So many people wonder about plastic surgery. Ranging, from individuals who have been plagued by disease, and need it to feel whole, to those who are vain and want to look different. Cosmetic surgery has come across more people’s minds in this day and age than in any other time in history. Plastic surgery has been viewed as a form of art, in that it can literally make a person appear as someone else. Perhaps renew a confidence you used to have, or give you confidence you never had, but are there risks and are you ready to accept them? Plastic surgery originated in ancient India.
It is well documented in Sushruta Samhita (June 2006) by Kaviraj Kunjalal Bhishagratna, “that several types of surgery were performed in the Vedic period about 3500 B. C. He mentioned several procedures such as otoplasty, rhinoplasty, tissue grafting, and even organ transplants and cross grafting of head and limb transfers. ” Plastic surgery is often “performed solely to improve appearance in otherwise healthy persons. ” During plastic surgery an individual’s nose can be reconstructed, extra skin can be removed from any part of the body, fat can be eliminated from the abdomen and hips, even the size of the ears can be reduced.
When an individual is healthy and wants to enhance their appearance there are specific dangers involved. According to Angel Papadopulos, secretary of the Mexican Association of Plastic, Aesthetic, and Reconstructive Surgery, “sometimes people who are poorly trained perform this type of surgery, generally resulting in much harm”. (The Truth about Plastic Surgery Abroad 2006) So many people think it’s only women that are caught up in pursuing the “ideal image”, but men strive to be perfect as well.
Nearly 55,000 American men undergo some form of plastic surgery and they account for up to 14 percent of all plastic surgeries done in the United States. According to The Male Body Owner’s Manual (K Winston Caine 1996) “Usually men undergo these procedures because they seek a competitive edge over younger men in the job market. The risk because of this range from nerve damage, excessive blood loss and even skin discoloration. The top 5 procedures men have done are, nose reshaping, eyelid surgery, liposuction, breast reduction, and dermabrasion.
” It’s also important to point out that insurance does not pay for these procedures and they can be quite expensive. What about plastic surgery that backfires? One of the dark sides of plastic surgery is that so many people use it to reduce their weight. Could it actually make you gain weight? The answer is yes. According to , Natalie Kita (2009), “Liposuction removes only subcutaneous fat, deposits located just below the skin, and leaves untouched the most dangerous kind of fat, visceral fat (fat deposits located inside the abdominal cavity).
While no studies to date have clearly shown a causative relationship between liposuction and weight gain, some studies have shown that surgical removal of subcutaneous fat may contribute to increased visceral fat, which then poses an increased risk of developing insulin resistance (a precursor to diabetes which does tend to encourage weight gain) and elevated triglycerides. ” It shows us that the less fat that’s taken out during the surgery procedure, the less risk of weight gain after the operation.
Although many people think that cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery are the same, they are not. With so many people anxious to undergo cosmetic surgery and so many physicians that want a piece of the pie, it is extremely important that an individual interested in these procedures has access to accurate information. A person must remember that cosmetic surgery is used to actually enhance a person’s appearance through surgery. It is used to either, maintain a person’s normal appearance, restore it to what it once was, or enhance a specific feature. It is can be applied to all areas of the body.
Since there are people that enjoy the affects of cosmetic surgery it continues to grow even in this economy. According to Real Beauty News (2008), Brian Kinney, MD named three reasons for the economic growth of cosmetic surgery, “aging baby boomers, bariatric weight loss surgery and “Hollywood. ” Procedures that were once rare are now basically commonplace. Tummy tucks, thigh lifts and the like have been introduced as a way to tighten loose skin after dramatic weight loss has taken place. ” This proves that individuals of all cultures and economic levels continue to have plastic surgery done.
While board certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, (ABPS) may provide an individual with evidence that he/she is competent in plastic surgery, it does not necessarily mean the physician will know what they are doing, nor does it mean that they will have had more education, training or experience than any other board-certified doctor. So many doctors feel they are competent in performing plastic surgery procedures, when they are not certified to perform these procedures. When this happens, it jeopardized the patient’s safety and can cause irreparable harm.
With plastic surgery or even cosmetic surgery, it doesn’t seem logical to try to model ourselves after those who are viewed as perfect when in reality everyone has flaws. In most cases an individual’s need to be perfect means taking desperate measures. These measures can have consequences. Body image is not all there is. Everyone individually must make their own decision on whether or not plastic surgery or even cosmetic surgery is right for them. The pros and cons of each can be weighed when research is done. Look at the health and side effects of any surgical procedure to assist in the decision making process.