Plastic Surgery: The Price of Physical Perfection

by Won-joon Jung

ENGL 102-D91 Prof. J. Owens May 2, 2012

Jung 1 Plastic Surgery: The Price of Physical Perfection In todays society, the picture of beauty is a rail thin model with the body of a goddess. Because of this picture and other figures of beauties, a person is convinced to believe that one must look like these images to be beautiful. The easiest way to achieve this is by having plastic surgery. Plastic surgery is a type of surgery that can involve both a persons appearance and ability to function. Society today has brain washed not only todays women, but also the men to believe that in order for a person to look beautiful, they must look like the images that are seen on television, in movies, and on the cover of magazines. These images portray thin women and muscular men. 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 television shows, commercials, and magazine advertisements. With all these visions of beauty that are seen everywhere, a person feels compelled to look just like those images. Although plastic surgery can improve patients appearance and selfimage through both reconstructive and cosmetic procedures, it can induce a lot of detriments which may lead to the perilous risks, even death. One of the prohibitive disadvantages of plastic surgery is the cost. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, microdermabrasion was the least expensive procedure (2008 Average Surgeon/Physician Fees). A lower body lift was the most expensive plastic surgery procedure listed. These costs are only the base cost of the procedure. Surgeon fees, hospital fees, medication costs, and after care costs must also be factored in when considering the cost of plastic surgery. Although it might look all too nice to get a plastic surgery done, the process is not viable for all. Plastic surgeries usually cost a fortune and cannot be availed by everyone. Its usage is limited to those who belong to the high class of the society. If the plastic surgery is desirable, doing such a surgery is unfair, because only those who can pay for the surgery can get

Jung 2 the good appearance. In other words, the rich will look good and the poor will not. Additionally, some patients find the results of the procedure are not what they expected. Therefore, what they have spent for the surgery is not worthy of what they have. Also, the plastic surgery is addictive (Patzer). Ease of access to plastic surgeons and low self-esteem are some of the factors that contribute to an addiction to plastic surgery. A person who is addicted to plastic surgery is often willing to have any flaw in his or her appearance corrected by a surgeon, even if it means taking money from other areas, such as rent or utility payments. The other detriment of plastic surgery besides the cost is the time. People who consider plastic surgery must plan for time off to heal and to be comfortable being seen in public. Plastic surgery does not end with the surgery alone. The patient has to undergo days or months of healing process. Sometimes, the wound takes forever to heal (Enns). The speed of healing may vary from person to person, which depends on some factors, such as age and skin type. While the healing time varies among patients and the type of procedure, it can take more time to recover enough to return to work and everyday activities. Many people use the time in alternate of a vacation or as time to nurture themselves and their well-being. Besides the time, the appearance also leads to the damage of plastic surgery. The case of getting back the old look has become a common phenomenon in the present times. This is mainly because the result of the plastic surgery might not turn according to the patients desires. Moreover, plastic surgery will make people look unnatural (Hagloch). As the name of the surgery is plastic surgery, people who undergo it will have faces look that fake and not real. For instance, Michael Jackson, who had plastic surgery many times, has an apparently fake face. Similarly, plastic surgery may not make people look better. People may make their appearance worse after they have the plastic surgery. As a result, more and more patients are undergoing revision after the

Jung 3 surgery to get back their original look. Furthermore, unsightly scarring is a possible disadvantage of plastic surgery. The scars usually do not fade like most surgical scarring. Bruising for a period of time after the surgery is often difficult to hide, especially when the work was done in the facial area (Everett). In addition to the appearance, the risk of complications is the most obvious of shortcomings of plastic surgery. People with a sensitive body are most susceptible to infections from the surgery. Chances of something going wrong during or after the plastic surgery can result in an infection, disease, or illness. Also, a patients general health should be taken into consideration when evaluating risks. For example, smoking can slow and impede the healing process (Hagloch). Therefore, any cut that is made on the skin is likely to leave scar. Another risk of plastic surgery is the anesthesia used during the procedure (Patzer). Anesthetic complications are more common than many people realize, and they can be fatal in rare cases. Moreover, though rare, possibility of death cannot be ruled out during plastic surgery. The surgical process can involve usage of chemicals and equipment that are not suitable for a persons body. Complication from anesthesia is one of the factors that might lead to death of the patient (Patzer). Many people believe that to be happy in life and be beautiful to all that see them, they must have beautiful bodies of runway super models or the muscular bodies. It is perfectly rational to want to look good. Imagine that there are several students who just graduated from the University and apply for a position. Besides reading their resumes and cover letters, what are the other major factors that would affect employers to give an interview opportunity to an applicant? Some people, who are opposed to cosmetic surgery, argue that competitiveness between people does not depend on his or her appearance but many other factors, such as academic performance, experience, intelligence, ambition, ability, skills and so on. No doubt, these factors are the foundation for

