Plastic surgery is one of the most popular types of medical services in the modern world. However, it is a relatively new field that has seen a rapid development over the last few decades. This paper offers a discussion of the concept of plastic surgery, the reasons for patients to undergo it, and some of the historical figures associated with it.
Plastic surgery is defined as a type of surgical procedure that is oriented toward the improvement or restoration of the appearance of form of body parts. Plastic surgery can be used for versatile purposes and is multifunctional. Even though this kind of surgical procedure has been popular for many decades, the practice is still considered controversial.
Generally, there are two major categories of patients for plastic surgery. The first type of patient includes the individuals who are dissatisfied with certain body parts and desire to change how they look. These patients are willing to change their appearance due to their strong self-image and a wish to improve their bodies in order to become more satisfied with them (for example, breast augmentation or rhinoplasty). The second type of patients for plastic surgery includes the people whose appearance was deformed due to different circumstances (accidents, for example) or persons who have visible physical or cosmetic flaws on their bodies such as scars (Cosmetic surgery, 2009). Compared to the patients of the first type, these individuals are forced to undergo plastic surgery by diverse external factors that have impacted their bodies in a negative manner. At the same time, there are some groups of individuals who are known as inappropriate candidates to undergo plastic surgery. Their reasons for plastic surgery are questionable, and it could be very risky for both the patients and the professionals to proceed with the surgeries in these cases.
Such groups include people who are experiencing an ongoing emotional crisis that may significantly affect and compromise their decision making capability (for example, severely depressed patients who are convinced that plastic surgery would make them feel better) (Cosmetic surgery, 2009). These patients are advised to solve their emotional issues first and then re-think their decisions regarding plastic surgery. Moreover, another group of inappropriate candidates involves people whose reason to undergo surgery is based on a minor defect (for example, perfectionists who obsess over a feature that may not even be noticeable to anyone else) (Cosmetic surgery, 2009). Finally, one more type of undesirable plastic surgery candidates consists of individuals who are impossible to please or who pursue unrealistic goals such as having facial features similar to those of celebrities (Cosmetic surgery, 2009).
The world’s first plastic surgery was carried out in 1917. The patient was Walter Yeo, a sailor who had suffered from an extensive injury to the face during his service in the First World War (The Telegraph, 2008). As a result of the injury, Walter Yeo lost his lower and upper eyelids. The surgeon who worked on Yeo’s treatment was named Harold Gilles, currently recognised as the “father” of plastic surgery as a field (The Telegraph, 2008). Gilles used a skin graft taken from an uninjured part of the patient’s body that was then placed on the area around his eyes, similar to a mask, in order to re-create eyelids. The first plastic surgery was a breakthrough in medicine that was especially relevant in the years after the First World War that had left many men with severe injuries inflicted by explosives.
Over the decades following the case of Walter Yeo and the pioneering practices of Harold Gillies, the field of plastic surgery developed rapidly and now is mainly used for beauty-related purposes along with life-saving strategies. One of the most common images associated with modern plastic surgery is that of the so-called “real-life Barbie.” Her name is Valeriya Lukyanova, and she is a 30-year old model from Ukraine. Valeriya is known for her surgically re-shaped body for the purpose of making it resemble that of the world-renowned doll. The woman underwent a series of surgeries on many of her body parts in order to achieve doll-like proportions in her body and face. Namely, her measurements are 39-18-34 inches; her breasts and waist were surgically re-shaped, her eyes enlarged, and a couple of her ribs removed, and the shapes of her nose and lips were modified as well (Valeria Lukyanova Height Weight Body Statistics, 2016). Valeriya’s makeup routine is also thorough and takes as long as an hour and a half since her goal is to achieve a look similar to that of a Barbie doll (Bacardi, 2016).
According to Valeriya, her decision to change her body so much was based on her spiritual needs and development; basically, she adjusted the way she looks to who she feels she is on the inside (Bacardi, 2016). This change could scarcely be considered essential from a physical point of view. However, that of Walter Yeo was a physical necessity because his eyelids were destroyed due to his injuries.
In comparison, the sources of motivation each of these patients had for their surgeries differs significantly. Valeriya’s advantage is the fact that surgeries made her happier about her appearance and helped her career. Walter benefited in terms of health because the function of his eyes improved due to the procedure. The main disadvantage of the surgeries for Valeriya was their cost; whereas, for Walter, the surgery changed his face, making it less attractive.
References
Bacardi, F. (2016). Human Barbie Valeria Lukyanova answers plastic surgery questions and talks the misconceptions of her looks. Web.
Cosmetic surgery. (2009). Web.
The Telegraph. (2008). Pictures of first person to undergo plastic surgery release. Web.
Valeria Lukyanova Height Weight Body Statistics. (2016). Web.