Plastic surgery pros and cons: is it really a good idea?

Why plastic surgery? Looking more attractive? Improving self esteem? Find out more about the pros and cons of plastic surgery and participate in our poll

What is plastic surgery?

Plastic surgery is a medical intervention with the purpose of altering, reshaping or sculpting the human body. Although aesthetic or cosmetic surgeries are the best known types of plastic surgery, there are other reconstructive surgeries that focus not so much on enhancing the appearance but on repairing damage to the body, making it look as it did before some type of trauma.

The history of plastic surgery is very long. There is evidence of the use of surgical techniques in Ancient Egypt to deal with broken noses. This was a forerunner of the now popular Rhinoplasty, or nose-job. Similarly, in 6th century BC in India surgeons conducted plactic surgery including cataract surgery and reconstruction of noses. A famous Indian healer known as Sushruta is often considered the first cosmetic surgeon. Later Greeks and Romans also performed simple techniques of plastic surgery such as the repair of damaged ears. Plastic surgery was much later popularized thanks to the introduction of antiseptics and anesthesia which made cosmetic and reconstructive procedure less painful and safer.

The most common plastic surgery procedures today:

Cosmetic

• Rejuvenation of face using laser, injectable fillers and Botox
• Facelift surgery
• Liposuction
• Breast surgery
• Rhinoplasty

Reconstructive

• Craniofacial surgery
• Palate surgery and cleft lip
• Reconstruction of burnt tissues
• Reconstruction of damaged and severed limbs, including hand surgery
• Reconstruction of patients after tumor removal

Plastic surgery pros and cons 

Millions of people choose to have plastic surgery every year for different reasons. Most of them are happy with the results but stories of plastic surgery gone bad are not rare. Some people stress the risks of plastic surgery and claim that cosmetic surgery is bad. Other emphasize the positive effects of plastic surgery in improving physical appearance and self-esteem. 

These are some of the most commonly argue pros and cons of plastic surgery:

Pros:

• Some cosmetic surgeries have very positive impact on health. For instance a nose job can reduce sinus infections, and the reduction of large breasts can alleviate or eliminate back pain in some women.
• Cosmetic surgery can be an excellent way of improving self-esteem. For instance a liposuction, rhinoplasty, or breast augmentation can boost confidence levels in the patient. Plastic surgery can eliminate deformities or correct aesthetic problems which can have a very negative psychological impact on the patient.
• Improve the chances of getting a job. Many actors and artists undergo plastic surgery in order to look younger, remove unpleasant physical features or accentuate positive ones. Surgery procedures can make people look better and help them getting a job in certain industries.
• Reconstructive surgery is crucial part of plastic surgery. Plastic surgery is not only about beauty, but also about health. For example plastic surgeons work correcting impairments caused by injuries and congenital abnormalities. Breast reconstructions after a masectomy, regeneration of burnt tissues, scar repairs and hand surgery are crucial to many people. Plastic surgery has a long history of helping those injured in war lead a normal life after they return.

Cons:

• Plastic surgery health complications. There are many cases of plastic surgery gone wrong. Surgical procedures entail some risks including infections, hematomas, nerve damage, thrombosis, scarring and organ damage.
• Plastic surgery is expensive and sometimes the improvements are minimal.
• Plastic surgery may make you look uglier or unnatural. The results of plastic surgery are not always those expected. Not everyone likes the look of the patients after lip opperations, breast augmentations or nose jobs.
• The popularization of cosmetic surgery may reflect a materialistic or shallow society, obsessed with physical beauty. In some social contexts there are increasing pressures for people to undertake surgical procedures to conform with the prevailing beauty standards. These pressures and expectations create much frustation among people, and in particular among young women.
• Exercise and weight loss are often better alternative to many aesthetic surgery procedures, such as liposuction.

Do you think plastic surgery should be avoided at all costs? Should we care so much about our physical appearance? Have you or has someone close to you considered having plastic surgery?

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