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The distinction between cosmetic surgery and other types of surgery such as reconstructive surgery
is that cosmetic surgery involves techniques intended for the 'enhancement' of appearance.
Cosmetic surgery involves both surgical and medical techniques and it is specifically concerned with
maintaining normal appearance, restoring it, or enhancing it beyond the average level toward some
aesthetic ideal. Cosmetic procedures have grown in popularity dramatically, in 2006, nearly 11
million cosmetic procedures were performed in the United States alone. The number of cosmetic
procedures performed in the United States has increased over 50 percent since the start of the
century. Nearly 12 million cosmetic procedures were performed in 2007. In Europe, the second
largest market for cosmetic procedures, cosmetic surgery is a $2.2 billion business. Cosmetic
surgery is now very common in countries such as the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. In
Asia, cosmetic surgery has become an accepted practice; currently most widely prevalent and
normal in China where it is currently Asia's biggest cosmetic surgery market1. Proponents argue
that the risks inherent in surgery that is not medically necessary are too great and that women are
merely succumbing to the pressures of men. Opponents, in contrast, argue women have a right to
choose both how they look and what methods they choose to get to how they look. Teen may wish
to correct include a misshapen nose, protruding ears, overly large breasts, asymmetrical breasts,
or severe acne and scarring. Teens frequently gain self-esteem and confidence when their
physical problems are corrected. In fact, successful plastic surgery may reverse the social
withdrawal that so often accompanies teens who feel different. This debate will examine whether
cosmetic surgery should be banned.

Cosmetic Surgery is a method by which a specifically targeted feature can be altered or modified to improve
perceived physical beauty, or reconstruct the appearance of a damaged body part. These techniques can range
from reducing the signs of ageing, to completely rebuilding facial features in the event it has been damaged
beyond repair. What this debate is focused around though, is whether this form of surgery should be reserved to
medical reconstruction and repair only, rather than the alteration of perfectly healthy tissue for the benefits of
beauty or general appearance. On the one hand, it could be argued that in a world that revolves around celebrity
rolemodels; our human obsession to change ourselves to match those of socially acceptable figures is damaging
to our society, forcing us to undergo radical surgery to erase or modify traits that we are not pleased with.
However, on the other hand, if someone wishes to alter their physical appearance, should it be restricted by the
government? Should limits be imposed to prevent abuse or pressure to undergo such procedures?
When people undergo plastic surgery, its because of
low self esteem, which is a much deeper problem
than just not liking how you look. It's not someone's
features that are the problem; If someone gets
surgery to fix what they feel is "wrong" with them and
boost self esteem, even though after the surgery they
may look different, they are still the same person
they were before they had the surgery. This means,
the person should be getting psychiatric help from a
professional, not turning to a surgeon who only cares
if your insecurities fill his bank account. Someone
who has low self confidence and self esteem will
always find something wrong with themselves,
surgery or not. Cosmetic surgery is just a way to
cover up and mask real problems, and not go deep to
the root of someone's reasons for insecurity. Get real
help.
Death and Infection and Harms! Oh no!

Only when needed we must use it like in case of fatal

accidents or such cases like that what if people really
need it?? And it is banned??What if people really have
unpresentable scars which they really really need to
hide?? So that is why don't use it to look beautiful
/handsome use only when really need it
Its their right.Cosmetic surgery should not be

banned, it helps a lot of people. Yes there are risks,

but everything in life has risks. Maybe it should be a
little more regulated to weed out the humans who
would feel bad afterwards. You know the risks going
in, no one is forcing people to get it... But to feel a
home in their skin, some people need cosmetic
surgery.
Undergoing plastic surgery for some people is
acceptable,we have to rights to comment on it.Maybe
some people would say that our appearance is given

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Cosmetic surgery should be banned because it is an

unsafe way that people use to increase their selfesteem. There are many natural and safe ways that
people can go to to boost their confidence and not
feel the need for cosmetic surgery. Surgery doesn't
give you the self-esteem or help you mentally, but
self-esteem practices can, and they are safer.

by our parents and we should respect

that.However,in 20th century,people have the rights
to choose whatever they consider as necessary.We
simply
have no rights to judge other 's values as every
individual in this world is not the same.Therefore,we
can not force the other people to accept your values .

Plastic surgery hurts peoples feelings and it makes

people forget who they really are and can kill people
because if the stuff leaks in your body it can kill you.
Also people need to ban it because it will make most
people ugly instead of making them attractive! Help
us ban it now
Plastic Surgery does more harm than good. I
personally know someone who underwent a plastic
surgery, when she really didn't need it. She now
regrets the day she walked in into that hospital. She's
obsessed with the way she looks and sometimes she
wakes up, totally hating what she sees in the mirror.
It should be banned
am speaking from personal experience and how it
has ruined my life. I had no issues breathing and was
not bad to look at. And even though i wanted to have
a small change the surgeon decided on what was
best for me and ended up ruining my face, my smile
and my confidence. He didnt need to do the surgery
on me, he even said himself that i was an attractive
woman. I have been left with so many deformities
now that im embarassed to even see my friends and
go out in public. I live a life of isolation now. Unless
you have had a terrible accident and need a
reconstruction it is not worth putting yourself
through plastic surgery. Everyone is beautiful as they
are and surgery can lead to serious complications.
There is not one day that does by that i dont wish i
could go back to the day in the hospital and just walk
out.
Cosmic surgeries lead to disorders like BDD or body
dysmorphic disorder.
This is a chronic mental illness where an induvidual is
over concerned about thier images and constantly
obsesed about thier image.This could lead to excess
dieting and surgeries.And some times these surgeries
could turn fatal like the lady in japan who injected her
face with oil over her obsession over cosmic
surgeries!

