Cosmetic surgery has always had a bit of a rickety reputation. As a subject of much prejudice, it’s often been vilified in the pastand described as something that’s there only for the vain. After all, isn’t natural beauty better and more honest? Not quite. In truth, plastic surgery is quite a fascinating subject because it’s very much related to both social conventions and our psychology, and it’s something that should be explored in depth. Luckily, ever since the rise in popularity back in the late 70s, we’ve been able to gather data and track the progress of patients. If you want to know more about how cosmetic surgery influences people and whether you can benefit from it, then it’s time to get the facts out.
A little history
While we did mention that plastic surgery as we know it today was popularized in the seventies, the actual origins of it date far, far back. There are traces in history that show us that people have been attempting to do various forms of facial reconstruction as far as 2500 BC! Plastic surgery of today started developing sometime after World War I, and in the beginning, it was mostly accessible only to the rich. What this bit of history shows us, is that we’ve always craved to be beautiful, and that people from the past really had very little qualms about changing their face or their body in some way if it helped them satisfy a certain social standard. Plastic surgery is not quite as modern as we think it is, nor are people who engage in it somehow more shallow than our ancestors.
Prejudice is a strange thing
“But her lips are full of silicone,” said the well-made up woman with six different layers of makeup on her face. “It’s just so unnatural,” she claimed, adjusting her false lashes with the help of her fake fingernails.
We’re joking around, but this does question the reasoning of claiming plastic surgery is “unnatural.” In the society where there is great social pressure to look and act a certain way, at which point do we draw the line between what’s natural and good, and what’s unnatural and fake? Where do we categorize makeup or, for example, waxing our legs? What about shaping garments and clothes that visually slim us down? Isn’t it possible that rather than shaming people who make choices that would help them fit in, it would be better to rethink our whole idea of what beauty is and how we treat those who don’t fit the mold?
Feeling good in your own skin
Physical flaws have their way of following us through life and constantly being on our mind. A big nose or crooked teeth might mean you will keep avoiding taking pictures, and small breasts might mean you never feel as feminine as you’d like. Having your breast augmentation procedure performed by a good plastic surgeon can mean finally getting to look and feel the way you always wanted to. This can mean a world to a person and significantly boost their confidence. Studies have shown that surgeries performed by good physicians coupled with proper post-operative care result in very satisfied patients. Basically, you get the benefit of enhancing your favorite features or disguising those you don’t like, and finally feeling good in your own skin.
Plastic surgery and physical deformations
A great deal of plastic surgery procedures actually involves around fixing deformities, and helping victims of accidents and diseases regain their features as they remember them. From something simple like a woman with tuberous breasts who struggles to find the right bra, to a person whose whole face was changed by a car crash. Patients can get their confidence back and feel normal again, and most are extremely happy to have this option.
Standards that are set in place
It’s good to bear in mind that plastic surgery is the best option for people who are realistic and who know what to expect. Doctors are very careful and discuss everything with their patients to see whether they are good candidates and to make sure they know exactly what they’re getting into and what each of the steps will look like. This is set in place to ensure both the doctor and the patient are happy and that they truly benefit from the procedure.
A personal choice
For our final note, we want you to know this: plastic surgery is entirely your choice. Whether you decide it’s just not for you or that it’s exactly the right thing for you, it’s an entirely personal thing. You will benefit the most from simply enjoying life and doing whatever you want to do with it, regardless of what that might be.
The social stigma related to plastic surgery is slowly disappearing. From celebrities to your next door neighbor, more and more people are enjoying the benefit of being able to modify their features and present a certain image to the world. We encourage you to simply make your own choice, and respect other people’s choices even though they might be different than yours.
