Plastic Surgery and Its Benefits - Essay Example

“Cosmetic or aesthetic surgery is defined as operations or other procedures that revise or change the appearance, colour, texture, structure or position of bodily features to achieve what patients perceive to be more desirable” (Khoo 2009:237) and this has produced many favourable results such as enhanced sense of self-image, elevated self-esteem, greater confidence and personal happiness (Bradburry 2009). While the procedure is not deemed to be a necessity as the absence of the procedure does not impede one’s regular function, reports showed that there is a psychological benefit derived from the procedure that enhances one’s functionality and self-esteem.

This enhanced sense of self however that patient expects from a cosmetic procedure is not without risk. As it is in any surgical procedure, a risk is always present and one of the risks involved in this particular kind of surgery is the post-traumatic stress disorder (PSTD) which is triggered by a less than optimal result where patients who are susceptible to post-operative psychological issues (Bradburry 2009) are vulnerable. Other possible issues associated with the procedure is the body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) which is “characterized by a preoccupation with an imagined or minor defect causing the individual significant emotional distress and impairment in functioning (Bradburry 2009).

It could also result in muscle dysmorphia which is the subtype of BDD which makes the affected patient to weightlift and become diet compulsive. There are also other psychological risks of having an eating disorder and social anxiety disorder after a patient has undergone a cosmetic procedure. Given these risk associated with cosmetic surgery, it may become easy to argue against plastic surgery that cosmetic reconstruction is not good because it is very risky. Experts, however, agreed that the risks associated with the cosmetic procedure can be minimized if proper procedures are administered in the pre and post period of the surgery.

According to the Plastic Surgery Institute of California, the psychological issues brought about by cosmetic procedures is often a result of an unreal and inappropriate expectation of the patient thus leaving them unhappy with the results no matter how good the procedure was undertaken (2007). Thus, certain steps were recommended to minimize such risk and to achieve an optimal result with the procedure which a patient will undergo. Among the steps recommended by the study of Bradbury on how to minimize risk with cosmetic surgery are; seek help for psychiatric disorders or psychological problems before going for surgery, examine aims and expectations honestly, find a reputable surgeon/practitioner and value good two-way communication (2009).

With regard to the psychological issues in plastic surgery, it could be addressed by seeking help for a psychiatric disorder or psychological problem before going for surgery is critical especially to those who are susceptible to psychological issues or already experiencing psychological issues. Patients who already have psychological issues tend to become dissatisfied with the result no matter how good the procedure is and it would be prudent to forgo the procedure for such patients to avoid the psychiatric issues that the procedure may put forth to the patient.

The Plastic Surgery Institute of California elaborated on the setting the expectations of the patient right because plastic surgeons do not have magic wands and the procedures can only go thus far (2007).