StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Plastic Surgery in America - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
This essay declares that plastic surgery is the most common surgery in American hospitals today. This trend is a response to constant social pressure to become the ‘ideal’ person.  This ideal is described as mid-20ish, slender, with a certain good-looking charm and softly defined musculature…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER94.9% of users find it useful
Plastic Surgery in America
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Plastic Surgery in America"

Plastic surgery is the most common surgery performed in American hospitals today. This trend is a response to constant social pressure to become the ‘ideal’ person. This ideal is described as mid-20ish, slender, with a certain good-looking charm and softly defined musculature. Those who match this ‘right’ look either naturally or because they are able to buy it are seen to have the ideal life no matter what their life actually looks like. Just by this outward appearance, people are automatically considered to be wealthy, happy and free of common concerns (Bardack & McAndrew, 1995). Even when a person meets these requirements, though, there are some significant negative complications that must be considered. When a person's external appearance becomes the only means by which they are measured by society, there is no room for internal qualities to develop or gain appropriate merit. Instead, people are so obsessed about presenting the right external view that they commit suicide over pimples and go into debt over waistlines. This shallow, obsessive view is especially present among teenagers, both male and female, as they rush to have plastic surgery to perfect their bodies instead of making the best of what they have. Not only can it be harmful to psychological and physical health, but it is harmful to society as it is encouraged by role models and supported by parents. Many adolescents don’t seem to realize that plastic surgery is still surgery and they rush to get it done even before their bodies have finished developing. All surgeries have physical and physiological risks. In 1998, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported 8,074 rhinoplasties were given to patients under the age of 18, making it the most common surgery. “Although noses typically stop growing at age 15 in girls, it is closer to age 20 in males” (Powers, 2000), meaning kids were having noses repaired before they were even finished growing so results might not stay the same into adulthood. Another age-specific surgery is liposuction, which offers up some dangers of its own. “[Dr. Robert Wallace, chairman of the University of Tennessee College of Medicine’s division of plastic surgery] said he also is reluctant to do liposuction during the hormone and weight fluctuations that often accompany adolescence” (Powers, 2000). Even though liposuction is a procedure specifically intended to remove fat and help sculpt the body, more than 1600 adolescents seeking this surgery expected to lose weight without exercise or changing diet. Since they don't concern themselves with real approaches to weight loss, they don't get the results they want and they are unable to keep the positive changes they do achieve. When thinking about plastic surgery, the dangers to psychological health should also be considered. Studies have shown that even among young girls, “four out of ten said they would consider plastic surgery to make themselves slimmer” (Gustafson, 2005). Most teenagers feel plastic surgery is the only way that they can be acceptable to their peers (Gustafson, 2005), but feel blocked by parents or the medical professionals. Instead of working on their issues, they focus on placing blame on external things. As one nurse said, “[Plastic surgery] won’t get them a boyfriend or make them smarter or solve their problems … You have to seriously go into their motivation” (Powers, 2000). Too many people seeking plastic surgery are looking for instant results in all areas of their lives simply because of a perceived improvement in their external appearance. People in favor of cosmetic surgery say they can prove that it leads to psychological and psychosocial behavior. Studies that compare pre- and post-surgery attitudes show positive results “including improvements in body image and possibly a quality-of-life boost too” (Dittman, 2005). Even within these studies, though, there is evidence of negative outcomes such as depression, adjustment problems, social isolation, family problems, self-destructive behaviors and anger toward the surgeon and/or his staff for not delivering on unrealistic expectations (Dittman, 2005). Most of the people who were unhappy with their surgery results were upset because they either expected more than the surgery could deliver or because they had other psychological issues before the surgery that surgery could never correct (Weintraub, 2002). “Unlike women who seek plastic surgery later in life, Dr. Ann Kearney-Cooke noted, teen-agers typically lack the perspective crucial to developing realistic expectations about probable results