No,it shouldnt be banned .Many people out there

might be lacking self esteem and confidence in front
of their peers and it's only right for us to allow them
to do as they wish with their lives .If u dont want to
do it DONT DO IT but let others feel better with
themselves

Very misleading and wouldn't really do anything

I think if a ban was put on cosmetic surgery many

surgeons would be left without a job. It is people's

Some people can be very self conscious and when

they compare themselves to other people it makes
them feel even worse and they feel they need to
meet society's expectations. Many people are bullied
and criticized because of their flaws .So what if they
want to change the way they look to make
themselves more appealing or the way they want. It
doesn't effect you if they get plastic surgery and it's a
free country so let them do what they want. It can
help people who are scrutinized by things they
otherwise could not change, for example if they get
Breast cancer and lose a Breast, they'd have to deal
with that for the rest of their lives
Judging, something everyone has done. People are
just fed up of being judged, of how they look and
other things like that, but these days it's mostly
physical judging. I have been judge by the way I look,
been laughed at, and I'm just 16 years old, imagine
the rest of the world being judged. No one wants
that, yes there are risks, but people are aware, lets
just stop the judging part and maybe everyone will be
happy.
People are always lacking self esteem! People aren't
stupid. They know what's right and wrong for them.
They understand the risks and if they chose to still do
it, nobody has the right to stop them. Also this will
raise self esteem and help them in life with jobs and
social events. I don't think plastic surely should be
banned.

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choice if they want to change how they look, yes it is

If you do get plastic surgery the "flaw" would still be
more extreme, but it is not different from tattoos and
in your genetics and if you get kids would you think
dying your hair to adjust the way people see you.
of them as being ugly because they don't look the
way you want them to. I think it should only be aloud
if it was for reconstructive surgery.
No, it helps people. No, cosmetic surgery should not
be banned, because in some cases it helps a lot of
people. People who are injured in car crashes, or who
Cosmetic surgery for unnecessary and trivial
are born with birth defects, can have a new chance at
purposes is unfair, unnatural, misleading, and
life because of the modern miracles of plastic
promotes a culture full of superficial cares and selfsurgery. That some people abuse it is not reason to
consciousness. Yes, it may make you feel better
about yourself, but if no one received plastic surgery hurt the people who need it.
in the first place, we would not have the huge
problem of people wanting to fix themselves to look
better, because we wouldn't all be striving for the
same look. You wouldn't feel ugly because you are
the only one with a big nose, you would feel normal
because women everywhere have noses of different
sizes and no one gets plastic surgery to fix it. Surgery
like this is unnatural and is almost like turning
ourselves into machines, changing our appearances
drastically at the flip of a coin. Whatever happened to
genes and traits passed down through generations
that help to define who we are? Whatever happened
to the natural order of things? Procedures like this
are feeding our feelings of insecurity and the
obsession with exterior looks.

Best to be safe. Although the drawbacks of cosmetic

surgery can be severe the benefits defiantly out way

them. Firstly because without the safe option for
cosmetic surgery many people would search for an
alternative - on that may be unsafe and possibly life
threatening the people who provide this would be
taking advantage of desperate people who are
seeking a quick fix. Not only can this but it be
extremely beneficial for people who have suffered
severe disfigurement causing then not only physical
damage but lifelong emotional damage too, cosmetic
surgery could be the answer to this. Furthermore
cosmetic surgery contributes to the economy
immensely, specifically 1.2 billion pounds a year plus
all the jobs that it creates banning cosmetic surgery
would put many people out of a job. It industry is
A Bad Life Lesson.Turning to plastic surgery when
thriving and in high demand, as long as procedures
they are unhappy about their looks would only teach
are safe and patents are satisfied there is no
them the short way that they can just cover it up. But
problem.
what would this teach you about life? For example
However, the vast majority of people who have
when you are ashamed about your poor family are
cosmetic surgery have one procedure and never
you going to just cover it up? Just like covering up
look back. They're made happier and more
withplastic surgery
secure in themselves because of it. In fact, the