Jung 4 people to achieve success; however, they are somewhat related to appearance. Whatever you can do within reason to enhance your physical attractiveness, youre going to be more successful, says Gordon Patzer (Holloway). The result of the study, which examines the effects of physical attractiveness and gender on the perception of achievement, indicates that the more attractive people are perceived to achieve more success within the general area of accomplishment (Lee). Even though some people do not care about others appearances, a research conducted by the Appearance Research Institute shows attractive people are more confident, so they are probably going to be more successful (Holloway). The researchers also have found that the negative bias and the lowest ability were attributed to unattractive women, not only in the academic area, but also in the workplace (Lee). In the real world, attractive people are more likely to get hired, promoted and receive higher salaries compared to unattractive people. Having a better physical appearance is a stepping stone for people to be successful; therefore, cosmetic surgery is a way of helping people who are not confident because of their appearance to achieve success. However, people should promote the idea that appearance is not as important as character. People should be content with themselves and not be so hung up on their looks. In addition, the development of plastic surgery over the years has been intertwined with that of reconstructive and more general medical surgery (Hagloch). Plastic surgery has greatly aided reconstructive surgery. For example, dental surgeons have developed with insights from both plastic surgeons and oral surgeons (Patzer). Nevertheless, pointing to accidental side-benefits of plastic surgery will not cover up the fact that its intention is to make money, not make people better. Besides, people believe that much of the plastic surgery improves not only appearance, but also quality of life. For instance, a plastic surgery is done for a deformity found in poor children. This surgery can improve the quality of life, yet they can still survive with a harelip or a cleft palate. In this case, doing

Jung 5 plastic surgery is just wasting the money. Furthermore, plastic surgery may turn a profit for hospitals. Also, doctors receive training and practice in difficult techniques which can be used to help patients in genuine need. On the other hand, doctors should heal, not waste their talent on appearance. Precious talent and resources are spent on this useless activity. Surgeons should do medical operations that are needed, not cosmetic procedures that are desired. Plastic surgery is a high risk procedure due to several reasons. Plastic surgery causes a lot of injuries and fatalities since complications occur after the surgeries all the time. Yet, the result of plastic surgery is not perfect all the time. This is temporary and can be affected by other factors, such as aging. Therefore, plastic surgery is not worth trying. Unfortunately, many people cannot resist the temptation of being beautiful, not caring about the price they have to pay or even their lives. People should realize the danger of plastic surgery and stop having unnecessary plastic surgery on themselves. After all, ones inner beauty is much more important than the outer beauty.

Jung 6 Annotated Works Cited 2008 Average Surgeon/Physician Fees. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Plasticsurgery.org, 2009. Web. 25 Apr. 2012. <http://www.plasticsurgery.org/> Enns, Cathy. Plastic Surgery Scars 103: Revision Options. EmpowHER. EmpowHER.com, 9 Jun. 2011. Web. 25 Apr 2012. Everett, Cristina. Heidi Montag reveals scars from plastic surgery nightmare: Bald spots, lumpy legs, uneven breasts. Daily News. NYDailyNews.com, 21 Dec. 2010. Web. 24 Apr. 2012. Hagloch, Susan B. "The Beauty Prescription: The Complete Formula For Looking And Feeling Beautiful." Library Journal 133.12 (2008): 102. MAS Ultra - School Edition. Web. 4 May 2012. Holloway, Lindsay. "Looking Good." Entrepreneur 36.5 (2008): 39. Business Source Premier. Web. 24 Apr 2012 Lee, G. W., et al. "Effects Of Attractiveness And Gender On The Perception Of AchievementRelated Variables." Journal Of Social Psychology 138.4 (1998): 471-477. Corporate ResourceNet. Web. 23 Apr 2012 Patzer, Gordon L. Looks: Why They Matter More Than You Ever Imagined. New York: AMACOM, May 2008. Print