Is Cosmetic Worth The Risk?

In today's society the picture of beauty is a rail thin supermodel with the body of a goddess

posted on billboards all around the world. Children are brought up today playing with Barbie

dolls with the body measurements of would be 39-18-38. Because of these pictures and other

figures of beauties projected all over, a person is convinced to believe that to be beautiful and

happy, one must look like these images. To most, the easiest way to achieve this is by

having cosmetic surgery performed. With the change of times, also has come the advancement

of medical procedures, yet how safe can a person be who is having cosmetic surgery performed

on their body? No matter how good the technological advancements, there is always the risk of

not only the surgery resulting in unwanted outcomes but in some cases death.

Society today has brain washed not only today's women, but also the men to believe that in

order for a person to look beautiful they must look like the images seen on television, in movies

and on the cover of magazines. These images portray grotesquely thin women and muscular men

with the infamous six-pack abs. The Hollywood figures that are so famous for their looks and

bodies also encourage the belief that thin is beautiful. These images are plastered all over

billboards, television shows, commercials and magazine advertisements. In a society where

appearance is everything, times can be one's worst enemy.

What is cosmetic surgery? Cosmetic Surgery is a subspecialty of medicine and surgery that

restricts itself to the enhancement of appearance through surgical and medical techniques. It is

specifically concerned with maintaining normal appearance, restoring it, or enhancing it beyond

the average level toward some aesthetic ideal. Cosmetic surgery is a multi-disciplinary and

comprehensive approach directed to all areas of the head, neck and body.

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The most common procedures are liposuction, rhytidectomy (face lift), and breast

augmentation. Each operation has its own specific dangers. Liposuction can lead to pain,

numbness, bruising, discoloration and depigmentation, facelifts can damage nerves, leaving the

person's face permanently numb and breast augmentation can cause encapsulation, where the

body reacts to the presence of foreign matter by developing and enclosing capsules of fibrous

tissues around the implant. An even more serious matter with breast augmentation is the

probability of leakage of silicone into the body, "gel bleed". Even if the recipient went through

surgery and cam out satisfied, he or she must still endure swelling and discomfort before weeks

of healing. There are many other permanent risks that are more likely to occur after an

unsuccessful surgery such as disfiguration. The recipient would have to live with it or go

through many more surgeries to try to fix the problem. There are many risks that can happen

after an operation, but many consumers seem to focus on the benefits rather than the risks.

Busy lifestyles keep many people from being able to exercise daily to maintain a fit and trim

body. Leading many to feel they have no choice other than to resort to cosmetic surgery. This

however, can be a dangerous choice. Many fatalities have been reported as a result of surgical

procedures. One report stated that in an 18-month period, 69 fatalities from cosmetic surgery

were reported. (David, pg. 27) Yet, many who are looking into having a surgical procedure

performed do not take this risk into account.

Because of the rising economy, cosmetic surgery has become more advertised and

affordable. This leads people to believe that the technological advancements of today have

improved the results of cosmetic surgery, but more complications have started arising from

cosmetic surgery along with risks. Cosmetic surgeons are not fully educating people before

surgeries are performed. Surgeons have started placing money over ethics. They speak more of

the benefits rather than highlight the risks that can occur. These types of surgeons often would

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not turn away unqualified recipients. Often times, the doctors try to avoid giving information of

risks by spending more time ridiculing people's reasons for wanting surgery than in providing

them with information which would enable them to evaluate the risks against the benefit of the

operation.

Currently, there is no law or regulations against surgeons who want to use their skills to

perform a cosmetic procedure, regardless of the lack of knowledge in the field. Doctors can

perform any cosmetic surgeries as long as he or she has little knowledge about the procedure.

Any doctor with a medical degree can pick up the mantle of "cosmetic