same study by social worker Roberta Honigman

and psychiatrists Katherine Phillips, MD, and
People should learn to love themselves and not turn David Castle, MD, also suggested positive
to surgery as the answer, that's just covering up a
outcomes in some patients, including
deeper problem that, that person has :) Also what is improvements in body image and possibly a
perfection? Was is the goal that everyone is trying to boost in their quality of life as well1. Therefore, it
would be wrong to say that cosmetic surgery can
achieve? Really, perfection is just an illusion and i
be psychologically damaging as a rule. Many
don't think anybody truly knows what it is!
studies have shown that patients have higher
self-esteem after surgery. For example, in a
recent study by Sarwer found that a year after
The compulsion to change one's body is often a
receiving cosmetic surgery, 87 per cent of
symptom of a deeper mental instability. It should
patients reported satisfaction following their
be treated as a problem, not encouraged with
surgery, including improvements in their overall
surgery. Research indicating that breast
body image and the body feature altered. They
augmentation patients are four times more likely
also experienced less negative body image
to commit suicide compared to other plastic
emotions in social situations.

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surgery patients raises questions about the
mental health of women who choose implants1.
It's only a plaster patched over a much deeper
problem. There are also studies that show
negative psychological effects on patients after
their surgery has been completed. For example,
a recent analysis 37 studies on patients'
psychological and psychosocial functioning
before and after cosmetic surgery by social
worker Roberta Honigman and psychiatrists
Katherine Phillips, MD, and David Castle, MD,
found several predictors of poor outcomes,
especially for those who hold unrealistic
expectations or have a history of depression and
anxiety. The researchers found that patients who
are dissatisfied with surgery may request repeat
procedures or experience depression and
adjustment problems, social isolation, family
problems, self-destructive behaviours and anger
towards the surgeon and his or her staff.

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The risks of cosmetic surgery are negligible.In

actual fact, the American Society of Plastic
Surgery estimates that there is 1 death in 57,000
procedures, while a study in the medical journal
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery put the
mortality rate slightly higher, at about one in
51,459 operations.[1] To put this in perspective,
your chances of being injured in a motor vehicle
accident are about 1 in 1,000 in any given year
and there is about 1 maternal death for every
7692 live births.[2]Therefore cosmetic surgery is
a lot safer than people perceive. Furthermore,
cosmetic surgery is becoming safer and safer. It
is increasingly strictly policed and sky-high legal
pay-outs by bad surgeons have ensured that
practitioners take more and more care.
[3]Technology in surgery and in implants and so
forth is forever improving. For example, new noninvasive procedures are being developed such as
Liposonix and UltraShape Contour. These
procedures use focused ultrasound devices which
aim to achieve targeted reduction of fat tissue by
The dangers involved in elective surgery
focusing ultrasound energy that causes
are not worth the risk. Sometimes we must
permanent disruption of fat cells without damage
accept those dangers, as they come in the
to the epidermis, dermis or underlying tissues
course of necessary medical procedures. But with and organs.[4]Procedures such as this would
elective surgery procedures people dont need, decrease the risk of infection.
but rather merely want the risks cant be
justified. These risks apply both to the surgery
You can spend your money how you like. Why
itself, and to the long term. For example, leaking shouldn't people be allowed to make the
silicone breast implants have been a widespread personal choice to change their appearance with
problem and can lead to death. Silicone gel can
their own cash? Furthermore, the appearance
leak from the implant into healthy breast tissue
division the proposition seeks to suggest
and go other parts of your body, such as the
between rich and poor is much more dependent
lungs and lymph nodes, where it could be
on quality of diet. Diet is a universal factor that
impossible to remove. Studies published in 2001 affects complexion, height, etc.1, while cosmetic
by scientists at the National Cancer Institute
surgery is a relatively insignificant factor in
raised questions about the long-term safety of
statistical terms and one that only affects the
breast implants. One study found that women
particular thing on which surgery is conducted.
who had breast implants for at least eight years
were twice as likely to die from brain cancer,
The desire for cosmetic surgery is driven not by
three times as likely to die from lung cancer or
external pressure to seek the acceptance of men,
other respiratory diseases, and four times as
but the internal desire to look and feel better
likely to commit suicide, compared to other
about oneself. There are many who find that their
plastic surgery patients A second study found
appearance truly troubles them and that
that women with breast implants for at least
improving it would greatly enhance their quality
eight years were 21% more likely to be
of life. Operation Smile, which fixes oral and
diagnosed with cancer compared to other women facial deformities found in poor children across
the world, is doing "cosmetic surgery."[1] You can
their age.[1] There is also the risk that the
survive with a hare lip or a cleft palate. But your
person having the surgery will be dissatisfied
quality of life your self-esteem, employability,
with the results.
acceptance in a traditional society, etc is much
better without one. Following this principle,
Cosmetic surgery is unfair, for only breast reduction or augmentation or the removal
of acne scars can be just as important. For
those who can afford it have access example, Carole Wrigglesworth's breasts shrank
to it. Only those that can pay for it get it. The after breastfeeding baby girls and as her breasts
most popular surgeries include breast
shrank so did her self-confidence. As a result she

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augmentation, liposuction, nasal surgery, eyelid
surgery and abdominoplasty.[1] There surgeries
cost between 3,000 and 5000, between
2,500 and 6,000, between 3,500 and 4,000
and between 2,000 to 6,000 respectively.
[2] So if it has the advantages the opposition
claims, the rich will look good, and the poor will
not.

