Risks Of Plastic Surgery

Risks of Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgery has become an obsession in America throughout the past decade. American society seems to hold an incredibly high standard of appearance that rewards only those who are thin, young and beautiful. The pressure that is put on individuals to obtain a certain degree of perfection is somewhat disturbing. The media has recently given us, as Americans, nothing less than perfectionism to strive for. Television shows like "The Swan" and "Extreme Makeover" rely solely on using plastic surgery to change what is considered a below average looking woman, into someone that society deems to be beautiful. It is very rare that one sees someone of even an average weight starring in a movie or gracing the cover of a magazine. It seems that only those who are unnaturally skinny and perceived to be beautiful receive such opportunities. It is this sort of mindset that is causing plastic surgery to become more and more commonplace and widely accepted throughout society.

My interest in the subject of plastic surgery has grown due to the constant pressure that is placed on women today to live up to these unreasonable standards. Teenagers, and even their parents, are completely enveloped in what society thinks they should look like. This causes self-esteem levels to be contingent upon appearance rather than value systems or moral codes. Although they are often downplayed in the media, the social, physical, and psychological risks of plastic surgery are very dangerous to a person's well-being.

The influence that our society today has over what is considered beautiful is overwhelming. It seems so important to Americans to look their best at all times, regardless of the costs or consequences. Plastic surgery has become commonplace in the past few years that many patients do not think twice about going under the knife. For many years cosmetic surgery was mostly American, however, it is now widely accepted throughout the world. In the 1920's and 1930's, more Americans came to believe that social and economic success came from having good looks. Actress Edith Nelson was once quoted saying, "Attention to personal appearance is nowadays essential if you expect to succeed in life. You must look your best at all times" (Haiken 94-95). This mindset resulted in a higher demand for surgery. In the early 1980's, cosmetic surgery operations nearly doubled in frequency (Parens 127). Patients concerned with the way society treats them because of their appearance are much more likely now to opt for some kind of surgery in order to live up to society's standards (163).

The most commonly discussed risks of plastic surgery are the physical ones. Serious complications, including death, happen in 1 of every 60,000 plastic surgeries of all types. 1 out of every 20,000 liposuctions results in the death of the patient (Branswell 1). Side effects of plastic surgery are very common and may include pain, scar tissue, wound disruption, bruising, skin discoloration, fluid depletion, immune system damage or even death (Parens 133). Also, blood clots are a possibility during the operations which can be life threatening. In some cases, excessive blood loss has occurred. In addition to those risks, some people may experience bad reactions to the drugs used and anesthesia (Branswell 1). Many people get surgeries like face lifts, Botox, and liposuction, as they start to show signs of aging, to make their skin appear more youthful. However, these people many not realize that plastic surgery is not something that slows skin aging, it accelerates it. Experts say that after receiving plastic surgery, patients need to spend more time in preserving their skin's youthful appearance ('Plastic Surgery Facts" 1).

More common and dangerous than the physical risks of plastic surgery are the