According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, over 10 million plastic surgery procedures were conducted in 2008; women had over 92% of them. “Americans spent almost $11.8 billion on cosmetic procedures,” such as breast augmentation, liposuction, eyelid surgery, abdominoplasty, breast reduction and more (American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery). This information is all very astounding and in some ways sad. However, it is our choice as women how we want to portray ourselves. I feel sorry for people who feel they need to alter their bodies in order to feel womanly and beautiful. Everyone has flaws, but not everyone is willing to go out and spend a few thousand dollars to fix them. I really wish that we could all just learn to feel comfortable in our own skin and appreciate our bodies for what they are, but if someone is willing to work hard and save for these procedures, then good for them. If they feel getting breast implants will better their quality of life and make them more confident, then surgery might be a good decision for them.
I can completely understand why people object to the surgeries: yes, they are dangerous and there are big risks involved…but if that is the way you feel about it then don’t get plastic surgery! What many people don’t realize is that a lot of the time people aren’t getting these breast implants and other surgeries to impress others or for the general population to make commentary on…they are doing it for themselves. People in today’s society love to pass judgment on people who have had work done. They will criticize them and say that they are furthering the issue of “gender roles” and just going along with what the “media” tells us we should look like. However, I am willing to bet that these critics wouldn’t be saying that about the breast cancer patient who has had a mastectomy. If she decides to have her breasts restored to feel womanly again, I bet you would think twice before criticizing her decision to have plastic surgery. This topic is just way too complicated to pick a side and stick firmly to it. Believe me, if one day I have a daughter and she asks to get a breast augmentation or any other work done, I will be the first person to tell her she is crazy for even asking. However, if she saved up her own money and went and had them done, yes I would be concerned, but I would support her decision.
I am not asking if you are for or against plastic surgery, I’m just asking to make some realizations. We can’t let society dictate what we should and should not do. As Faludi says in “Blame It On Feminism”, we can’t allow the public to “push women back into their ‘acceptable’ roles,” as Barbies and love objects (Faludi 45). No one should choose to get implants because that’s what you think society wants you to look like…get them for the right reasons.
We should feel beautiful in our own skin, set an example and stop fitting into this “gender role.” But if we do decide to alter our bodies, it should be because we are women, we have the freedom and right to do it, and we feel it will better our lives in some way.
With that being said, will the decisions we make today about plastic surgery impact the “social norms” of the future? Is plastic surgery going to become so common that all we see are artificial women? Will plastic surgery eventually become obsolete? Where do the notions that plastic surgery is either good/bad come from?
"Media - Statistics The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery." The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery: The Mark of Distinction in Cosmetic Plastic Surgery® The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Web. 01 Oct. 2009. http://www.surgery.org/media/statistics.
Faludi, Susan. "Blame It On Feminism." 1991. Backlash. New York: Pearson Custom, 2009. 45. Print.
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To me, plastic surgery doesn't seem like a big deal to people anymore. When it first started to arise of course people were outraged, and couldn't believe that someone would want to alter the body that God gave them. Well I agree with you Sarah, let them do what they want! If you don't want plastic surgery don't take part in it. If women and men are saving up to have their own surgeries done to better their self-confidence, then so be it. It doesn't bother me or affect my life, so why should I care? I don't believe plastic surgery will affect social norms of the future. I think it is almost normal now, and people have calmed down from the original shock of plastic surgery itself. We will not see only artificial women in the future either. We all have our own ways. I know that I will certainly never get plastic surgery, and there are millions of other people that feel the same way. The whole notion of plastic surgery being "bad" or "good" comes from society. Not everyone agrees with what people do with their bodies, what people say, or how people do certain things and that is where this notion of "bad" or "good" comes along. Overall, plastic surgery is up to you as an individual. If it isn't hurting anyone else but yourself, then that is your right as a human being as we have talked about in class. You are told before surgery how dangerous it can be and you sign a consent form. So again, these are human rights that you have given permission all on your own for someone else to work on your body. So if you want to increase your breast size or get lypo, I say go for it!
