“Plastic surgery,” is a term that leads us to envision exaggerated lips and petite noses which feed the unrealistic standard many women are blinded to. What many seem to forget is that behind the excessive fixes, there are procedures that can make women feel whole again.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the profession of plastic surgery dates back to approximately 800 BC in India where forehead flaps were utilized to reconstruct amputated noses. Plastic surgery is a phenomenon that has become the norm of newer generations in today’s society. The number of procedures skyrockets every year, and we are witnessing how the lives of many are being positively changed because of them. From celebrities to influencers and our family members, the impact of plastic surgery is notable. The controversy has grown in the last few years, as many argue that no good stems from cosmetic procedures. Although some believe that cosmetic surgery is a quick fix that may only offer short-term satisfaction, it can greatly increase the self-esteem of many because it improves their mental well-being, assists with health problems, and helps them fix specific features.
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Cosmetic surgery allows many to gain confidence which positively affects their mental health. Dr. Kevin WL Mo says, “Even with liposuction or breast augmentation, patients can suffer terrible anxiety and depression from low self-esteem. After having such procedures patients find a new self-confidence” (Baura). For patients to have such an extreme boost of self-esteem, there is further aid that plastic surgery provides to them. A procedure such as liposuction has a long-term result, and it will have a great impact on a person who was once insecure about their body image. We are all different and many people don’t feel comfortable in their bodies, which is why they get the help they want. There shouldn’t be any shame surrounding the need for self-assurance and as long as the person is capable of making safe and rational decisions for themselves, society shouldn’t judge them as they aren’t harming other people. We have to be aware of the fact that it is not unhealthy to want to boost your self-esteem with a procedure that you know will change your life for the better. Getting work done isn’t something that people do simply because there is something about their physique that they don’t like. For many, it’s much more significant and getting a deep insecurity fixed which has deteriorated their mental health over the years. Breast reductions also bring this newly arising self-love from women struggling with their body image, but in a different form. Shondinah Nepolo, a participant in this surgery stated, “ I felt happy for my sister and mom when they got their surgeries… my sister, has now got her confidence back,” as she witnessed her sister and mother’s life change after a breast reduction (“'Breast Reduction Restored My Confidence”). Not only was this procedure a life-changing experience for a mother and daughter, but even their family can see how their self-esteem has greatly improved. To call it short-term satisfaction is disrespectful towards women, such as the Nepolo women, who undergo this extensive surgery, all to fix their “dented Nepolo's self-esteem” (“Breast Reduction Restored My Confidence”).
Women experience depression and distress due to their low self-esteem and surgery like these changes their outlook on life. They become more positive and a quality that was once a burden changes to a quality that has improved their life. At times we forget that plastic surgery involves breast reduction, and we should acknowledge it because they have helped millions of women feel comfortable in their skin. Some women want breast implants, and others want a reduction but both are completely fine and shouldn’t be judged as they have the same end goal, to feel confident. The confidence that plastic surgery brings to many, especially women, shouldn’t be shunned. We are all allowed to feel good about ourselves and if people decide that they want to take the plastic surgery route, we should admire the self-confidence they feel after the procedure. Other factors contribute to the freedom that women deserve when deciding whether they want procedures done.
Not only does plastic surgery allow people to achieve the desired look to gain self-assurance, but it can also be helpful to people as they undergo health problems. Many women experience the burden of a large chest and for Nepolo, “having a big chest not only dented [her] self-esteem, but it also caused her health problems including backaches, and shoulder and neck pain” ('Breast Reduction Restored My Confidence”). Breast reduction goes further than providing women with a confidence boost, it also restores their ability to properly do simple activities, such as walking, without pain. It’s clear how cosmetic surgery is more than wanting to improve your look, it is also needed in moments like these. This is an option that has increased in availability as the stigma is lessening because we are becoming aware that it’s a helpful surgery that fixes women’s health. This problem is widespread and many women in today’s society are becoming more comfortable speaking out about breast reductions and fighting for them to be paid by insurance. Having a chest that is too large for your body causes immobility and discomfort, which can be resolved with plastic surgery. Breast reduction isn’t the only cosmetic procedure beneficial when women experience health issues. Breast reconstruction surgery is another form of plastic surgery that allows women to feel whole again after they sustain breast cancer. “It enables the patient to feel whole again instead of being faced with a daily reminder of her disease when she sees the disfigurement due to the absence of her breast..’’ (Baura). Being diagnosed with breast cancer is one of the hardest things that women experience.
