Plastic Surgery On The Rise
Alyssa A. Stover
Penn College of Technology
Abstract
The purpose of this essay is to inform the reader that research indicates plastic surgery is on the rise. There are several causes for this increase. Surgeries are becoming less invasive due to improved technology. Media focuses on and creates positive attention for celebrities who have had plastic surgery. Finally, more people are going under the knife because they want to feel better about how they look and in today’s world, they can do that with plastic surgery. Unfortunately, the search for perfection has its problems. Botched surgeries, expensive fees, and emotional damages are all effects that can and do happen. This paper discusses all of these issues and shows through research that plastic surgery is becoming a normal part of everyday life. (Facial Plastic Surgery, 2008)
Keywords: Plastic Surgery, Less Invasive, Botched Surgeries
Introduction
Marilyn Monroe stated, “To all the girls that think you’re fat because you’re not a size zero, you’re the beautiful one. It’s society who’s ugly” (Monroe, nd, p1). Monroe was able to speak these words and prove them as she showed the world that a size ten woman can be beautiful. Since her time though, the “models” being displayed on television, in magazines, and on billboards promote a different kind of beautiful. Versions of the perfect man and woman are being created. The perfect body, face, and hair that everyone needs to be the best in our society. People cannot live up to these expectations. We are not perfect. Therefore, more people are turning to plastic surgery to meet these demands to be the best self they can be. It is not surprising that the number of plastic surgeries began to rise over the years. The rise in plastic surgery not only occurred due to media portrayal but also because surgeries became less invasive and people needed to feel better about themselves. (Facial Plastic Surgery, 2008)
Rise in Plastic Surgery Research
According to the annual plastic surgery procedural statistics released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), “There were 15.9 million surgical and minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures performed in the United States in 2015, a two percent increase over 2014. Since 2000, overall procedures have risen 115 percent” (American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 2016, p1). Patients spent more than sixteen billion dollars on procedures in 2016 (Figure 2). As you can see these surgeries are in high demand. The question is why are these surgeries so desired?
Media Portrayal
One of the factors for plastic surgery being on the rise is due to the amount of media being portrayed into society today. In the past, plastic surgery was considered abnormal and not accepted by society. With new and young celebrities coming onto the scene, it means new ideas and new perspectives on plastic surgeries. Celebrities have millions of followers that they can reach in a matter of seconds by posting on social media, reaching out to all of society. The stars started the plastic surgery trend and have gotten the attention of the new generation. With the media all over these stars, the public wants to copy them in order to obtain the “look” like the stars have and all the new treads. Michael Jackson stated, “ You know, let’s put it this way, if all the people in Hollywood who have had plastic surgery, if they went on vacation, there wouldn’t be a person left in town” (Michael Jackson, nd, p1). Once a famous person tries something new it spreads like wild fire and the public must have it too. Another factor that has helped create the rise in plastic surgeries is the development of less invasive procedures. (Facial Plastic Surgery, 2008)
Less Invasive Procedures
The advancement in technology in the medical field promotes the increase in plastic surgery. Everyone today wants the quick and less invasive why to do anything and everything. This new technology reduces the amount of time to do the surgery and requires less recovery time, which makes plastic surgery more appealing to the public. The cost also goes down almost four times with the less invasive surgeries. The surgery is then cheaper promoting the surgeries even more. The business can decrease the cost because less anesthetics are used and less staff are required due to the body not being cut open (A less-invasive facelift, 2006). Also, new tools and techniques are being used due to the amount of research and work being put in because these procedures are so popular. The surgery is usually done with a laser that can lead to minimal scaring, bruising, and less pain altogether. Web MD states, “Most cosmetic procedures are performed on an outpatient basis in fully equipped operating rooms under either local or general anesthesia” (Wed MD, nd, p1). There is no need to go to the hospital and have an overnight stay when you could be in and out and recovering at home. Also, depending on the surgery, you may not even need general anesthesia to put you to sleep. This easy process of less invasive surgery is more attractive due to the quick and fast way to get in and out of the operating room. Finally, we discussed the media and the fact that these procedures are a lot easier to have done. However, what is really the reason why these surgeries are increasing? It is because overall people want to feel good about themselves. They want to improve their appearance which will change their attitude toward life. (WebMD, nd)
Improve Appearance