ReplyDeleteIn my eyes, plastic surgery is horrible to do to your body, it's only a procedure that you have to keep up with and maintain. a good example is Joan Rivers, although a comedian and still full of life at 77, she's the scariest 77 year old woman i've ever seen. she's a big reason i won't get plastic surgery.i don't believe its necessary if you don't need it and its unnatural. i think that you should be comfortable with who you are and not worry about everyone else. however i do believe that if you have a serious imperfection that really makes you uncomfortable, then yes should get plastic surgery. for example, if you'd had breast cancer than it would be totally acceptable to get some sort of breast implant or correction to make you look more comfortable. the issue seen here is that too many people aren't comfortable with themselves, and for some reason there hasn't been any convincing otherwise for them. you would think that maybe the doctor performing the surgery would better reassure the girl/man getting the unnecessary procedure that they don't need it and they are fine the way there. i guess since it's there job and they want to make money, things like this don't bother them. how about the people beyond the doctors, like the friends and family? how do you let someone who looks good, go out and get such a superficial and life altering surgery? its not only a bad decision that people make themselves, but a decision that no one stands up and prevents them from doing it. when you really need to get it done for something that really is hurting your confidence, or something you really want to see fixed, its understood, but theres no reason to change something thats already beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it is completely up to the individual on whether he/she would like to go through with plastic surgery. I think people should learn to be comfortable in their own skin, but if it is ruining their life, than they should be able to change it. Some people live with depression just because they cannot accept the way they look, so I think they are justified in wanting to change some things about themselves. Personally, I would never undergo something that dangerous and life-threatening just for a change in appearance. However, if you had the money and the will I believe it is fine to choose surgery. Plastic surgery is definitely risky, but to someone who has had to cope with self confidence issues for their whole life, it is not so bad. People have come to accept plactic surgery in our society and those who undergo it are not frowned upon like they used to be. I believe that it is up to the person if they would like to have surgery done.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the fact we should be happy with the way we look but what if we aren't? Plastic surgery enhances a person's outer beauty and restores confidence. If a person is not happy in their own skin then who are we to say they can't change that. It is a personal choice and they have the right to make that decision themselves. The choice to get plastic surgery or not is completely up to the individual and we should not pass judgment on someone trying to improve themselves. This has been a debate for many years, but recently people have begun to accept the idea of undergoing plastic surgery. I love Lindsey’s take on this point and I agree with her 100 percent. She makes valid points regarding a person’s free will and how it relates to plastic surgery. A boost in a person’s confidence should always be welcomed and society should learn not to criticize so easily.
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely right in saying that plastic surgery is not something with two definite sides, right or wrong. Having plastic surgery is the decision of one person about their own body. A person has to right to make decisions about their own medical procedures. Some cases of plactic surgery are necessary and some are totally unnecessary and excessive but either way it is the right of that person to decide what they have done to their body.
ReplyDeletePlastic surgery for medical reasons (to restore appearance or function after an accident, surgery, or other deformity) is generally accepted wholeheartedly. The issue gets fuzzy when talking about plastic surgery for cosmetic purposes. I agree that if someone is living in insecurity and is unhappy because of it that plastic surgery is a good option. But I think so much insecurity in society stems from plastic surgery itself. It is no secret that almost every girl and even woman wants to have that "perfect" appearance. We are bombarded every day of images of women (and even men) who have had plastic surgery. Naturally we compare ourselves to them and strive to appear more like them. This creates insecurites in people. They see themselves as inferior when the body they have is perfectly good. People feel pressure to fit into a certain mold and they go to plastic surgery as an easy fix. But it is not that easy. There are health risks as well as huge financial costs that many people arent prepared to deal with. So, while plastic surgery can be a very positive thing in the lives of some people, I also recognize that its prevalence in society has negative affects on people as well.
There is no right or wrong in regards to plastic surgery but I believe that cosmetic surgery has gotten too excesive in America and has become a money-making tool that feeds off and builds insecurities in people.