be a dangerous choice. Many fatalities have been reported as a result of surgical
procedures. One report stated that in an 18-month period, 69 fatalities from cosmetic surgery
were reported. (David, pg. 27) Yet, many who are looking into having a surgical procedure
performed do not take this risk into account.
Because of the rising economy, cosmetic surgery has become more advertised and
affordable. This leads people to believe that the technological advancements of today have
improved the results of cosmetic surgery, but more complications have started arising from
cosmetic surgery along with risks. Cosmetic surgeons are not fully educating people before
surgeries are performed. Surgeons have started placing money over ethics. They speak more of
the benefits rather than highlight the risks that can occur. These types of surgeons often would
not turn away unqualified recipients. Often times, the doctors try to avoid giving information of
risks by spending more time ridiculing peoples reasons for wanting surgery than in providing
them with information which would enable them to evaluate the risks against the benefit of the
operation.
Currently, there is no law or regulations against surgeons who want to use their skills to
perform a cosmetic procedure, regardless of the lack of knowledge in the field. Doctors can
perform any cosmetic surgeries as long as he or she has little knowledge about the procedure.
Any doctor with a medical degree can pick up the mantle of “cosmetic