Altering one’s body with cosmetic surgery is unnatural, and there are always risks of potential side effects, both physical and psychological associated with it. Women around the world that are attempting to shift their body shape through cosmetic surgery are interesting for analysis. However, natural beauty is better than cosmetic surgery, and it is far better to work on beautifying the person underneath. The evidence will come from research because there are many scientific journals which deal with cosmetic surgery. The audience should be all of the women around the world because they are the main target of the people who promote cosmetic surgery and the main aim is to stop the process of aging.
Women are the main consumers of cosmetic surgery and for some professions which are related to the public this is a must. However, cosmetic surgery is still a surgery and there are many dangers related to it. The fact that the final outcome is supposed to make the woman more beautiful does not mean that the surgery is less severe than any other surgery. Women need to be advised about the complications which might occur if they undergo certain procedures because it can be detrimental for their health. “Most cosmetic surgery operations are extremely complex and require a high degree of anatomical knowledge and surgical skill as well as aesthetic appreciation” (Orton 1229). This means that women have to gather enough information about a certain doctor prior to deciding to go through the surgery. Every procedure involves potentially hazardous effects due to the fact that each person reacts differently to anesthesia which is usually necessary. Many women suffer from side-effect of the operations every day which is why extensive research prior to having a surgery is of extreme importance.
What us natural is best especially because of the fact that women have the option of beautifying themselves temporarily by make-up. The physical side-effects of undergoing a cosmetic surgery might be related to the fact that the procedure could be done by a person who is not well educated or experienced. Even if the person is one of the experts in the area, there are still risks involved due to the fact that a person might react in an unexpected way. Moreover, there are the greatest risks related to the injection and permanent materials, such as silicone because of its unpredictable behavior. The reaction of each patient is individual because there are no two bodies that can react in the same way which is why women should take their time to decide if they really need the surgery or not. The potential psychological side-effects are related to the fact that fixing a physical problem which results in the change in appearance cannot fix any psychological issues a person might have. It is also possible for the patient to be unsatisfied with the final results and to repeat the surgery for the unlimited number of times. Doctors who do not have proper working ethics will comply to the wishes of the patient, while the others will refuse to perform additional surgeries although this market is competitive and capitalist. “Many patients do not seek a referral from their general practitioner because they fear an unsympathetic response or they feel that cosmetic surgery is not fundamentally medical” (Orton 1229). This is a mistake because taking advice from experienced professionals is the only way to prevent damages and putting oneself through the unnecessary health risk. It takes a lot of practice to become a professional plastic surgeon, but it is important to have high ethical standards all the time because women are susceptible to feeling insecure and this might not be changed after the cosmetic surgery.
Women need to be sure that the surgery is what they need and what will make them happy. That is why they need to have a serious discussion with a psychologist who could determine the real reason of the desire to have the surgery done. Another important issue is the choice of the surgeon which has to be made upon extensive research. “The training and continuing medical education are as important in aesthetic surgery as in other branches of surgery” (Orton 1230). It happens often than plastic surgeons accept to perform a surgery even though they are not qualified enough, but that is not against the law which is why the law should change in order for the women to be protected.
The public awareness about the dangers of cosmetic surgery has to be raised due to the fact that women believe that these procedures are purely cosmetic and that there are no risks involved. This is not the case and women need to be educated on the potential risks which are involved in all of the surgeries as well as in those that are cosmetic. “There is a great tendency nowadays to stick this label on patients who may be disturbed, or unloved, or worried about their appearance, but who do not deserve to be stigmatized as true pyschotics” (Dencer 629). While it may be true that people who are satisfied with themselves would not seek for ways to alter their physical appearance, it is certain that they are patients who only want slight changes made on their bodies. However, what is natural is best and women have to accept that beauty comes in many shapes and appearances. It is best to work on one’s own personality and on the spirituality than to try and fix what does not have to be fixed. The main reason for this is the fact that cosmetic surgeons are usually only profit oriented and they will not be guilty in the case of a failure because the patient has to give their consent prior to the surgery.