and the life-long consequences, including scarring and change in sensation” (Powers, 2000). Although the surgery might be successful in achieving a preferred look, it is not possible for a simple change in appearance to change a person's popularity, increase their wealth, or free them from common concerns. Society doesn't do much to counteract these wrong beliefs, starting with parents. “Experts say parents play a crucial role in the process. Because cosmetic surgery is not covered by health insurance, parents are likely to foot the bill. In 1999, the average surgical fees ranged from about $2,000 for suction-assisted lipoplasty to more than $4,700 for breast reduction” (Powers, 2000). Mothers add a lot to the insecurities since they are usually constantly searching for the teenage waist or a wrinkle free complexion. “The same sex parent shapes an adolescent’s body image, in part. A parent unhappy with her breasts or thighs or chin who sees plastic surgery as the answer is more likely to raise a child who turns to surgery” (Powers, 2000). The parents' attempt to capture the ideal image is fueled by their perception of people they see in the media - older women phased out or playing crones on television unless they are able to preserve an illusion of youth (Gunter, 1995). The emphasis placed on youth and beauty communicates several messages to younger people. Teenagers learn that there are shortcuts to beauty and that only external beauty matters. They also develop an idea that beauty is a requirement to achieving success and recognition. “The reinforcement of moms depressed about her weight because they don’t look like magazine models, makes it even more likely for the daughters to be unhappy with their bodies” (Gustafson, 2005). This concept that the young and beautiful are the only real success stories is pervasive, distracting, and unrealistic. “Although the typical cosmetic surgery patient is still a woman between age 35 and 50, the internet, music videos, teen-age magazines and old-fashioned peer pressure is fueling a new generation of patients interested in getting sculpted, shaped, nipped and tucked” (Powers, 2005). The media contributes greatly to the unrealistic expectations of plastic surgery patients, but it will only change when we do. Reinforced by the shallow values of the people they surround themselves with, teenagers believe that the ideal form, carefully constructed in the plastic surgeon’s chair, is the only way to find acceptance and happiness in today’s world. They don't place any value on inner talents, abilities, or compassion. Parents and the media contribute greatly to this perception that the external determines all. Older people look to plastic surgery as a way to achieve eternal youth. While adults consider plastic surgery to be an improvement in health and therefore have more realistic expectations, teenagers are equating looks with potential success and develop very unrealistic expectations. Many teenagers are convinced that they will be failures in life if they do not have the ‘right’ look, an idea that is reinforced by images they see on TV and in the movies. This belief leads them to seek surgeries that might be dangerous to their physical health and which might be psychologically damaging. In the end, it is society that determines what the ideal human form should look like, but our society has been overly focused on external appearance. Therefore it is in the hands of the adults to teach their children well and for all of us to redirect attention to more realistic and less superficial attributes. References Bardack, N. & McAndrew, F. (1985). The influence of physical attractiveness and manner of dress on success in a simulated personnel decision. The Journal of Social Psychology. Vol. 125, 777-778. Dittmann, M. (September 2005). Plastic Surgery: Beauty or Beast? American Psychology Association. Vol. 36, N. 8. Gilman, S. L. (1999). Making the Body Beautiful: A Cultural History of Aesthetic Surgery. Princeton University Press. Gunter, B. (1995). Television and Gender Representation. London: John Libbey. Gustafson, R. (January 18, 2005). Parenting and the Media. Parents Television Council Publications. Powers, M. (September 9, 2000). More Teens Seek Plastic Surgery. South Coast Today. Weintraub, J. (March 21, 2004). Makeover Shows Selling Fairy Tales. Journal Sentinal TV Critic. Live TV & Radio. Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Plastic Surgery in America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words”, n.d.)
Plastic Surgery in America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/health-sciences-medicine/1454405-cosmetic-surgery-and-society-the-doll
(Plastic Surgery in America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 Words)
Plastic Surgery in America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 Words. https://studentshare.org/health-sciences-medicine/1454405-cosmetic-surgery-and-society-the-doll.
“Plastic Surgery in America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/health-sciences-medicine/1454405-cosmetic-surgery-and-society-the-doll.
  • Cited: 1 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Plastic Surgery in America

