Long-term Psychological Satisfaction & Plastic Surgery - Research Paper Example

 Thesis Long-term psychological satisfaction is not guaranteed after plastic surgery even if the immediate results boost attractiveness, quality of life and self-efficacy. Introduction Advances in modern technology has not only affected the daily life of an individual but has also positively enhanced the quality of life. The increased expenditure on beautification of the body with experimental aesthetic approach has affected more than half of the world’s population since 1997. Estimation has been made which highlights the number of plastic surgeries worldwide. The subspecialty of the plastic surgery that is used for the restoration, enhancement and maintenance of a person’s appearance and physical outlook is referred to as cosmetic surgery. The cosmetic surgery is carried out by medical and surgical process. In comparison to the whole world, West has seen a drastic increase in the number of cosmetic surgeries (Rohrich, 2003; Davis, 2003) and the number is increasing exponentially. In the United States of America, approximately 1.5 million such surgeries have been performed (American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 2011). Approximately 8.5 million plastic surgeries are performed worldwide annually (International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2011). These numbers and statistics do not include the procedures performed by individuals who are not surgeons for the enhancement of appearance. Hence, the number of such procedures can be much higher (Sarwer and Crerand, 2008). Even though the plastic surgeries are in great demand, such surgeries are also quite controversial in nature. Old school philosophers depict plastic surgeries as a diminished gratitude towards what Nature has gifted everyone. It is thought that the plastic surgeries inflame the idea of racism and age dependent dissimilarities. The scientist and scholars have debated on this controversial topic and they put forward the books of societal implications. It has been discussed and documented by researchers that there are various factors that contribute to the increasing popularity of these procedures (Sarwer & Magee, 2006; Sarwer, Crerand, & Gibbons, 2007; Sarwer, Magee, & Crerand, 2003). These factors include advances in the field of plastic surgery, less invasive procedures, lower cost of the treatments and the increased amount of income of the individuals (Edmonds, 2007). It is believed that no one is born perfect but some individuals are not blessed like the others. If a few changes to the body boost their confidence, then there should be no harm in it (Honigman, Phillips, & Castle, 2004). It has been discussed in numerous studies that the average facial features and proportions are treated positively in comparison to the less gifted ones. Ironically, this has been engraved in human nature since centuries (Kościński, 2007; Rubenstein, Langlois, & Roggman, 2002). Attractiveness can judged with more positive behavior and response from the society. History of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery The incidence and prevalence of plastic surgery is as old as humankind is. It dates back to the existence of ancient times. It is documented that the first surgery was performed in India. It was a nose surgery done in 600 B.C. This surgery is now known as Rhinoplasty. Gasparo Tagliacozzi is named as the “father of modern plastic surgery”. He was an Italian who invented the method of reconstruction of the nose, which resulted due to the fights and clashed between men (Haiken, 1997). Plastic surgery was later on used in the seventeenth and eighteenth century in the Europe after the epidemic of syphilis (Gilman, 2001). Areas Where Plastic Surgery Is a Requirement and Not an Option Plastic surgery is a pioneer in the fields such as nerve generation, tissue engineering and tissue transplantation. The following areas use plastic surgery as an important part of the treatment. 1. Facial trauma surgery 2. Hand and wrist surgery 3. Skin cancer management 4. Complex wounds 5. Burns 6. Disease and injury to hands, face or any other body part 7. Primary cancer treatment of soft tissue and skin 8. Gender reassignment procedure Areas Where Plastic Surgery Is an Option and Not a Requirement The most common areas where people opt to undergo a plastic surgery are mentioned below: 1. Eyelid Surgery 2. Hair transplantation 3. Nose reshaping 4. Dermabrasion 5. Chemical peels 6. Liposuction 7. Breast augmentation 8. Breast reduction 9. Removal of blemishes 10. Removal of scars 11. Face lift Male and Female Inclination The pressure of beautifying oneself and enhancing the gifted features is laid more on women in comparison to men. The cultural and traditional influences only add to this impact. It has been documented by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (2011) that the majority of the individuals who undergo plastic surgery are females. The exact number is 87%. Some researchers have stated that the choice of plastic surgery is solely a personal choice (Heyes & Jones, 2009). This is in contrast to other scholars who depict that the advancement in plastic surgery is encouraging discriminatory society (Bordo, 2009). Guarantee of Long-Term Satisfaction Researchers, plastic surgeons and patients all agree on one point. That the satisfaction gained after a successful plastic surgery is not only momentary but also subject to internal contentment (Heyes & Jones, 2009; Kinnunen, 2010). This can also be depicted by the fact that any major life changes such as marriage, birth of a child, getting a promotion or buying a dream house cannot guarantee long-term happiness. These things can affect positively on the generalized well-being but the sorrows and problems of life are rarely shadowed by these events (Brickman & Campbell, 1971). In the same manner, minor or major surgical procedures can significantly boost confidence in a social gathering but the sorrows of life (if any) can only be shortly forgotten. Source: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF03061049#page-1 Pre-Operative and Post-Operative Stress and Anxiety Pre-operative psychological symptoms are very common in plastic surgery patients. The distress can be in the form of depression or anxiety (Rankin & Borah, 2009). A study by Shridharani et al (2010) has reported an improvement in the post-surgery anxiety level. Some female patients who undergo breast implant surgery have also reported an increment in the quality of life (Cook, Rosser, & Salmon, 2006). On the other