Argumentative research paper
Cosmetic Surgery
Introduction
Cosmetic surgery is a surgical procedure to improve body imperfections. A point to note is that body imperfections may occur due to factors such as aging, illness, congenital, among other factors. Both teens and adults are uncomfortable with their body imperfections or deformities since they affect their self-confidence and social acceptance. Thus, they desire to alter their appearance to look young and beautiful, and more importantly, improve their self-esteem. Cosmetic surgery is a debatable issue in that some people argue that it is less significant and it increases risks of serious diseases. Others argue that cosmetic surgery increases beauty, increase confidence levels, and increase physical attractiveness. The purpose of this paper is to address this issue and conclude whether people should undergo cosmetic surgery or not. After conducting comprehensive research, my point of view is that cosmetic surgery harms mental well-being and it is unhealthy. It increases the risk of Body dysmorphic disorder, Venous Thromboembolism (VTE), and the practice is not evidence-based. Thus, people should not undergo cosmetic surgery in that after the procedure, people develop a feeling of dissatisfaction and inadequacy. Thus, people should improve self-image and appeal to others through self-love and self- acceptance
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
The first argument against cosmetic surgery is that people who undergo cosmetic surgery suffer from BDD – they feel that some parts of their bodies are flawed. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 50% of patients who undergo cosmetic surgery suffer from BDD and undergo 'surgery revision' (Newell, 318). This is because modern societies have constructed cultural norms that value physical appearance and therefore both adults and young teens want to fit in such a society by undergoing facial reconstruction. It is important to note that the majority undergo cosmetic surgery to increase their self-esteem, improve body imperfection, and reduce social anxiety, among other reasons (Newell, 316). However, these people are not aware of the disorders associated with cosmetic surgery. For example, BDD is a psychiatric disorder or a condition where a patient detects physical defects. Patients develop obsessive thoughts and ritualistic compulsory behaviors, which motivate them to think about their appearance. After undergoing cosmetic surgery, they believe that they must repeat a surgical intervention to correct their defects. The worst thing is that after repeating the surgery, only fewer than 10% gain satisfaction (Newell, 318). This means that the majority does not gain relief and therefore they continue to repeat the procedure and hence become plastic surgery addicts. Many physician-authored articles recommend that surgeons should not operate patients with plastic surgery addiction. However, plastic surgeons do not follow this recommendation but they continue to perform the procedures (Newell, 318). Therefore, cosmetic surgery is bad in that it gives unrealistic expectations. This is because, when a patient undergoes surgery, he or she expects to achieve a transformation but on the contrary, the surgery does not eliminate bodily flaws. What happens is that rather than achieving one's desire, people develop addiction and request for revisions. In general, cosmetic surgery does not solve the problem but it becomes a habitual practice, which leads to other health problems.
Evidence-based and cosmetic surgery
The second argument against cosmetic surgery is based on evidence-based practice. Ahuja (14) asserts that plastic surgeons do not conduct trials and therefore they apply their wisdom, confidence, and skills, to perform the surgery. There are many surgical techniques in the area of cosmetic surgery but these techniques have not undergone peer evaluation. Therefore, in many cases, the surgical techniques cause unsatisfactory results. Surgeons who engage in unethical practices are subjected to lawsuits and eventually destroy their image (Ahuja, 15). For example, an independent plastic surgeon who qualifies to perform brachial plexus repairs will go beyond to perform perforator flap without adequate knowledge. Another situation is when a surgeon qualified for hand and neck goes beyond to perform myocutaneous flap. These are some of the ethical dilemmas where surgeons go-ahead to perform procedures without evidence-based knowledge. This means that in cosmetic surgery, surgeons do not apply moral principles but they use their choices and values. In other words, their practices are not evidence-based (Ahuja, 15). Note that the evidence-base approach requires the clinicians to conduct systematic research and use clinical evidence and meet the patients' interests.
Venous thromboembolism
The third argument against cosmetic surgery is based on venous thromboembolism (VTE). Venous thromboembolism causes morbidity and mortality among plastic surgery patients. In a hospital setting, 33,000 plastic surgery patients die due to deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism annually (Mlodinow et al. 191). During a cosmetic surgery procedure, anesthesia increases the risk of VTE. For example, one study reported that 10, 0000 facelifts resulted in 0.35% and 0.14% DVT and PE respectively. Also, patients undergoing body contouring are at risk of developing VTE. In 2005-2011, 48, 634 patients who underwent mastectomy and breast reconstruction developed VTE. This means that patients undergoing cosmetic surgery are given anesthesia, which contributes to venous thromboembolism (Mlodinow et al. 191). It is also important to note that the duration of anesthesia is a factor to put into consideration. Thus, more time under anesthesia increases the risks of VTE. Another important point is that venous thromboembolism creates a financial burden not only to patients but also to the healthcare system and the plastic surgery centers (Mlodinow et al. 191). Therefore, cosmetic surgery is associated with side effects in that apart from detecting some defects and sense of dissatisfaction, patients are likely to develop VTE.