Boob Jobs, Credit and Quest for Perfection

rdquo; Fatherly, the financial spending shows the extent of use of Plastic Surgery in America.... The board-certified plastic surgeon believes that the first major plastic surgery in the United State of America was undertaken by “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.... It is believed that plastic surgery and plastic money has been used in america for decades....
11 Pages (2750 words) Term Paper

Teenagers opting to Go for Cosmetic Surgery

Some experts in cosmetic surgery state that for some teenage patients, plastic surgery could have a very positive effect in their lives not only physically, but also in their emotional development.... Many teenagers who wish to undergo plastic surgery are motivated by factors, which are very different from those that influence adults to do the same.... Over the past few years, statistics have shown that there has been an increase in the number of teenagers opting to go for cosmetic surgery....
8 Pages (2000 words) Research Paper

Long-term Psychological Satisfaction & Plastic Surgery

This paper highlights that long-term psychological satisfaction is not guaranteed after plastic surgery even if the immediate results boost attractiveness, quality of life and self-efficacy.... These factors include advances in the field of plastic surgery, less invasive procedures, lower cost of the treatments and the increased amount of income of the individuals.... History of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery The incidence and prevalence of plastic surgery is as old as humankind is....
8 Pages (2000 words) Research Paper

Problems with Cosmetic Surgery

(American Society for Aesthetic plastic surgery) However, as many operations are carried out by highly qualified specialists, there... The aim of this work is to perform a clear research on the problems, which now exist in the cosmetic surgery but are often made invisible for usual consumers with the aim of getting higher profits and not loosing the face of the cosmetic surgery industry as it is.... hellip; The main conclusion of the work is that cosmetic surgery hides vast amount of problems, which should be understood by those who considers the possibility of going through such operation. The paper will be an attempt to find out and explain the grounds and the reasons of the cosmetic surgery popularization, which at present go beyond the reasonable limits....
16 Pages (4000 words) Essay

Plastic Surgery and Womens Beauty

Cosmetic surgery deals with the normal appearance and is usually carried out after plastic surgery in order to restore or to enhance the normal appearance of the person.... Therefore there has been increase use of plastic surgery in order toe enhance beauty.... plastic surgery is one of the medical procedures that have gained recent recognition and a wide use for all people.... (Ham, 2003) Although it has gained recognized use in the recent time, plastic surgery dates back to many years ago....
13 Pages (3250 words) Essay

Cosmetic Surgery - New Form of Modern Art or Pure Science

Cosmetic surgery is now one of the most developed and widespread division of general plastic surgery with around twelve million cosmetic procedures performed only in the U.... The researcher of this essay aims to analyze the cosmetic surgery.... The main question of this paper is "Cosmetic surgery: a new form of art, pure science or combination of both?... The issue of cosmetic surgery is probably the most debated within the domain of modern medicine....
39 Pages (9750 words) Essay

Plastic Surgery Is the Most Common Surgery Done in America

Studies have continuously shown that people dress a certain way and acquire certain things to try to evince an attitude of belonging to a particular… In today's beauty culture, plastic surgery is the most common surgery done in American hospitals.... This shallow, obsessive view can be especially seen in the alarming numbers of teenagers, both male and female, seeking plastic surgery, because it can be potentially harmful to the individual's psychological nature and physical health, and as it is perpetuated by their role models and peers and encouraged or supported by their parents and elders....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Plastic Surgery Research

Therefore, plastic surgery involves repairing or rebuilding some physical damage or defect.... There are two main types of plastic surgery: cosmetic… Cosmetic plastic surgery also called aesthetic cosmetic plastic surgery seeks to improve the patient's features on a purely aesthetic level.... Cosmetic plastic surgery procedures include making the breasts larger (augmentation mammoplasty) or smaller (reduction mammoplasty), removing pockets of fat from specific areas of the body (liposuction), reshaping the nose (rhinoplasty), and others....
11 Pages (2750 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us