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opted to have a breast enlargement surgery and
reflecting on the experience, Carole has
absolutely no regrets I feel sexier, more
confident and extremely proud of my body.[2]
Thats nice. But given that the reality is that were judged
on our appearance all the time, its perfectly rational to
want to look good. Nobodys forcing anyone to have
cosmetic surgery the market is driven by demand.

We should not restrict freedom of choice. Certainly

theres an element of danger involved. But we let people
An outright ban would be easier
box. We let people bungee jump. They undertake these
than the partial bans that have
dangers for fun or for money. Why shouldnt we let
people undertake dangers in the pursuit of beauty, and
been enacted in some places. The
higher self esteem?\
state of Queensland in Australia has a ban on
Furthermore, cosmetic surgery is becoming safer and
teenagers having plastic surgery. This prevents
anyone under 18 having cosmetic surgery unless safer. It is increasingly strictly policed and sky-high legal
it is to correct deformities or disfiguring injuries, pay-outs by bad surgeons have ensured that
practitioners take more and more care. Technology in
as well as allowing for procedures to improve
surgery and in implants and so forth is forever
medical, psychological or social well-being. This
improving. The scare stories the proposition talk about
potentially leaves difficulty drawing the line for
are the worst examples of thirty years ago theyre
what is allowed1. A much more comprehensive
ban would avoid this. Cosmetic surgery is already nothing to do with cosmetic surgery today.
to some extent regulated. In the UK it is
This freedom issue is particularly important to women,
regulated by the GMC and practising surgeons
who have historically been subjugated by men, their
have to be enrolled on its specialist register. At
the same time all invasive cosmetic surgery and bodies regarded as owned and for the use of men.
Cosmetic surgery the ultimate control over ones body,
laser treatments are regulated. A healthcare
perhaps is the latest stage in the emancipation of
commission inspects all registered
women and their ability to decide what happens to their
establishments and can revoke licences. As such
bodies. Cosmetic surgery is empowering.
it would not be difficult to expand these
regulating bodies to be making sure that
If women or anyone else are secure enough not to
cosmetic surgery is only performed when as in
bother with cosmetic surgery, then fine. But there are
Queensland it is to correct deformities and
many who find that their appearance truly troubles them
disfiguring injuries.
and that improving it would greatly enhance their quality
of life. If they can afford it, let them.

The availability of cosmetic surgery People pay handsomely for cosmetic surgery. It costs
increases pressures on women that the state nothing, except in situations in which the
operation is necessary medically. Cosmetic surgery can
they must look beautiful. There is
considerable evidence that women's
attractiveness is judged more harshly than
men's. For example, in a study by Adams and
Huston, 1975, participants were asked to rate the
attractiveness of photographs of people of
varying ages. They found that although
attractiveness ratings of both men and women
declined with age, the rate of decline for women
was greater.[1] Researchers report that womens
magazines have ten and one-half times more ads
and articles promoting weight loss than mens
magazines do, and over three-quarters of the
covers of womens magazines include at least
one message about how to change a womans
bodily appearanceby diet, exercise or cosmetic
surgery.[2] These views about appearance are
damaging because it leads to seriously unhealthy

turn a profit for hospitals that is put towards more

general medical areas. And doctors receive training and
practice in difficult techniques which can then be used to
help patients in genuine need.
Cosmetic surgery happens because people want it
often, desperately. If banned, cosmetic surgery will
flourish on a black market. It will still happen, but it will
be very expensive (and therefore only available to the
very rich) and it will be much more dangerous as it will
be done by unscrupulous doctors and outside all the
safety precautions the legal environment provides.
This is patronising, insulting and wrong. The vast
majority of people who have cosmetic surgery have one
procedure and never look back. Theyre made happier
and more secure in themselves because of it. Its fine to
oppose cosmetic surgery, but dont falsely portray those

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lifestyles that women think they need to look
beautiful. For example, in 2003, Teen magazine
reported that 35 per cent of girls 6 to 12 years
old have been on at least one diet, and that 50 to
70 per cent of normal weight girls believe they
are overweight.[3] Cosmetic surgery sends the
message that the prejudices some have about
appearance are valid.

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that have it as being mentally unstable.

