The benefits and disadvantages that are associated with plastic surgery (cosmetic surgery) are one of the most debatable topics currently. Before going into plastic surgery, an individual should take time to critically analyze what is in it for them. They should evaluate themselves and have a plausible and sensible reason enough that should compel them to engage in cosmetic surgery. A good evaluation of the pros and cons of cosmetic surgery should be considered because after all, this is surgery and there are high possibilities of complications that arise later on after surgery. The essay that follows will give a detailed evaluation of the disadvantages that go hand in hand with cosmetic surgery. No one in this world is perfect, but since medicine has opened a door for this phase to be breached, people have grabbed at the chance of making themselves perfect as in the case of Xiaoqing. They cease to think about the aftermath of surgery. The essay that follows will give a detailed account of cosmetic surgery and the negatives that come with this surgery (Snyderman, par 4).
Cosmetic surgery entails the utilization of techniques that are intended to improve the appearance of an individual. This appearance is usually enhanced by using medical practices and skills. The procedure involves the maintenance of normal appearance, repairing the appearance to the way it used to be or should be, or altogether enhancing it to a level that is beyond the normal for the basic purpose of achieving an aesthetic ideal (Fraser 23).
In Xiaoqing’s case, she wants to undergo surgery because she has problems with her body image, which were both inflicted in her brain by her perception of herself and then later worsened by the fact that her partner preferred her to look something like Jessica Alba. Some people might hold the same opinion as that of Xiaoqing. They might say that after cosmetic surgery, an individual gains better esteem of himself or herself. Overall, they say that the body image together with body features is altered all together towards improvement. This might be true, however, studies that have been recently conducted reveal that although there are positive outcomes that come with plastic surgery, there are also negative implications that present themselves. More often than not, there is a correlation between plastic surgery and pitiable post-surgery results that have been recorded. These negative outcomes are majorly for those patients who had a personality disorder, others are those who decided to take the surgery because they visualized it as a way of saving their relationships with their spouses or friends. The other category is of those who had already had unrealistic objectives and goals that they had set ahead of themselves.
These kinds of individuals are usually dissatisfied with the result of the surgery and there has been a close connection between such patients and suicide. In such a situation, cosmetic surgery has done nothing to improve the self-esteem or body image of a person. In any case, cosmetic surgery will just worsen the situation. This is the kind of risk that Xiaoqing is exposing herself to not to mention the fact that she wants to please her boyfriend which is the main driving force behind which Xiaoqing wants to have the surgery (Santoni-Rugiu 103).
The argument that self-esteem is improved through cosmetic surgery might not be true for all. There are those individuals who suffer from a disorder known as body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). BDD is a kind of disorder where a person is severely preoccupied with an appearance of part of their body. At a high chance, this could be a disorder that Xiaoqing might be suffering from. She says she is psychologically ill and that cosmetic surgery would help her build a strong personality. From this kind of talk, it can be seen clearly that Xiaoqing is most probably not content with the way her body is and chances are she is suffering from BDD without her knowledge. This becomes a dangerous case because people who suffer from this disorder become obsessed with their bodies and in turn interfere with the approach towards life. Studies conducted show that most cosmetic patients have a case of BDD and in most cases, the surgery does not bring about improvement in this disorder (Greene, par 11).
Some argue that surgery should not be conducted to please or gratify the cravings of a sexual or romantic partner. This is a conclusion that has been reached even by professional psychologists. These psychologists advise and encourage the surgeons to identify the reasons that the patient proposes to have a surgery conducted so that they might determine whether the patient is suffering from BDD. In case a patient is suffering from BDD, the psychologists recommend that the patient should undergo psychological treatment rather than cosmetic surgery in which chances are that the patient would not have any change in the way they perceive themselves. Among the unrealistic reasons that psychologists hold for conducting cosmetic surgery are such as those induced by pressure coming from either a romantic partner or friend which are those that are causing Xiaoqing to opt for cosmetic surgery. Such a case should not even be considered because chances are the victim might undergo depression later on in life because the partner might opt for divorce because the physician does not change the emotional and inner makeup of an individual (Fraser 84)
Considering that Xiaoqing is at such a tender age of 21 is another caution that she should have in mind. At such an age, the romantic relationship that she thinks is the pillar of her romantic life is probably just a fling that will be short-lived. Therefore, she should think and critically look at the fact that she is still too young to be thinking about such a serious life-changing decision that is made to a commitment that may die away sooner rather than later. This is reinforced with the fact that the boyfriend has already dumped her meaning that she does not appreciate her personality but only wants to use her since he knows she has a weakness so that he may satisfy his fantasies for Jessica Alba through Xiaoqing (Snyderman, par 14)
It is also a compromising situation that she wants to change and specifically become entirely someone else. This is not her wish to become the living image of Jessica Alba but it is a fantasy imposed on her by her boyfriend. It is entirely one thing to want to modify yourself to look better from wanting to completely change your appearance to look like someone else. Considering that Xiaoqing is young and still growing, she is still developing, and given time she might turn out to be a beautiful person. It is partly ironic to think that no one is perfect but she wants to change imperfection into imperfection (Haiken 93)
Xiaoqing should consider her stand in wanting to have cosmetic surgery. This is because cosmetic surgery has its disadvantages such as the body might react to the anesthetics administered and other complications that arise from surgery because cosmetic surgery is just a surgery like any other and also the risks of infection. What makes the situation worse is the fact that she wants to take on the appearance of another person and even worse is the fact that she wants to change her appearance because of pressure from another person and not from her own self-made decision. Cosmetic surgery should therefore be a decision that Xiaoqing makes based on her wish for it (Gilman 53).
In conclusion, Xiaoqing should desist from taking cosmetic plastic surgery mainly because it is a decision that she made out of pressure that she received from a romantic partner which is the main reason why she wants to have the surgery. Wanting to please a romantic partner should be the last option that she has if she wants to undergo cosmetic surgery because the partner can always grow tired of her and what will she do with her appearance once the romantic partner leaves her. She should realize that other post-surgical complications might arise from surgery that might not be worth the experience of having to undergo through the knife. Having in mind that this will be a permanent alteration to herself. She should first consider what her long-term benefits will be instead of looking at the selfish wants of her already ex-partner.
Works Cited
Fraser, Suzanne. Cosmetic surgery, gender and culture, New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2003
Gilman, Sander. Creating Beauty to Cure the Soul: Race and Psychology in the Shaping of Aesthetic Surgery, California: Duke University Press, 2005.
Greene, Jim. “Advantages and Disadvantages of Plastic Surgery.” Advantages and Disadvantages of Plastic Surgery. 2008. Web.
Haiken, Elizabeth. Venus Envy: A History of Cosmetic Surgery, New York: JohnsHopkins University Press, 1997
Santoni-Rugiu, Paolo. A History of Plastic Surgery, New York: Springer, 2007.
Snyderman, Reuven. Prophylactic mastectomy: Pros and cons, 2006. Web.