hand, Rohrich et al (2007) reported high level of suicidal inclinations and events in the women who underwent breast augmentation. Role of Media and Advertisement in the Promotion of Plastic Surgery The awareness of the plastic surgeries has been mainstreamed by the dramatic increase in media advertisement of these procedures (Tait, 2007). Television programs, social-media networks, advertisements and news articles have unconditionally implicated the promise of happiness and satisfaction. Most of the times, the media advertisements do not highlight or even mention the potential side effects of these plastic surgeries. This behavior is in contrary to the ethical considerations. The dangers of surgical procedures such as facial nerve injury, bleeding, infection, scar formation and blindness should be mentioned when advertising. The advertisement of medical surgeries has always been associated with controversies. The exhibition of “before” and “after” images of the patients who undergo these procedures can be a factor to lure other patients. These advertisements depict the plastic surgeries as a life-changing or life-altering experience. In the United States of America, the first paid advertisement ran in California in late 1970’s. However, today’s advertising is controlled under strict ethical restrictions set by the American Medical Association’s Code of Ethics (2001). Quite often, individuals fall prey to such advertisement sand get into the hands of inexperienced surgeons. This is the reason why advertisement can be very misleading. As a result of this, individuals walk into the plastic surgeons office with very high hopes and skeptical thoughts. The success of the surgery is a challenge and can produce partial results. For the patient, any failure can be a cause life-long depression. Hence, satisfaction is not guaranteed as promised by the advertisers. Weight Reduction and Hair Replacement Women use plastic surgical procedures to reduce weight. These procedures include liposuctions and tummy tucks. On the other hand, men use plastic surgery to replace lost hair by the process of hair transplant. The safety of the procedure and the guarantee of long-term satisfaction are questionable in both these procedures. Since, women dread gaining weight and men hate losing hair; they are inclined towards getting the procedure done more than ever (Litner, 2008). The matter of weight gain is a major concern amongst women. Most of the times, women over-eat after a psychological trauma. This leads to abnormal weight gain that can also be due to hormonal imbalance. Losing weight caused by hormonal imbalance is very difficult. This is the reason why women opt for the short cut and get their fats under knife. It is the ethical responsibility of the plastic surgeon to elaborately mention the different adverse effects associated with liposuction and tummy tucking (Litner, 2008). On the other hand, men fear losing hair. It is a universal fact that cannot be denied. However, an increment in the trend of getting hair transplant has been observed in men in the past decade. Celebrities play a vital role in the advertisement of these plastic surgical procedures. This is the major reason why common men also choose to undergo the procedure. As in the process of liposuction, the people undergoing hair transplant should also be informed about the side effects. The long-term satisfaction and happiness with the appearance cannot be guaranteed in both these procedures. This is because, the “tucked” weight may return and the hair patches may fell off. This entirely depends on the quality of the procedure performed and the expertise of the surgeon. Social Factors that Influence the Decision of Getting a Plastic Surgery Numerous social and work-related factors influence the decision of going under knife. Occupational factors for individuals associated with industries such as media and fashion also cause the influence. Many cultures worldwide consider beauty as a factor of authority. Although this may be dragged towards the ideology of racism and color yet the thoughts of fair beauty prevails. However, long-term satisfaction cannot be guaranteed even in the cultural thresholds. This is because the body image is subject to degradation over years. Even after the surgery, there exists the possibility of degradation of this new-earned beauty (Bradbury, 2006). Teenagers in the United States of America are constantly subject to bullying and negative social influences due to their appearance. The increasing number of suicides due to bullying in schools is a living proof. Most of the times, parents refer to aestheticians for acne related and hair loss related problems in teenagers. This habit should be highly encouraged as these individuals are at the most vulnerable part of their lives. Moreover, the concept of “Prom Queen” is another way to encourage the appraisal of outer beauty (Bolton, 2003). Hence, the concept of this outer beauty is enhanced at this tender age. Failing to look the best at the prom can lead to lifelong regrets and depression. It is ideal to take the kids to a skin specialist to undergo suitable treatments instead of plastic surgeries. This is the time when these individuals require high level of confidence. The requirement of being “presentable” at work is another sort of pressure to look after one’s self. The jobs of secretaries, receptionists, airhostesses and restaurant waiters is not the only ones that require being presentable. It is now the requirement of an individual who spend half of his or her day behind the cubicle. However, it has also been observed that the inclination of hiring a presentable individual at a job interview session is much higher than hiring a rather non-presentable person (Bolton, 2003). Conclusion Money cannot buy happiness. In the same manner, plastic surgery cannot buy happiness. It should be understood and well kept in mind that it is the inner beauty and internal satisfaction that makes people happy in their lives. People have seen many near-to-perfection individuals living a sad and disgraced life. In the same manner, blindly following the plastic surgical procedures can result in adverse effects or mishaps that may lead to lifelong regrets. The influence of cultural and social bullying should be stopped on individual and collective level. Work Cited American Psychiatric Association. The principles of medical ethics: With annotations especially applicable to psychiatry. Amer Psychiatric Pub Inc, 2001. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. (2011). 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