Cosmetic Surgery in teenager
Dr. Gabrielele Caswell asserts that surgeons should not perform cosmetic surgery on children unless for psychological reasons. At the age of 13 to 19, teenagers are influenced by the social and cultural environment to do things that are out of control (Kuldeep, 57). For example, they want to conform to the cultural norms of having a good physical look yet they ignore the associated adverse effects such as medical problems. They undergo surgical procedures such as breast reduction, otoplasty, among other procedures to improve satisfaction. However, teenagers do not realize the risks and they are not psychologically prepared for the procedures (Kuldeep, 57). Teenagers should understand that breast argumentation should be done due to congenital defects. For example, some patients have tuberous breast deformities that cause breast constriction, and other congenital abnormalities that may require surgical operation. However, teenagers who seek cosmetic surgery due to aesthetic reasons should not receive the procedure (Kuldeep, 58). Surgeons should ask for informed consent from parents, and they should provide training on the risks such as bleeding, wrinkling of the skin, implant leakage, breast sensation, among other risks.
Lack of enough knowledge
The fifth argument against cosmetic surgery is based on a lack of enough knowledge. Alharbi et al (227) find that medical practitioner lacks enough knowledge of plastic surgery. They perceive it as a medical specialty and thus they include burn surgery, craniofacial surgery, hand surgery, breast reconstruction, and others in reconstructive procedures. The truth is that healthcare providers do not have the knowledge of plastic surgery but they perform plastic and reconstructive procedures. During a cross-sectional study to assess the perceptions of healthcare providers about the plastic surgery, the health care providers said that disorders such as burn deformities, breast reduction, electrical burns, Botox, abdominoplasty, among others require cosmetic surgery (Alharbi et al. 227). The conclusion was that healthcare providers do not have knowledge about the discipline yet they perform the procedure. This means that misconception and lack of knowledge may result in adverse effects on the patients.
BBE News opinion on cosmetic surgery
BBC News provides a point of view on cosmetic surgery and Tom Shakespeare states that in 2002 and 2003, 10, 7000 cosmetic surgery were performed by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons. After 10 years, the surgeons performed 50,000 cosmetic surgeries. According to the South Korean survey, women at the age of late 20s and early 20s go for cosmetic surgery to look young and beautiful (BBC, 1) Note that today cultural norms judge women on their appearance and therefore they struggle to conform to the cultural norms. However, Tom Shakespeare argues that people may look different from cultural expectations but the difference will not hinder society from seeing you attractive. What makes society accept you is not appearance but it is personality. For example, the disabled people who are happier with their flawed bodies or minor defects are attractive to non-disabled people. People who are dissatisfied with their body appearance prefer to go for a surgical fix. However, 10% of people who prefer surgical fix suffer from Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) or a condition where people feed dissatisfied because the surgery did not solve their problem (BBC, 1). Since cosmetic surgery brings both psychological and health issues, Tom Shakespeare gives an opinion that people should solve their body imperfection with psychological and cultural procedures but not surgical procedures. The society should create a culture that accepts all body types such as young and old, big and skinny, among others so that all people can have body satisfaction.
Conclusion
Cosmetic surgery is a surgical procedure aimed at improving physical appearance, well-being, beauty, among other benefits. However, patients and surgeons ignore the adverse effects associated with cosmetic surgery such as psychiatrist disorders, unrealistic expectations, risks of multiple cosmetic procedures, and other potential complications. Patients should understand that some health care providers who perform the procedures lack enough knowledge and they end up messing one's life. The field of cosmetic surgery also lacks outcome assessment, in other words, there is little attention to the outcome, and therefore the procedure rarely benefits the clients. In most cases, patients develop Body dysmorphic disorder, which increases addiction to plastic surgery. Therefore, before engaging in the procedure, surgeons should consider the patients' attitudes, expectations, and the history of a psychiatric condition, among other factors. To change the physical appearance, people should not struggle to conform to cultural norms. Rather, people should break the norms and develop unconditional love. Self-love and self-acceptance are the most important factors that can change one's life and help one develop a positive look.
Work cited
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