Cosmetic Surgery Essay Examples

Cosmetic surgery is majorly concerned with the restoration, enhancement, and maintenance of one’s physical appearance through medical and surgical techniques. From the reports conducted by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, there has been 446% increase in cosmetic surgery since 1997 (Amidon, 78). There has been an 8% overall increase in 2007 among people undertaking surgery, with a 17% increase in men undergoing cosmetic surgery (Panfilov and Larkin, 29). Evidently, the popularity of cosmetic surgery had drastically over the last decade. As cosmetic surgery gains popularity, perception and attitudes have as well changed. Today, fewer people are becoming older gracefully. Additionally, most people in the society are rapidly accepting cosmetic surgery as an alternative to aging. People now have a higher standard of beauty, and as they get wealthier and cosmetic surgery becomes available and acceptable, more people are using it. The decision to perform cosmetic surgery has recently caused a significant amount of attention. Studies have focused on psychosocial, evolutionary, behavioral health of patients who have undergone cosmetic surgery. Body dissatisfaction, media influence, teasing, and physical appearance are significantly related to the desire of having cosmetic surgery. This article analyzes the cause of increasing cosmetic surgery.
Because we have higher standard of living; it has led to more frequent use of cosmetic surgery. Standard of life is reflected in the material basis of well-being that is often illustrated on an individual’s consumption level. Standards of living are the most significant determinants of happiness or well- being. The standards of living have improved worldwide this is illustrated by people’s access to resources that includes both non- cash and cash income. For example, Americans perceptions regarding their finances and financial habits have demonstrated that there have been moderate improvements in their living standards over the past years. According to Bureau of Economic Analysis, the average annual income in 1980 was $24, 079, in inflation- adjusted dollars, per person (Panfilov and Larkin, 32). Today, the income has significantly grown, and a better lifestyle can be obtained by many citizens for the similar amount of money. Owing to high standards of living the cost of cosmetic surgery is more easily attainable. Middle-class society and average income earners can also afford plastic surgery. It is also readily available in local clinics with certified medical doctors who can carry out a vast variety of procedures in a secure environment. Patients undergoing cosmetic procedures are increasingly coming from all income levels. High standards of living have made cosmetic surgeries more affordable.
More and more cosmetic surgeons make the service available. Therefore, this makes cosmetic treatments and surgery more accessible to a larger segment of the population. Based on the research from the British Association of Plastic Surgeons, it is reported that there is 35% increase of surgical procedures performed by its associates from 2004 to 2005 (Panfilov and Larkin, 33). The increasing accessibility, evolution, and prevalence of cosmetic surgeons mainly in western society have motivated individuals to undergo cosmetic surgery. Additionally, Cosmetic surgery has embraced significant conceptual and technological changes in the recent years. Thompson (98), states that technological improvements in cosmetic surgery have made cosmetic procedures less invasive, safer, with a more rapid recovery time. Technological changes involve an increase in the use of the laser for facial cosmetic surgery. It also entails minimally invasive techniques for breast, face, and body shaping surgery. The theoretical changes have distorted the approaches to facial aging, particularly as they relate to the eyelids, forehead, lower face, and eyelids. Technological advances have also led to lowering of the cost procedures. This has contributed to people becoming less anxious and very willing to accept and consider cosmetic surgery as an option for changing their physical appearance. As a result of having more cosmetic surgeons and fewer invasive techniques, which are fewer expensive alternatives, cosmetic surgery has become more accessible.
Because people want to feel loved, appreciated and accepted they undertake cosmetic surgery. Society places higher value on people who are considered beautiful by the standard of their culture. Belief system factors and attitudinal factors such as self-esteem, body image, and life satisfaction are one of the most consistent and strongest determinants of cosmetic surgery. Plastic surgery makes people look better, especially where a person’s career is closely linked to how they look (Swami, Furnham and Geogiades, 88). Cosmetic surgery provides confidence. Some careers entail a high level of customer interaction. This might push individuals to better their appearance so that clients have an appealing perception of them. They are two groups of people who can undergo plastic surgery with the aim of benefiting their career; models, singers, actors and middle-aged professions. Models alter and enhance their body not necessarily to look younger and more attractive. Middle-aged professions also undergo surgery with the aim of eliminating the signs of aging. Cosmetic surgery helps them feel more confident with a younger workforce.
The rising number of television programs regarding cosmetic surgery both fiction and fact has led to public awareness of the benefits and accessibility of cosmetic surgery. Cosmetic surgery reality television plays a noteworthy role in cosmetic surgery patients’ decision-making and perceptions (Capone and Sykes, 12). Individuals who watch a significant amount of cosmetic surgery have reported receiving a lot of pressure from the media and television to undergo cosmetic surgery. Viewers with low-intensity watching of cosmetic surgery television reported very little pressure to perform cosmetic surgery. High-intensity viewers also felt more well-informed about cosmetic surgery and were of the belief that cosmetic surgery reality television was the same as real life. Evidently, television programs that support cosmetic surgery have led to the rapid increase of individuals who want to undertake cosmetic surgery.

Conclusion

People perform cosmetic surgery to feel accepted and loved by others. The social media has largely dictated what the society perceives as attractive. The broadly spread evidence of celebrities undertaking procedures has made facial plastic surgery more acceptable and more in demand. Individual, who don't feel attractive, suffer loss of self-esteem and other personality changes. However, cosmetic surgery provides an opportunity for individuals with self-esteem issues to acquire what is socially considered as attractive. For example, individuals could undergo rhinoplasty surgery or breast augmentation. Progress in cosmetic surgery has translated into rapid patient recovery and has also acquired natural appearing outcomes. Perceptions regarding cosmetic surgery have also significantly changed over the years. Cosmetic surgery was considered for the wealthy individuals in the society such as actors, singers, and models. Plastic surgery procedures have become more affordable as a result of cosmetic surgery financing. Majority of doctors are regarding financing as a means of as a means of acquiring more patients daily.

Work Cited

Amidon, Marcia. cosmetic surgery. Edina, Minn: ABDO Publishers, 2010.Print
Capone, Randolph B and Jonathan M Sykes. Complications in facial plastic surgery. New York: New York publishers, 2012.Print
Panfilov, Dimitrije E and Grahame Larkin. Cosmetic Surgery Today. New York : Thieme Medical Publishers, 2011.Print
Swami, et al. Evaluating self and partner physical attractiveness. Body Image. NewYork: Newyork publishers, 2007.Print
Thompson, Lana. Plastic surgery. Calif: Greenwood Publishers, 2012. Print