Research shows that people are constantly trying to improve themselves. According to the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, “Women openly declare and pursue an appearance that looks as young as they feel. Men are increasingly having cosmetic surgery to remain competitive in the marketplace.” (Facial Plastic Surgery, 2008, p1). When people are happy with how they look, they become positive and this affects every area of their life. People believe that if you can change something about your appearance and it is safe to do then why should you not do it. This is the attitude that has created an increase in plastic surgeries. (Facial Plastic Surgery, 2008). A study that was published in Clinical Psychological Science interviewed patients who had surgeries and those who wanted to have them but chose not to go through with the surgery. They spoke to both groups after the procedures were completed and asked them about their self-esteem and the way they feel about their body image all together. The study showed that the patients that underwent the surgery were happier and had a higher self-esteem then those that did not make a physical change to their body. If that person can look in the mirror, feel self-confident, and think that they are “perfect”, why would other women not try to find satisfaction in it like the others did? Additional research stated that the procedure not only affected how the person felt about that one area that was cosmetically changed. It gave the patient a whole new feeling as if they were put in a new body with an optimistic attitude. Sadly, the increase of these surgeries has not always led to positive outcomes. ( The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, March 2013)
Downfalls of Plastic Surgeries
Although technology and these surgeries have gotten better, there is still the risk that something can go wrong. Anything you do/ put into your body can be rejected because the body sees it as a foreign object and it does not want it in your body because it thinks it will do harm to you. If the body rejects it, you can get an infection and the foreign body will have to be removed. Being put under anesthesia in any shape or form can lead to the patient not waking up. With that being said, common side effects of anesthesia an cause the patient to become very sick due to the medicine reacting to the body. The sickness can give you nausea, vomiting, and headaches that can only go away with time. Another risk is the scarring that is left behind. With the body being cut open it needs to be stitched back together and can leave scars. Not only are there chances of the surgery going wrong but the price tag is pretty hefty. These types of surgeries can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars for just one surgery. Depending on how recognized the doctor is the price could even increase more. Also, patients have to take time off of work or school to recover and for the body to heal. Not only does your body and your pocket feel the pain, but emotions can come into play also. If your expectations are really high and the surgeries don’t go as planned it can lead to a lot of disappointment. (Lifehack, nd).
Conclusion
Plastic surgery has been proven by research that it has became on the rise due to media portrayal, less invasive surgeries and the need to feel better about themselves. The media has a big role in the rise of plastic surgery due to people wanting to look “perfect” like celebrities. With the surgeries becoming less invasive it meant less money out of their pocket and a quicker recovery time. The need to feel better about their appearance is also a role, due to the amount of women that have gotten the surgery and feel more comfortable in their own body and have a higher self esteem altogether. With surgery there is also negatives that come with it. The surgeries can led to becoming sick or obtaining an infection. Also the cost for the surgeries come with a huge cost factor that hits the thousands. Then the emotional damage if the surgery did not give you want you wanted and made the situation worse. From the research gathered it has show that there are many factors on why plastic surgery is no the rise. Women are becoming more self confident in their looks leading to a happier and healthier world.
References
AAFPRS – Facial Plastic Surgery Today. Retrieved November 15, 2018, from https://www.aafprs.org/patient/fps_today/vol22/04/pg1.html
Brown, S. (2016, August 16). 7 Negative Side Effects of Plastic Surgery. Retrieved November 15, 2018, from https://www.lifehack.org/450603/7-negative-side-effects-of-plastic-surgery
Cosmetic Surgery Options. Retrieved November 15, 2018, from https://www.webmd.com/beauty/cosmetic-procedures-cosmetic-surgery-options-basics#1
20 Marilyn Monroe Quotes – CoolNSmart. Retrieved November 15, 2018, from https://www.coolnsmart.com/author/marilyn_monroe/
Plastic Surgery Quotes. Retrieved November 13, 2018, from https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/plastic_surgery
Plastic Surgery Statistics. Retrieved November 15, 2018, from https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/plastic-surgery-statistics
Research ties plastic surgery to higher self-esteem, better mood. Retrieved November 15, 2018, from https://www.surgery.org/consumers/plastic-surgery-news-briefs/research-ties-plastic-surgery-higher-self-esteem-mood-1049817
Wilson, R. (2006). A less-invasive facelift. Journal of Business, 21(2) Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.pct.edu/docview/220929816?accountid=36328
Tables
Table 1
Cosmetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Trends
Note: “ASPS offers the most comprehensive, reliable statistics on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery procedures performed in the United States. The annual questionnaire was distributed to more than 24,500 ABMS board-certified physicians (An online and faxed version of the questionnaire were made available. A total of 571 active physicians returned questionnaires. Overall, 783 active physicians were included in the final sample). This data is combined with the first online national database for plastic surgery procedures Tracking Operations and Outcomes for Plastic SurgeonsSM (TOPSSM).” (pg5) https://www.plasticsurgery.org/documents/News/Statistics/2017/plastic-surgery-statistics-full-report-2017.pdf
Table 2
Cosmetic Procedures
Note: “ASPS offers the most comprehensive, reliable statistics on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery procedures performed in the United States. The annual questionnaire was distributed to more than 24,500 ABMS board-certified physicians (An online and faxed version of the questionnaire were made available. A total of 571 active physicians returned questionnaires. Overall, 783 active physicians were included in the final sample). This data is combined with the first online national database for plastic surgery procedures Tracking Operations and Outcomes for Plastic SurgeonsSM (TOPSSM).” (pg22) https://www.plasticsurgery.org/documents/News/Statistics/2017/plastic-surgery-statistics-full-report-2017.pdf