The development of cosmetic surgery over the years

has been intertwined with that of reconstructive and
more general medical surgery. Cosmetic surgery has
greatly aided reconstructive surgery. For example,
maxillofacial surgery, or surgery of the jaw, has
developed with insights from both plastic surgeons and
oral surgeons. Its impossible to say in some areas who
contributed the greatest advances, the cosmetic or the
mainstream. To shut down cosmetic surgery would be to
cut off a valuable outlet for research and discovery. The
With a provocative debate of this nature,
market can sometimes create great benefits: people
there will always be another side to the
work hard in pursuit of profits and often their work can
issue. I think that being able to outline
help us all. Plenty of people make a good living from
some basic arguments would be critical.
The issue cannot be resolved in the space normal medicine and they are not criticised, the same
here. The best outcome would be to offer should be true for privately provided medicine: theres
some basic arguments behind the banning nothing wrong with turning a profit.
of cosmetic surgery. Finally, it should be
How do you define cosmetic surgery? Much of the
noted that the cosmetic surgery being
cosmetic work done greatly improves not just
spoken of here is one driven out of the
appearance, but quality of life. Operation Smile, which
patient's desire for physical beauty. It is
fixes oral and facial deformities found in poor children
this drive for a particular aesthetic which
across the world, is doing cosmetic surgery. Sure you
motivates cosmetic surgery that is being
can survive with a hare lip or a cleft palate. But your
spoken of in this analysis. Cosmetic
quality of life your self esteem, employability,
surgery or reconstructive surgery for
acceptance in a traditional society, etc is much better
medical necessity, such as in cases where without one. Following this principle, breast reduction or
the patient has been burned or disfigured, augmentation or the removal of acne scars can be just
is not the primary basis of analysis
as important.
featured.
You can spend your money how you like. Why shouldnt
people be allowed to make the personal choice to
One of the most basic arguments is predicated
change their appearance with their own cash? Better
upon the health of the patient. Cosmetic surgeries
that than ask others to contribute through the state.
are becoming so widespread around the world that Furthermore, the appearance division the proposition
it is seen as a lucrative business opportunity. As
seeks to suggest between rich and poor is much more
often is the case, with the propensity for large profit dependent on quality of diet. Diet is a universal factor
comes a victimization of the consumer or patient. A that affects complexion, height, etc, while cosmetic
surgery is a relatively insignificant factor in statistical
good example of this Poly Implants Protheses
terms and one that only affects the particular thing on
scandal in which faulty breast implants impacted
which surgery is conducted.
women around the world: "The scandal is also
That might be true. Let people choose what happens to
global in scope. Sold in 65 countries, the implants
were re-branded by a Dutch company registered in their bodies for themselves. For every horror story, there
are hundreds of people who are happier with their
Cyprus, offered on credit in Venezuela and
appearance after surgery whether you prefer their new
smuggled into Bolivia, where they were bought by
appearance or not.
PLASTIC SURGERY SHOULD NOT BE BANNED
medical tourists." The fact that over 300,000
[1]Plastic surgery is a medical specialty
women around the world were endangered
concerned
with the correction or restoration of form
because of cosmetic surgery would be one reason
and
function
of a body part. There are a lot of
why it should be banned. Some of the side effects
arguments concerning plastic surgery. Some people
of this were "burning pain, loss of sensation,
even argued that it should be banned. However, the
hardening of breast tissue and serious infection." In fact that plastic surgery is still legally practiced globally
its elemental definition, cosmetic surgery is not
points out that the advantages significantly outweigh
conceived to save the life of a patient. In cases such the disadvantages. Plastic surgery should not be
banned due to the following reasons. Firstly, plastic
as the Poly Implants Protheses scandal, cosmetic
surgery should be banned because of its propensity surgery is needed for medical purposes. Secondly,

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to do more harm to the patient than good.

every human has the rights to choose what they want

to do, as long as it is not against the law. Thirdly,
Another reason why cosmetic surgery should be
plastic surgery often leads to success.
banned is because of its impact on young people.
There is often a misconception that plastic
Cosmetic surgery amongst young people is on the surgeries are only used for vanity reasons. However,
that is not the case; plastic surgeries are also often
rise. It is evident that young people are turning
towards cosmetic surgery for the same reasons that performed for medical purposes. [2]Reconstructive
plastic surgery refers to plastic surgery undertaken to
older people embrace it. The desire to artificially
reconstruct a defective/deformed body part by the
enhance or create external standards of beauty as
transfer of tissues to restore it into its original function
well as conform to a social expectation of what
or appearance. This type of plastic surgery has been
defines beauty are motivations behind cosmetic
proven to be very beneficial to victims following serious
surgery:
accidents or burns. For example, a serious car
accident may leave its victims with disfigured faces
"The percentage of teens
and broken noses. These unfortunate tragedies will
undeniably affect their lifestyle permanently, such as
having surgery is low; however,
not being able to breathe properly through their
I fear television showing
nostrils. However, reconstructive plastic surgery may
[young female celebrities] and
help fix these defects and restore their lifestyles back
to normal. If plastic surgeries were banned, what
their antics as well as others
would happen to these victims, leave them and tell
will have a tendency to
them to accept their fate? Certainly not.
increase the numbers," Atlanta
I believe every human has the rights to
plastic surgeon Dr. Brian
choose how they will look like. Actually, we are already
Maloney said. "As we have

