Plastic surgery is a branch of surgery that specializes in repairing and reconstructing tissue and skin. The key aim of the branch is to ensure the restoration of the tissue to make the skin function properly. Therefore, improving the appearance of a patient’s body parts is a secondary aim, although also important. It must be mentioned that there is a difference between plastic and cosmetic surgery, with the latter performed solely with the purpose of changing appearance and achieving a look that a patient desired.
Plastic surgery is an effective method used for repairing damaged skin; despite the fact that it presents several risks from scarring to infection, it is a successful branch of surgery that is in high demand. Nevertheless, in the present context, cosmetic surgery will be put under scrutiny, as it lacks regulation from the legal perspective. Concerns about its regulation by law have been widely debated as cosmetic surgery is not essential in many cases and thus depends on the choice made by patients if compared to emergency surgeries that address adverse health risks. Thus, it is important to review the arguments in support and against cosmetic plastic surgery being regulated by law since the procedure involves many steps that other surgeries regulated by law imply.
The first argument in support of the regulation of cosmetic surgery stems from the lack of sufficient laws to protect the interests of patients. Plastic surgeons have been lobbying to rectify any regulations, which is explained by the existing conflict of interest – surgeons have something to gain from imposing their own laws on the industry. These laws have been predominantly concerned with limiting the practice of most professionals and creating only a small group of licensed surgeons who would be eligible to perform surgery on a patient.
This is similar to reducing the number of fishermen licensed to catch fish at a lake: the lower the number of them, the more fish those remaining would catch. Such a problem of conflict of interest is challenging because safe and positive outcomes for patients are at stake. People should have a wide choice when selecting a professional to do their surgery, and preventing skilled professionals from accessing the industry serves only the interests of those at the top.
The second argument in support of imposing regulations on the cosmetic surgery industry is associated with the lack of specific regulations and the existence of only guidelines (Gupta, 2012). This means that there is no specific achievement level that needs to be met for performing cosmetic surgery other than the initial doctor degree. However, for becoming a plastic surgeon, a doctor has to undergo years of training and education to be prepared to administer complex procedures to patients. In addition, there should be a set of distinct benchmarks that allow an individual to use the Cosmetic Surgeon title on social media, PR, and government lobbying (Siddique, 2016).
With no benchmarks established and no regulations regarding this issue present, a cosmetic surgeon can be a plastic surgeon in the US, be a young doctor who has just graduated university with no prior experience, or a person who has completed a simple training program. Thus, there is a need to ensure that the public can make a choice when selecting a cosmetic surgeon that would provide top-quality services.
References
Gupta, S. (2012). Ethical and legal issues in aesthetic surgery. Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery, 45, 547-549.
Siddique, H. (2016). Cosmetic treatment industry given strict rules to protect vulnerable. The Guardian. Web.