The Availability of Cosmetic Surgery - Essay Example

Running Head: Cosmetic Surgery The Benefits of Cosmetic Surgery of Professor Possessing good looks give people a boost of confidence to go out into the world. Especially in the modern age of competition and dynamic lifestyle, being beautiful completes the totality of an individual along with formal education and good breeding. Hence, beauty is regarded by today’s generation as necessity and not a choice. Although perception of beauty is relative since it is dependent on culture or beliefs, it is undeniable that everyone admires someone who is beautiful. Nowadays, people resort to cosmetic surgery whenever there is a perceived flaw in one’s appearance. Cosmetic surgery does not only improve one’s appearance but also makes a person happier and more confident since society values beautiful people. In fact, a research indicate that attractive people, both male and female, are more regarded and treated more positively( Olson and Marshuetz ,2005). They have better chances of getting hired, earning higher incomes, achieve higher marks, have better social skills and are even less prone to commit crimes ( p.502). In cases where one is not born with natural external beauty, cosmetic surgery can play a crucial role in changing the situation. The bottom line is that self confidence is a huge factor in being successful and a beautiful appearance adds to one’s confidence. With the availability of cosmetic surgery , there is now a quick and good chance to change one’s beauty and ultimately live a more confident and happier life. Pleasant looks has been linked to encouraging reactions from other people, including plain liking or passionate fondness, promotion and success in career, judgments and punishing in legal settings, and several others. Commonly, appearance is more strongly connected to assessment and consequences for women than for men. Contemporary cultures across the globe socialize women to internalize an onlooker’s perception on their physical bearing, and hence to endure more embarrassment and misery over bodies that do not match the cultural model. In reaction to this, women are more probable suffer from eating disorders in an attempt to manipulate their appearance (Davis, 2002). Thus, there is a higher incidence of eating disorders in women since they are more conscious of their physical appearance especially when looking for a mate. It is common nowadays for men and women to try several procedures for improving physical attractiveness as methods for drawing the attention, and retaining passionate partners. Some resort to extreme physical exercise or unhealthy eating habits. Even though knowledge of the impact and essentiality of physical attractiveness is extremely common among all men and women, and to some extent most try to take advantage of their physical attractiveness, there is justification to anticipate that some will be more worried with the possible effect of their physical appearance than others ( Davis, 2002). There are numerous reasons for increased concern with appearance. Some may desire to improve their appearance for entirely practical reason, such as the necessity to preserve physical attractiveness in a profession which values much appearance in the determination of success or which regard ageism as ground that may affect opportunities for success. People in the modeling profession or in the entertainment business put a high premium in looking good since this is the key to their financial success. For the average person, it is simply deriving aesthetic enjoyment in looking pleasant; more so, media has also portrayed that being beautiful is connected with being healthy. Models or otherwise, there is this pursuit to look good in order to feel good. Of particular issue here is that a number of individuals are obviously motivated by causal low self-confidence or insecurity concerning others’ responses and reactions to them (Davis, 2002). Nevertheless, no matter what their particular rationale for concern with appearance is, those portrayed by higher degrees of any of the aforementioned concerns would be anticipated to try greater opportunities for the preservation of physical appearance. Unfortunately, in the modern world, a beautiful face is not enough. An attractive face must be matched with a shapely figure. Hence, cosmetic science of today has gone beyond just facial corrections. An attractive appearance demands hard work since pollution and stress takes a toll on one’s appearance. Sometimes one’s diet, exercise and commitment to a healthy lifestyle are not sufficient despite the plethora of medicine or healthy foods that flood the market. Heredity also plays a role in determining physical appearance which is even hard to correct superficially. These are the contributing factors in making cosmetic surgery procedures gain popularity, so that people can do something about their appearance which will eventually help them in becoming more confident and happier with themselves.     