free in choosing how we want to look like. In the world

we live today, we are constantly judged by our physical
seen a boom of cosmetic
appearance. These circumstances have led to people
procedures as a result of
dyeing their hair, getting tattoos, wearing colored
reality TV shows. It is
contact lenses and finally undergoing plastic surgery to
unfortunate that a parent
change their physical appearances and boost their
would consider letting a 16self-confidence. Now here comes the question: where
year-old daughter have a
is the line drawn between the methods above to
breast augmentation."
change our physical appearances? Why is it okay for
us to get change our physical appearances by getting
Dr. Maloney's argument suggests that the embrace
tattoos and dyeing our hair but it is against the law of
of external notions of beauty that drive older people
nature to undergo plastic surgery? Just because
to obtain cosmetic surgery is replicated in the
dyeing your hair costs less and plastic surgery involves
younger people's desire when they seek to do the
a plastic surgeon doesnt mean that plastic surgery is
same. Parents allowing a child to have a breast
unethical and inhumane. Therefore, there is nothing
augmentation is duplicating the same behavior in
older patients. This would serve as a reason to ban wrong with people who choose to undergo plastic
cosmetic surgery. Cosmetic surgery is reinforcing
surgery to change their physical appearances.
Plastic surgery often leads to ones success.
skewed values in a generation of patients: "If they
[3]A
good
example would be the South Korean
aren't old enough to sign their own surgical consent
booming
k-pop
celebrities who are known for their
for a medically necessary procedure, then they
flawless faces and bodies. The recent success they
shouldn't be able to induce their parents to do it for
achieved was due to plastic surgeries they undertook
cosmetic surgery which is a personal, subjective, to change into a completely different person with
value-based decision, not a decision of medical
increased self-confidence and self-esteem in
necessity." In the end, this becomes one of the
performing. In the world we live today, success is often
determined by our looks. If that is the case and plastic
critical reasons to ban cosmetic surgery. It is a
surgery is a shortcut to success, who wouldnt take the
procedure embraced for the wrong reasons, as

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opposed to "medical necessity." The protection of

young people has always been a reason why
external agencies have intervened. This could be a
reason why cosmetic surgery should be banned.

opportunity?
[4]The highly publicized death due to
complications in plastic surgery of mother of hip hop
star Kanye West, Donda West, have made people to
think twice before undergoing any plastic surgery. This
was a shock therapy to the world, underlining that
As previously mentioned, cosmetic surgery has
become a lucrative field. This might be a compelling plastic surgeries may cause deaths. Some people say
that having a plastic surgery is not worth the risk and
reason to ban the practice. Professionals are
will certainly not do you any good. However, if you
becoming concerned that it is so easily accessible
think about it, no surgeries are risk-free, without
and a field where patients enter with so little
exception. Even the safest dental surgery poses risk
reflection and information that more harm than
that may lead to infection, complications in anesthesia
good is becoming evident. Professionals around the and bleeding. Furthermore,[5] the American Society
of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) has published a study
medical field are calling for a greater regulation or
showing that serious complications in plastic surgeries
outright banning of the practice: "Over the last
decade the BAAPS has worked tirelessly to educate only occurs 1 in 298 cases or 0.34% and death only
occurring 1 in 51,459 cases or 0.0019%. Therefore,
the public on the many aggressive marketing
plastic surgeries are safer than people perceive. At the
gimmicks that not only trivialise surgery but
same time, plastic surgery is becoming safer and
endanger the patient." This reality where patients
safer, with the forever advancement in technology
are endangered, as well as lured with targeted
used for surgery and implants; causing the risks within
marketing campaigns that cloud the health risks to plastic surgery to keep decreasing.
cosmetic surgery demonstrate how the field is a
Nobody is forcing anybody to undergo plastic
dangerous one. The need to prevent cosmetic
surgery; it is their choice alone to take. Therefore, we
surgery patients from experiencing greater pain and must respect each and every persons own opinion
harm can be seen as another reason to ban
and choices because what we experience might be
cosmetic surgery.
very different from what they experience throughout
We live in a world that is image obsessed, and this kind their lives. They may feel neglected and left out due to
their awkward physical appearance and decided to
of procedure panders to that. We should promote the
idea that appearance is not as important as character.
undergo plastic surgery. Who are we to decide what
People should be content with themselves and not be
others must do?
so hung up on their looks.
In conclusion, I strongly believe that plastic
There are dangers involved in any kind of surgery.
Sometimes we must accept those dangers, as they
come in the course of necessary medical procedures.
But with elective surgery procedures people dont
need, but rather merely want the risks cant be
justified. These risks apply both to the surgery itself, and
to the long term. For example, leaking silicone breast
implants have been a widespread problem and can lead
to death. Once, paraffin was often injected into the face
to smooth wrinkles, with disastrous effects. Silicon often
finds its way into other parts of the body, such as the
lymph glands, and can prevent the early detection of
breast cancer as doctors often think real lumps are
silicon leakage. Who today knows the full future
implications of injecting the highly dangerous poison
Botox into ones face?