The inner beauty should be more appreciated although the modern society is inclined to make people believe that they need to look in a certain way to be accepted as beautiful. Beauty is necessary in the world full of superficiality and it makes women feel insecure about their appearance. Women need to be encouraged to show their true self to the world instead of being persuaded by the media that it is wrong to look different than what can be labeled as standardized beauty. Moreover, beauty is in imperfections and cosmetic surgery can never make people become better persons. Women need to beautify themselves underneath and they will be considered as beautiful. “Advertising of cosmetic surgery aims to stimulate demand and encourage patients to take risk. This cannot be in the best interest of these vulnerable people” (Fazel and Taber 20). Therefore, advertising has to be banned because it suggests that natural beauty is not enough and that people need the help of plastic surgeons in order to become truly attractive. Attraction comes from within and that is why undergoing cosmetic surgeries will not make people feel any more desirable than they were prior to the surgery. Inner beauty should be promoted as well as beauty in diversity.
Beauty is not about the physical appearance and people who consider cosmetic surgery need to make sure that they are doing it for the right reasons. They also need to be aware of the risks and potential side-effects which can lead to extreme disappointment. It is better to work on one’s personality than on one’s appearance and everybody can look better if they adopt a healthy lifestyle. There are natural alternatives to looking better and more youthful and women should consider this when they begin their inquiries about cosmetic surgery.
Annotated Bibliography
Orton, Clive. "Regulating Cosmetic Surgery: Members Of The Public Would Be Better Protected If They Consulted Their General Practitioners First." BMJ: British Medical Journal 324.7348 (2002): 1229-30. Print.
Clive Orton was a plastic surgeon and the president of the association of plastic surgeons in Great Britain. He is a credible person due to the fact that his knowledge and experience are great and because he can discuss preparation of surgeries in great detail as well as a necessity for having surgeries. This source reflects on the hazards of booking the surgery before meeting with the surgeon due to the fact that their representatives may help the potential patients sign the papers. It is also stated in the article that there are many incompetent surgeons and that extensive knowledge related to medicine and aesthetics is necessary for a person to become a plastic surgeon. “New government regulations insist on preoperative consultations by the surgeon and ban surgery within two weeks of consultation” (Orton 1229). This means that the law is changing and that the patients’ rights will be protected in a better way. It is not right to treat patients as customers which is the case when cosmetic surgery is involved. New regulations will also require surgeons to have more training and extensive learning before they are allowed to perform surgeries by themselves. The regulations have to be the same for private practice as for public and the risk which the potential patients are facing is bound to be reduced.
Dencer, D. "Hazards Of Cosmetic Surgery." The British Medical Journal 1.5540 (1967): 629. Print.
D. Dencer was a plastic surgeon worried about the fact that patients who seek for cosmetic surgery might be labeled as having mental illnesses which would stigmatize them. He supported the right of people to choose if they want to have a surgery or not and he suggested that some people may have these wishes because of being unsatisfied in life in general. The lack of love and the feeling of self-accomplishment make people vulnerable and prone to asking for the alternations on their bodies because they think that this would make them accepted in the society. However, this does not mean that they are psychopaths. There are potential patients who really are paranoid, but not everybody who asks for cosmetic surgery has to be accused of having mental problems. Some people are unsatisfied with their bodies and all they want is to have some slight changes in order to feel better in their skin. Most of these people suffer from loneliness as well and that is one of the main reasons for which they opt for surgery. The point is to feel accepted by the society and these people believe that a certain appearance will make them more appealing.
Fatah, Fazel, and Sally Taber. "Should all advertising of cosmetic surgery be banned?" BMJ: British Medical Journal (2012): 20-21. Print.
Fatah Fazel is an experienced professional in a domain of plastic surgery especially the one related to breast reconstruction. Sally Taber is a healthcare advisor with a great background related to the work in hospitals. The authors are credible and they suggest that advertising of plastic surgery should be banned because it makes vulnerable people even more insecure. Advertising can be detrimental for the mental health of people because it sets unrealistic goals. Each person has a different result that other people and that is why advertising cannot give the precise picture of what awaits the patient. This kind of advertising is immoral because people should be taught to accept their bodies given to them by nature without seeking the approval from the society. The self-esteem of many people can be hurt if they are exposed to a great amount of advertising of cosmetic surgery.
Works Cited
Orton, Clive. "Regulating Cosmetic Surgery: Members Of The Public Would Be Better Protected If They Consulted Their General Practitioners First." BMJ: British Medical Journal 324.7348 (2002): 1229-30. Print.
Dencer, D. "Hazards Of Cosmetic Surgery." The British Medical Journal 1.5540 (1967): 629. Print.
Fatah, Fazel, and Sally Taber. "Should all advertising of cosmetic surgery be banned?" BMJ: British Medical Journal (2012): 20-21. Print.
