Feature Article Submission

Plastic Surgery
Are we as a society obsessed with our looks?

It seems like everywhere you turn, whether it’s in the magazines or on television, we see celebrities with the “perfect look.” They have the best bodies and are camera ready all the time. Though it is often reported that these beautiful faces and figures, aren’t always 100% natural. Many celebrities go under the knife to achieve, what they call perfection. In recent weeks it has been said that Ashley Simpson has received a nose job. She has responded to these accusations by saying “maybe I have, or maybe I haven’t!” Though she isn’t alone, because there are many other celebrities, who have also been accused of having cosmetic surgery such as: Demi Moore, Sharon Stone, Catherine Zeta Jones and Nicole Kidman. However they have denied these allegations. Tara Reid a Hollywood actress on the other hand, confessed to having cosmetic surgery, when it went terribly wrong. She admitted to getting liposuction and breast implants, but both surgeries didn’t go as planned, and she was very unhappy. She then had to undergo more surgery, to correct it. Tara Reid then vowed to never have cosmetic surgery ever again.

There is a certain amount of pressure these days to look perfect. Though celebrities are not the only ones, who are feeling the pressure. More and more, everyday average people are having cosmetic surgery, to enhance their looks. It has become so acceptable to society that it is almost considered normal. Girls as young as 18 are, getting cosmetic surgery everyday. What is the reason for this sudden urge to be perfect? It is now said that if you don’t like something about yourself, change it! Get a new one. Remove it, enhance them, it’s all completely okay, though is it? Is it okay to change your look if you’re unhappy? Apparently a growing number of people feel so.

It seems as times change, so does the trends in plastic surgery. There have been an increasing number of rhinoplasties in clients under 30 years old this year. Doctors have stated the trend used to be almond shape eyes, and then it was the pouty mouth. Now it’s the thin nose. It was reported that 300,000 rhinoplasties were performed in 2005. Thankfully rhionplasty surgeries have shifted from the one size fits all, to a more individualized refinement from person to person. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), over 1 million cosmetic surgeries were performed in 2005. Liposuction led the way, with Rhinoplasty (nose job) and Breast Augmentations following closely behind. There is such a high demand for cosmetic surgery these days, waiting lists for certain doctors, are over 1 year. The clients are mostly women between the ages 18 - 35. Though there are an increasing number of men customers getting cosmetic surgery as well. They too are feeling the pressures of looking perfect and being accepted. The cost isn’t cheap and liposuction can cost from $2000.00-$15,000.00 depending how much you’re having done. Rhinoplasty surgery can cost you $4500.00-$13,000.00 and Breast Augmentation, $5000.00-$12,000.00. These costs are very high, yet that hasn’t seemed to discourage these clients. There are many other procedures that are popular and they are: tummy tucks, brow lifts and face lifts. The healing time for these surgeries varies depending on the person. It is said that a nose job can take up to 1 year to heal and set properly. Botox injections are also the new craze among the stars. However they are not the only ones heading out to their doctors office, for the quick fix. It was reported that their were 3.8 million uses in 2005. Botox injections stop the aging process and help to find the fountain of youth. They smooth wrinkles in the face, raise/arch eyebrows and injections in the end of the nose can slightly lift the tip. This procedure has become so popular because there is no downtime, low cost, and minimal discomfort. Though botox is not a permanent solution, treatments must be repeated every four to six months to maintain results. The upside is that these minor procedures are harder for the untrained eye to spot. Injections are usually $500.00 a pop.

There have been many debates on whether plastic surgery is right or wrong. Some feel if you are not pleased with a certain feature or body part, you have every right to change it. They argue it’s their money and their body and they can do as they please. While others argue that plastic surgery is wrong. They believe that you should be happy and accept what you were born with. They also feel that if everyone gets cosmetic surgery to resemble their favourite celebrities, we will all eventually look the same. There won’t be any individuality from one person to the next. Though who is right when it comes to this argument. With shows like Extreme Makeover, Swan and Skin Deep encouraging cosmetic surgery, it’s kind of hard to not question your own looks. These shows basically take people who are very dissatisfied with their appearance and change them from head to toe. Sometimes at the end of the show you can barely recognize if it’s the same person. They seem happy and so does their family who is seeing them for the first time in several weeks, at their big reveal. Though are they really, once the cameras stop rolling. It can be quite an adjustment to the participant and their family. The person they’ve seen and grown to love, looks completely different. They often look overdone at the end, sometimes looking very unrealistic or too perfect. In some cases people can have excessive plastic surgery and it looks awful afterwards (ex .Michael Jackson). Usually they do this to correct a previous surgery they are unhappy with. Though they tend to never be satisfied resulting in more surgery, and the vicious cycle continues. We as a society have become so desperate to look beautiful, that we would go to the extremes of auditioning for a makeover on national television, for all to see. Forget being private or secretive, when it comes to cosmetic surgery, which is how it was back in the day. Apparently we don’t care if everyone knows we got a new pair of breast or a new nose, as long as we get them.

Paying for these procedures is sometimes hard on the pockets, but there are many forms of payment available. Cash, credit card, certified cheque and money orders are all accepted. Now financing is also available to you if you can’t afford it. So if you want a procedure done, and you don’t have the money, you can still get the surgery. No need to save up anymore. Doctors are making it so easy for you to be able to afford it. You are basically given the option of putting yourself in debt to get your dream surgery. It almost seems like they are encouraging you to have cosmetic surgery, and why wouldn’t they, it’s more money in their pockets. There are also many dangers involved when getting cosmetic surgery. Doctors are required to inform you of all the possible complications that could occur. Though these danger warnings are not persuading the minds of these determined clients.

At the end of the day, the big question is “Why are we so unhappy with our appearance?” Is it because many of us grew up teased as a child, or did someone call us ugly recently. Maybe it’s the picture perfect role models we look up to, who give us the desire to change our looks to imitate them. Or, could it be that it’s just so darn easy and accessible to us, so why not give it a try. Being socially accepted these days, is so important to us, that we will go to extremes to look perfect on the outside, but does it change who we are on the inside. Some feel that it does because if you look better, you’ll feel better. While others feel, if you are unhappy with yourself, no matter what you do to your appearance you’ll never be satisfied. Unless you take care of what’s on the inside first. Cosmetic surgery, is it right or wrong? There is no correct answer because it all depends on the individual. If you are unhappy with your look, should you be able to change it?