surgery should not be banned. Not only plastic surgery

are needed for medical purposes to treat the victims
with serious scars and cuts throughout their bodies, it
is also rational for people to choose how they look like,
given the circumstances that society judges first by the
outer appearance. Thirdly, success is often determined
by looks in this modern era, and therefore plastic
surgery is the only alternative.
cosmetic surgery should NOT be banned, because the
whole plot of it is to make something out of yourself.
Hey if you want to go drink go drink if you want to
smoke go smoke, there's different things that people do
to change there appearance whether its different hair

style, clothes, hair color, and face development. Society

To attempt to dress cosmetic surgery in the flag of
feminism is absurd. If anything, cosmetic surgery is the believes that the goal to getting anywhere will be with
latest phenomenon in the long history of the
objectification of women in society. Women are driven to looks and hey so what maybe they are right, but maybe

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meet male standards of beauty, exaggerating their
shape and seeking to remain youthful lest their partner
leave them for (often literally) a younger model. Today
many operations are arranged by male partners rather
than by the women themselves. Cosmetically-enhanced
celebrities are redefining definitions of attractiveness for
new generations, leading young girls who would have
been considered naturally beautiful in past decades to
see themselves as plain and to seek their own surgical
remedies.
The pressures of appearance apply particularly to
women. Pregnancy and ageing have predictable effects:
they should be accepted with grace, not fought against.
The messages sent when some women have
procedures are firstly that the prejudices some have
about appearance are valid, and secondly that those
women secure enough not to contemplate going under
the knife are letting themselves go.
Doctors should heal, not waste their talent on
appearance. Precious talent and resources are spent on
this frivolous activity. Surgeons should do medical
operations that are needed, not cosmetic procedures
that are desired.
The black market argument applies to everything illegal.
Of course that risk exists, but the number of those
undertaking the activity will be smaller, as you concede.
Lack of legal safeguards and medical accountability,
and the probability that only badly qualified doctors will
offer illegal operations will deter almost everyone from
risking black market surgery. Fewer operations must be
desirable if it is agreed that the activity concerned
should be banned. Black market activity will be
vigorously policed and after all, its usually pretty
obvious if someone has had surgery.
Cosmetic surgery is addictive: look at Michael Jackson,
or Lolo Ferrarri, who got breast implant after breast
implant despite the harm it did her body. The
compulsion to change ones body is often a symptom of
a deeper mental instability. It should be treated as a
problem, not indulged and encouraged with surgery. Its
only a plaster patched over a much deeper problem.
Pointing to accidental side-benefits of cosmetic surgery
will not cover up the fact that its intention is to make
money, not make people better. If a fraction of the efforts
pumped into it went into proper medicine, the medical
world would be much more advanced than it is today.
And the fact that the benefits arise from chance merely
serves to highlight the greed that constitutes the
essential nature of cosmetic surgery: those benefits

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they aren't. The thing is EVERYONE is entitled to their
own self adavntages and self harms. You, yourself know
the consequences are dangerous but like everyone is
stating technology has been highly advanced lately with
my/our generation.
People who say that cosmetic surgeries are really
dangerous and risky and may lead to death and
everything let them be known that cosmetic surgeries of
today have got a lot advanced.. There are very less
chances of death caused by cosmetic surgeries than
accidents and maternal deliveries!! You can't blame the
surgery for someone's death! Only this is not the kind of
medical treatments that causes death, what do you
have to say about people who die because of heart
surgeries and others, huh??! And as far as cosmetic
surgery "not afforded by everyone" is concerned then
every surgery is expensive, people cannot afford to live,
then why are people only criticizing cosmetic
surgeries?!?!
No. It may in some cases be silly and a reflection of
superficial values, but the bottom line is your body, your
business, do what you want with it. It isn't my place, or
anyone else's to tell you what you can and can not do. It
gets a little tricky when expecting insurance to pay for it
is the question, but no one should be told that they can
not have it done if s/he can figure out a way to pay for it.
THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH PLASTIC
SURGERY WHETHER ITS COSMETIC OR
RECONSTRUCTIVE! Most people don't approve of
plastic surgery because 'God' made us one way and we
should learn to love ourselves the way we are. Excuse
me if I'm wrong but isn't it the same thing when
someone dyes their hair, or wears coloured contact
lenses? They are doing it to change their appearance?!
And yet because it would only cost about 80euro to dye
your hair people don't look down upon it. If everyone
was really concerned about the fact that people
shouldn't change the way they look, then everyone
needs to stop dying their hair, getting spray tanned,
wearing coloured contact lenses etc. It's the individual's
choice about what they do and it shouldn't be anyone
elses problem. And others are saying well oh, we can
use the money spent on plastic surgery to help find a
cure for some disease. Well then DON'T GO OUT AND
SPEND ABOUT 150EURO GETTING HIGH LIGHTS
AND LOW LIGHTS AND WHAT HAVE YOU. If you
weren't blessed from 'God' to have platinum blonde hair
then that's too bad cause apparently we now live in a
world where murderers and rapists roam the street free
but when someone decide's to improve the way they
look by a small procedure which they do WITH THEIR
OWN MONEY( it's not as if they are going to rob 5
grand to pay for their surgery) people are outraged! And
now my rant is over, how refreshing!
I am against it if the proper regulations ( Federal law for
all state medical boards) are not put into place that will
ensure proper patient welfare and safety. During
subsequent pre-op visits to the plastic surgeons office

