The Plastic Surgeries - Report Example

ATTENTION GETTER: In 1994, Solange Magnano won the Miss Argentina (O’Callaghan)The beauty queen later created her modeling agency, got marriedand became the mother of twins. (Strange) Unfortunately, she died of pulmonary embolism when the liquid used for her gluteoplasty – or bum lift – also reached her lungs and brain. (O’Callaghan) Lawyer and former The View co-host Star Jones had gastric bypass surgery to make her figure smaller. Some criticized her new look while others praised her efforts. Consequently, Jones went under the knife again for breast implant surgery and almost died due to blood loss. (Essig) Yet another famous person associated with plastic surgery is the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson. The singer supposedly had surgery at the age of 21 and continued to make changes, especially to his nose that he does not resemble the former Michael Jackson. (Thompson) SIGNIFICANCE: Although plastic surgery can be classified into reconstructive and aesthetic, the most commonly known type is cosmetic surgery which is performed to enhance one’s appearance. It is also the most controversial one. Indeed, plastic surgery, whether reconstructive or cosmetic, has helped people become better individuals physically, emotionally and at times, psychologically. Especially for victims of diseases or bodily injuries, plastic surgery can mean a new chapter in their lives. It makes them more confident and, for some, brings back the skills or bodily functions that may have been lost had plastic surgery not been an option. In the field of cosmetic surgery, studies have manifested a positive impact on patient quality of life. (Sadick) However, it is also this new alternative to improving one’s appearance that has caused much disappointment and at times, death, to many of those who undergo the procedure. It has led to an uncontrollable obsession that does not choose any age or status in life. THESIS: The health risks involved in getting plastic surgery, especially for aesthetic purposes, are becoming a cause for concern in the field of medicine. The desire to better one’s looks and the money to be made from performing the surgery has created a society where patients appear to constantly find something in themselves to “enhance” and doctors seem to forget their oath of putting their patient’s well-being at the utmost importance. PREVIEW: To have a better picture of how serious this problem in cosmetic surgery has become, we must first discuss why the demand for cosmetic surgery continues to grow, and then, we will look into cases where cosmetic surgery went wrong on the side of the patient and of the doctor. POINT ONE: Plastic surgery, specifically rhinoplasty or nose job, has been in the history of men since the 6th or 7th century when “it was customary to punish thieves, unfaithful spouses, and defeated enemies by cutting off their noses.” (Panfilov) This reconstructive procedure has then evolved into one where beauty is the primary concern. The “face lift” happened in 1901 when an “ageing Polish noblewoman” convinced her doctor to “tighten her cheeks and the corners of her mouth”. (Panfilov) Since then, numerous operations have been performed in the name of looking good. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), around 9.2 million cosmetic procedures occurred in the United States alone in 2011. (Mann) Request for liposuction, breast augmentation, tummy tucks, eyelid surgery and breast lift were the most common. In the United Kingdom, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) showed a growth of 5.8% in procedures for both men and woman. (Rogers) Obviously, despite the global recession in the recent years, paying to surgically improve one’s physical appearance has still been on the to-do list no matter the cost. Both men and women from all over the world are willing to pay expensive fees to have plastic surgery “to look younger for professional or personal reasons or to change a feature they never liked.” (Grayson) A Korean psychologist says Koreans use plastic surgery as a weapon in their efforts to impress others. (ASAPS) Most of the patients are those ready to marry or to find a job. Individuals as young as 15 years old, mostly women, consider getting changes done on their faces since a pretty face for a Korean is one that is smaller or more Western-looking. Double-jaw surgery and double-fold eyelid operation are the most common procedures requested. (Sang-Hun) The influence of K-pop and Korean dramas is also another reason not only Koreans but Chinese and other Asians submit themselves to this kind of procedure and even travel to Korea for it. The Korean Health Industry Development reports that in 2009 there were close to 82,000 medical tourists in Korea. (Yi) For people in the television and movie industry around the world, it is understandable why cosmetic surgery is a part of their lives. An ageing actor or actress may not have as many job offers as youthful ones. A study conducted by Gordon Patzar, however, has revealed that even non-actors have engaged in cosmetic surgery because good-looking individuals usually have the edge in career advancement. (Wolgemuth) In the corporate world, it appears that the image of a future employee matter a great deal to employers. Since, it is said that self-confidence stems from looking good a number of individuals have resorted to taking out loans just to afford a procedure that may help them in acquiring a job or moving up the corporate ladder. TRANSITION: Now that we have shed light on why cosmetic surgery has become a successful trade, let us now discuss why this kind of medical procedure has become a matter of concern for the medical society and patients alike. POINT TWO: In this point, I will present circumstances and statistics of cosmetic surgery with unpleasant results. I will also show why because of how lucrative a business cosmetic surgery is, some doctors have taken advantage of their patients’ desire to become beautiful. In 2010, a woman got a face-lift and tummy tuck from a board-certified doctor in Beverly Hills but was not aware that the certification was for otolaryngology- ear, nose and throat- and not plastic surgery. (Murphy) Similarly, Dinora Rodriguez also had a surgeon not certified for cosmetic surgery perform a breast transplant for her and ended up having pain and one big breast. (Mapes) Because there is no federal law in the USA requiring doctors to report practices outside their specialty, there is no fixed number as to how many medical practitioners in fields other than plastic surgery have been doing face lifts and the like. Although these doctors can get certifications in plastic surgery after attending several weeks of instruction, those who actually specialize in cosmetic surgery explain that it takes more than weeks or months to perfect the skill. As a result, there has been an increase in the number of disappointed patients who eventually ask real cosmetic surgeons to fix the damage. In another case, 61-year old Sharon Carpenter Nicholson died on August 2010 after an all-day liposuction performed by Dr. Ehab Mohamed. (Feldman) The doctor, who had supposedly injured himself, was not yet well enough and was reported by his doctors of being a potential threat to patients’ lives. (Feldman) In Florida, there has been 36 deaths since 1997 after cosmetic surgery. (Sherr) Plastic surgery has also allowed some individuals to have extensive procedures, no matter the cost, and at times, the outcome. Jocelyn Wildenstein, a New York socialite and divorcee, was named the world’s scariest celebrity on a British tabloid despite the reported $4,000,000 she has spent on her face. (Is) Dennis Avner who is known as the Catman and Eric Sprague who is called the Lizardman underwent several procedures to look like their favorite animals. Michaela Romanini, another socialite who hails from Italy, has very thick lips because of too much collagen. For a woman in Korea, cosmetic surgery has become an obsession that when doctors refused to perform any more operations on her already unrecognizable face, she injected it with so much cooking oil that even with damage control performed by actual surgeons, she still does not resemble her former face at all. (Cosmetic) REVIEW/RESTATE THESIS: Today I presented to you, through actual cases and statistics, the reasons why plastic surgery still has a large following and the problems that it has brought about. CONCLUSION: As research has shown, plastic surgery has become an indispensible part of human society whether for reconstructive or beauty purposes. Together with the good it has produced, however, plastic surgery has also led to unlikable results and even death. Works Cited: “Cosmetic surgery addict injected cooking oil into her own face.” The Telegraph. 11 November 2008. Web. 13 April 2012. Essig, Laurie. American Plastic: Boob Jobs, Credit Cards, and the Quest for Perfection. Boston: Beacon Press, 2010. Print. Feldman, Charles. “KNX: Coroner No Longer Believes Woman’s Plastic Surgery Death Was Accidental.” CBSLosAngeles. 12 April 2012. Web. 13 April 2012. Grayson, Charlotte. “Choosing Cosmetic Surgery”. MedicineNet.com 31 January 2005. Web. 13 April 2012. “Is this the scariest picture EVER of the Bride of Wildenstein?” Mail Online. 20 February 2008. Web. 13 April 2012. Mann, Denise. “The Most Common Cosmetic Surgery in 2011 Was…” MedicineNet.com. 20 March 2012. Web. 11 April 2012. Mapes, Diane. “Case of ‘uniboob’ a startling reminder to pick plastic surgeon with care.” Msnbc.com 27 September 2011. Web. 13 April 2012. Murphy, Kate. “Ear Doctors Performing Face-Lifts? It Happens.” The New York Times. 30 January 2012. Web. 13 April 2012. O’Callaghan, Tiffany. “Beauty queen dies after plastic surgery.” TIME Healthland. 1 December 2009. Web. 10 April 2012. Panfilov, Dimitrije E. Cosmetic Surgery Today. New York: Thieme, 2005. Print. Rogers, Simon. “UK plastic surgery statistics: breasts up, stomachs in.” Guardian.co.uk. 30 January 2012. Web. 12 April 2012. Sadick, Neil S. “The impact of cosmetic interventions on quality of life.” Dermatology Online Journal.14.8 (August 2008): n. page. Web. 10 April 2012. Sang-Hun, Choe. “In South Korea, Plastic Surgery Comes Out of the Closet.” The New York Times. 3 November 2011. Web. 13 April 2012. Sherr, Lynn. “Plastic Surgery Deaths Investigated.” Abcnews.go.com. 16 April 2004. Web. 13 April 2012. Strange, Hannah. “Beauty queen Solange Magnano ‘died for a firmer behind.’” The Times. 1 December 2009. Web. 10 April 2012. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). “In South Korea, plastic surgery is standard equipment for a young woman.” www.surgery.org. 27 November 2011. Web. 11 April 2012. Thompson, Lana. Plastic Surgery. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, LLC, 2012. Print. Wolgemuth, Liz. “How Plastic Surgery Can Boost Your Career.” USNews.com. 12 May 2008. Web. 13 April 2012. Yi, Xiao. “Chinese Love Affair with South Korean Plastic Surgeries.” Global Times. 8 November 2011. Web. 13 April 2012. Read More