I have read the article about the young couple that spent a lot of money for plastic surgery. These two persons spent more than 300 thousand dollars for many surgeries to change their appearance and become like dolls. They state that they are very happy, they like the results of plastic surgeries and they do not want to stop this process.
Despite the fact, that passion for plastic surgery is very great for both of them and their parents are not against this passion of their children, they do not say exactly why they do this thing. I disagree with this opinion, that it is only a passion because I think this phenomenon has some deeper causes.
Let me consider what advantages and disadvantages of plastic surgery are. First of all, many of us may agree that plastic surgery helped thousands of people, who have serious problems with their appearance. A plastic surgery can transform what person does not like in his/her appearance and it can lead to some positive consequences. For example, a person begins to love oneself more. Plastic surgery gives hope to people which consider themselves as ugly one (Bradbury, 1994).
Also, there are many cases when a person loses one/s attractiveness, beauty and gain physical changes of one`s appearance because of accidents, physical injuries or at birth. In some cases, parents encourage children to change their appearance, especially if a father or a mother had own positive experience of plastic surgeries (Bradbury, 1994).
On the other hand, we can observe that there are many people who abuse the surgery. In such cases, as a rule, there is a hidden motivation. For example, a real goal of plastic surgery can be a desire to change relationships with other people. In this case, a plastic surgery or desire to improve one`s appearance is a mask for hidden motivation.
Unconsciously, such patients do not look for surgeons rather they look for psychotherapy. Such patients often evaluate possible outcomes and results of plastic surgery inadequately. That is why they tend to experience disappointment after surgeries (Reich, 1975).
Changes in quality of life after plastic surgery can influence patients` life significantly and in many cases, they determine the subjective assessment of the work of a surgeon. One should remember that it is doubtful to achieve well-being without personal effort. A plastic surgeon can improve the face or body of the patient but he can not improve patient’s happiness (Bradbury, 1994). Besides, plastic surgery only gives people additional opportunities to improve the quality of life. However, only a person is responsible for changes in his/her life.
Furthermore, we should not forget that there is some social impact on people who decide to do a plastic surgery. Recently, beauty started to be highly valued by society. Many people take the example of their idols. They want to be beautiful as famous artists, singers, models or as individuals similar to mentioned couple from the article. For instance, when a famous person chooses such health care services, it is in the center of attention. We know that many celebrities often do cosmetic improvements; some people often tend to imitate it.
Modern ideals of beauty can be seen in popular magazines, in different TV-shows and movies. Young girls and boys learn standards of beauty beginning from the childhood. As we can see in the case of young French lovers, they have learned ideals of beauty observing child dolls – Barbie and Ken.
In addition, often the media portray a very positive picture, saying that a plastic surgery - it is magic that helped them achieve many things. It definitely pushes people to use the services of a plastic surgeon, thinking that they too will achieve something in their life. It can be one of the reasons why this couple doing so many plastic surgeries.
There is no doubt that everyone wants to be beautiful (Reich, 1975). Some people doing this for the recognition of others. Other people are afraid of being ugly in the eyes of others. According to some experts of psychology, many people want to change their appearance because of fears and children’s complexes. So they want to increase their self-esteem and self-worth, become more confident. They pursued the idea that all their problems are rooted in their appearance (Reich, 1975).
One should not, however, forget that some people who become patients of plastic surgeons suffer from body dysmorphic disorder. They believe that they have the imperfect body and they must eliminate their body’s defects. “Ken” and, “Barbie” who have been mentioned earlier said that they did not like themselves and thought that they looked poorly.
Sometimes it is very difficult for a plastic surgeon to distinguish whether the patient is healthy, have psychological problems or some type of psychic problems. These people need psychotherapy to understand irrational side of their disorder, and they must accept their body as natural and normal for themselves (Fore, Cynthia M.,1994)
In conclusion, I can say that for some people plastic surgery stands as the way for making them happy, solve their problems and satisfy their needs. There are many benefits of plastic surgery so it is not surprising that many people are turning to it. Plastic surgery helps people regain confidence, love, self-worth and more.
Surely, surgery can transform the outer shell of people. But we have to remember that there is always a limit. This statement applies to plastic surgery too. Plastic surgery is not a panacea that solves all of these problems. You cannot overcome one’s complexes, fears, insecurities by making even tens of plastic surgeries.
Victims of incompetent plastic surgeons may be the people that suffer from a dysmorphic disorder. They are willing to pay large sums of money to reach an external perfection of their own body. Many people forget that there is also psychotherapists and psychologist besides surgeons. In my view, there is nothing better than a natural person’s inner beauty to which we should pay more attention. Because Antoine de Saint-Exupéry once wrote: "You are beautiful, but you are empty.”
Reference
Bradbury, E. (1994). The psychology of aesthetic plastic surgery. Aesthetic plastic surgery, 18(3), 301-305.
Fore, Cynthia M. (1994) "Body Dysmorphic Disorder: Easing the Distress of Distortion."
Reich, J. (1975). Factors influencing patient satisfaction with the results of esthetic plastic surgery. Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 55(1), 5-13.