For many, it’s a loss of their femininity and it takes a large toll on their self-image, in a negative way. Getting reconstructive surgery after they’ve had either a single or double mastectomy, restores that emptiness that they feel after a part of them has been taken to prioritize their health.
Women are allowed to regain confidence as for them, it’s a step closer to getting their life back to normal. This surgery gives women a sense of control as they are experiencing many other invasive procedures, they shouldn’t be judged for choosing to get a cosmetic procedure done. Women who get this surgery should be seen as strong individuals who deserve to obtain self-assurance again. Plastic surgery is a great option when women are on the road to recovery, but it also allows other women to express themselves. Some people might claim that women only want to get work done because they want to fix facial features that are far too superficial. A plastic surgeon argues that “Today, [her] average patient, according to [her] office records, is 38 or 39. She'll come in fixated on a specific 'flaw' and often knows exactly what procedure she wants. Her nose is crooked, she's sure, or her chin is too small (or large), or her eyebrows appear 'droopy” (Hamrah). However, plastic surgery is not only about getting the perfect features you long for, it is also used as an option for women to surpass difficult moments in life. “Whenever Nepolo felt insecure, her family reassured her that having a big chest is a source of pride for the family. This, however, did little to restore her confidence” (“Breast Reduction Restored My Confidence”). Words of reassurance are many times, not enough for people to feel confident of their bodies, which is why plastic surgery offers one of the best alternatives. Breast reductions help solve a problem that is further than not feeling beautiful, it takes off weight from your back and it removes an insecurity that many judge because of the assumption that everyone wants bigger chests. There are different problems that women face and some run deeper than others.
Although every cosmetic procedure is optional, some almost seem completely necessary because your health is on the line. Opponents state that they “don’t think [they] can quite pretend like plastic surgery is an anodyne force in our culture, but [they] struggle to find the moral high ground to condemn it” ('The Instagram Face-Lift”). However, plastic surgery is too generalized and in reality, they partake in helping serious health issues. Sophie, a breast cancer survivor said, “People will think I’m vain for saying this but not having boobs would’ve been unbearable. It would’ve affected me, my relationship, my kids, my confidence, everything. Some procedures aren’t a nice-to-have; they’re a necessity” (Baura). Sophie, who has experience in receiving plastic surgery, is thankful that reconstructive surgery exists. For her, not receiving this procedure wasn’t a choice and after going through with it, she got the strength she needed to keep preserving. Once again, it is clear that we need to stop relating plastic surgery to celebrities who have notoriety due to the excessive work they get done. There are more serious situations in which it is women’s only hope.