In an interesting research from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Plastic Surgery 2006 conference, (Gail, 2000) proved the connection between cosmetic surgery patients and a decreased reliance on antidepressant medicine. Some doctors suggest that certain patients who went through plastic surgery discontinued taking antidepressants briefly after their treatment. This findings implies that plastic surgery patients felt better and happier, thereby eliminating the need to take anti-depressant medicine. However, doctors also caution patients not to rely mainly on plastic surgery because they are unhappy with their life. They advise people experiencing huge life changes or other stress in their lives to avoid big changes in their physical appearance until the pressure subsides.     Cosmetic surgery can also increase years to one’s life and improve one’s confidence. When a person consistently feels good about his appearance, it may lower the incidence of depression, because maintaining consistent good amount of self- esteem may make a person sense happiness all over. According to Arthur Perry (2007), a research on self-esteem and interpersonal success published in the Psychological Science in the public interest indicates that, “self-esteem has a strong connection to happiness” (p.3). The effect of improving a person’s self-esteem that it affects other areas of one’s life such as being able to connect more easily with others and enjoying better long-term relationships with others. Cosmetic surgery may likewise improve one’s relationship with other people. Healthy relationships can enhance a person’s self-esteem and could enable people to experience a better social life. Experiencing confidence in one’s appearance can help in enjoying social situations and develop long- term relationships. The person will not be held back because of a low physical image or poor self-esteem.   A confident person extends his comfort zone and explores other activities that will make one socialize. Thus, from enhancing self confidence to decreasing depression, cosmetic surgery may be an important connection to one’s happiness. Although it should not be employed as a ‘short cut’ solution to a problem or issues that may need professional help, it provides an opportunity to improve one’s life.    Whether one is getting a chemical peel or liposuction, beautifying one’s appearance can provide an increase of self confidence. Although strengthening self-image starting from the inside would still be more significant than any outward enhancement, Dr. Stark argued that if one has a low self-image or is not happy with how they look, cosmetic and reconstructive surgery is their answer; psychologically, patients get a strong boost from such surgery (Stark 1985). In fact, research indicates that, on average, people who undergo cosmetic surgery were highly satisfied with their procedures. In addition, they also report improvements in the qualities of their lives years after the procedure. Although a few people may say that inner beauty is what counts, for most people, it is easier to feel more attractive when they look better physically. And as much as people may hope that physical appearance is not important, experience will prove that it does affect happiness as well as confidence. People who are contented with their physical appearance are more probable to have a high self-esteem, efficient in work and social circumstances, and at ease with their relationships. From the previous arguments stated in this paper, it shows that plastic surgery (regardless if it is cosmetic or reconstructive) motivates and advances a strong, constructive self-perception. When an individual is deemed more acceptable to society since he or she is beautiful, that person becomes more confident. Social concerns like looking for a date, attending a party or simply going out with friends is not a big issue anymore. Consequently, the person feels happier since acceptance by society elevates one’s chance in career or finding a mate. Indeed, man in this age have the advantage of technology in the field of medicine to overcome flaws or imperfections through cosmetic surgery. Because of this, more people have lived better lives and have become happier, thanks to cosmetic surgery. Works Cited Daskalakis, E. (2008). Psychological Aspects of Plastic Surgery. Cosmetic Surgery.http: //results.myhpf.co.uk/framedresults.asp?Keyword=psychological+effect+of+cosmetic+surgery. Accessed on December 18, 2008. Davis, D. (2002). Sculpting the Body Beautiful: Attachment Style, Neuroticism, and Use of Cosmetic Surgeries. Sex Roles , page 129. Gail, S. (2000). Cosmetic Surgery: Before, Between and After. California: Melange Unlimited. Perry, A. (2007). Straight Talk about Cosmetic Surgery. New Haven: Yale University Press. Olson ,I. and Marshuetz, C.(2005). Facial Attractiveness Is Appraised in A Glance. Emotion. American Psychological Association. Vol.5.No.4. 498-502. Psychological Aspects: Your Self-Image and Plastic Surgery. (2008). American Society of Plastic Surgeons . http://results.myhpf.co.uk/framedresults.asp? Keyword= psychological +effect+of+cosmetic+surgery. Accessed December 17,2008. Stark, R. (1985) Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. New York: Springer. Volume 9, Number 1. Read More