When people have specific features that they want to fix, cosmetic procedures allow them to have restored confidence. “For the most senior of seniors, such cosmetic and dental procedures can have a significant bearing on self-esteem” ('Vanity is Not a Deadly Sin. it's One of Life's Last Vital Signs”). When people think about the specific group of people that plastic surgeons are targeting, we tend to forget that seniors are also on that list. As they approach their elder years, they are looking for a way to express themselves and a quick cosmetic procedure is an answer for that. Many didn’t have the opportunity to achieve their desired look when they were younger, so they achieved it in their later years. These procedures give them that boost of self-esteem that they deserve, simply because they are older doesn’t take away the opportunity to want to feel confident. We shouldn’t underestimate seniors’ necessity to have a sensation of vanity and this confidence remains intact for a long time. Other procedures help with insecurities that might seem insignificant to others but in reality, they are specific details that when fixed, rebuild their self-esteem. There is a difference in the methods available and, “..procedures are holistic as they allow people to get treatment for other things like skin laxity, wrinkles, moles, excess fat, unwanted hair, spider veins and scars, among others” (''Breast Reduction Restored My Confidence”). Although these procedures are very particular, no matter how small or large they are, they provide an immense change to people. Society may underestimate the need for people to get this type of plastic surgery, but we shouldn’t question their calls to achieve a healthier self-image. These insecurities might seem small in proportion, but they are the ones that have the same amount of damage as other larger ones. One minimal surgery can considerably alter one's confidence and they take a large part in their journey of learning self-love. Some people argue that getting cosmetic surgery rids people of the ability to remain feeling comfortable in their skin. Many say that, “A spray tan, a full body wax, a swift nose job, a quick brow lift, a smattering of various injections, and some butt implants would have [them] looking like Kylie Jenner in no time. But then [they] would no longer feel like [themselves]” ('The Instagram Face-Lift”). However, getting a procedure done is a way for many to express themselves in a way that they couldn’t before. Marc E. Agroning, a genetic psychiatrist says that taking the steps to feel your best, “contributes to a feeling that you are still who you were, who you always have been, who you will continue to be” ('Vanity is Not a Deadly Sin. it's One of Life's Last Vital Signs”). Plastic surgery doesn’t completely change your identity, it simply adds to your character in a positive light. When people get work done, they do it because they have a desired look that they want to attain. Your confidence does change for the better, but it doesn’t mean that you are a brand new person, you have the same attributes but you’ve gained an improved attitude. Many don’t like the idea of plastic surgery because of their traditional views, such as in Hong Kong where a taboo still surrounds it (Baura). However, as technology in the cosmetic field progresses, patients can accomplish the features that they want, leaving them satisfied and more comfortable than ever. 'Today, we have safe tools to make people look younger in a natural-looking way, and improve their appearance” (“Breast Reduction Restored My Confidence”). The practice of plastic surgery is becoming more reliable and with good research, people can have wonderful experiences. We are allowed to grow our self-esteem and even though there are judgments that exist in many communities, such as in Hong Kong, we have to accept that it’s an industry that is growing rapidly and nothing is going to stop it. Not everything has to be seen as a risk and it’s people’s choice to get cosmetic surgery.
They aren’t forced and we have to respect their decisions because it isn’t a dangerous experience, unless they want something too drastic. For the most part, deciding to book an appointment for cosmetic surgery shouldn’t be deemed negative. Patients need to do research and they should pick the choice that is the safest for their body and mental health, for the best outcome. There are also different forms of plastic surgery that we have to remember because it’s not only defined by the celebrities we see on our social media feeds. There is a more serious side to the decision-making process as we can see that breast cancer survivors and women with large chests receive hope from surgery. People of all ages should be allowed to feel confident as it is a form of expression and it’s beneficial to their self-esteem. Cosmetic surgery is a form of expression and the stereotypes need to stop because it grows the already created stigma surrounding the sensitive topic. There has to be less ignorance and if we want to take a stance, we have to educate ourselves on every side.
Works Cited
- Baura, Angela. 'How Plastic Surgery can Improve Physical and Mental Health--Not..' South China Morning Post (Online), 22 Apr 2019. SIRS Issues Researcher, https: explore.proquest.comsirsissuesresearcherdocument2265393180?accountid=PARAMOUNT.
- ''Breast Reduction Restored My Confidence'.' AllAfrica.com, 20 Mar 2019. SIRS Issues Researcher, https: explore.proquest.comsirsissuesresearcherdocument2470453282?accountid=PARAMOUNT.
- Hamrah, Daria. 'Selfie Culture is Pushing Millennials to My Plastic Surgery Practice.' Washington Post, 17 Mar 2019. SIRS Issues Researcher, https: explore.proquest.comsirsissuesresearcherdocument2265912035?accountid=PARAMOUNT.
- 'The Instagram Face-Lift.' New York Times (Online), 18 Apr 2019. SIRS Issues Researcher, https: explore.proquest.comsirsissuesresearcherdocument2264163494?accountid=PARAMOUNT.
- 'Vanity is Not a Deadly Sin. it's One of Life's Last Vital Signs.' New York Times (Online), 15 May 2019. SIRS Issues Researcher, https: explore.proquest.comsirsissuesresearcherdocument2264158823?accountid=PARAMOUNT.
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