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ought to be all of medicines aim, not an accident
resulting from it. Certainly people make money and
careers in normal medicine, but they are giving
treatments that aim to make people well, not look
different.
Theres a fair debate to be had here about what we all
know we mean when we talk about cosmetic surgery.
Balloon-breasted Barbie-doll models and self-indulgent
collagen boosters are the issue, and trying to squirm out
of defending them by pointing to sad children is pretty
weak. Because the answer is obvious - hare lip
correction is legitimate surgery. Collagen injection to
hide aging is not.
If the opposition is right and plastic surgery is desirable,
then such surgery is unfair. Only those that can pay for it
get it. So if it has the advantages the opposition claims,
the rich will look good, and the poor will not.
In fact, often, people look appalling after plastic surgery.
Celebrities with trout pout overblown lips, or absurd,
balloon-like breasts, are only the most well known
examples.
There is a good case for banning it on non-medical,
essential grounds.
There is something to be said for putting up with the
way we are and this makes accepting people for what
they are much better.
Too many people are taking the chance of plastic
surgery to what they see as enhancing their looks and
figures when there was nothing wrong in the first place.
Cosmetic surgery has been known to disfigure people
and to cause a lot of harm and distress. Many young
men and women who undergo surgery may regret this is
later life.
Cosmetic surgery can become a real psychological
problem to people who don't know when to stop. It's
costly and the money could be spent on less selfish and
better causes.
This type of surgery for medical reasons is totally
different and should be allowed to those who truly need
it.

I think cosmetic surgery should be

banned. First of all, people have different
definitions of beauty. We have to accept
the fact that everyone is unique. True
beauty lies in your personality. If a boy or
a girl is considered ugly but has a good
personality, people will find him or her
attractive on the inside. That beauty is
everlasting. Good looks fade with age.

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and before an actual surgery date is agreed upon by the
prospective patient and the plastic surgeon, the
following information must be imparted by the plastic
surgeon to the prospective patient:
1 A verifiable verbal informed consent process by which
the attending cosmetic plastic surgeon explains in detail
his/her technique, where the incisions will be made,
research articles submited to the prospective patient
explaining the optimal and sub-optimal outcomes of the
procedure to be performed and alternative surgical
techniques where-by the outcome may be more optimal
whether or not the attending plastic surgeon performs
such techniques within his/her own practice. The entire
doctor patient pre-op appointment would be verified via
a real time video taping of the doctor/ patient verbal
informed consent process. In addition, the attending
plastic surgeon must ask the patient what his/her
aesthetic outcome expectations will be following the
surgical intervention. The surgeon must then explain
what he/she can reasonably accomplish in satisfying the
patients desired aesthetic outcome. This conversation
between the plastic surgeon and the prospective patient
must also be verified via a real time video taping of the
exchange.
2 After the entire verbal informed consent process,
imparted by the plastic surgeon to the prospective
patient has been accomplished, the verification video
must be sent to the state medical board for an official
revue.
3 Following the state medical boards review of the
verbal informed consent verification video for the proper
doctor patient disclosure of information regarding
expectation's resulting from the cosmetic surgery
intervention, the medical board will either approve or
deny the exchange as being sufficiant to proceed with
the surgical procedure.
The doctor/patient verifiable verbal informed consent
process explained above should be implemented ASAP.
Cosmetic plastic surgery is an elective procedure and
not a neccessary medical intervention. By taking the
neccessary precautions, at the end of the day, there use
will help to ensure the highest degree of patient care
and satisfaction. Relying solely on the current legal
informed consent forms that are signed by the
prospective cosmetic surgery patient after the final preop appointment, does not address the intimate details
and complexities involved in a cosmetic surgery
process.
Most patient complaints regarding cosmetic plastic
surgery involve poor communication with their plastic
surgeon and subsequently the sub-optimal aesthetic
outcomes that result from the procedure. Under the
current legal informed consent process there is no proof
regarding the verbal exchange that takes place at the
pre-op appointment(s) between the plastic surgeon and
the prospective patient. Because of this fact, poorly
informed patients who would have either opted for
another surgical technique or decided against a
cosmetic surgical operation altogether, have no leg to
stand on when filing a complaint with their state medical

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board. A federal law that requires the implimentation of a

verifiable verbal informed consent CD video with state
medical board oversite within the cosmetic plastic
surgery industry would help to ensure patient safety and
The cosmetic surgery trend misleads people into
welfare which in the end would lead to a higher
thinking that looks are most important. They might
percentage of satisfied patients and plastic surgeons as
copy their idols' looks so they can feel good about
well. Thousands of cosmetic plastic surgery patients are
themselves and be accepted by the public. This would harmed every year in America through no fault of there
own. If there was more oversite within a very underbe bad for society.
regulated cosmetic plastic surgery industry, fewer
Changing our looks is a type of cheating. Our looks are patients would have to suffer the way they have. ASPS
a present from our parents and we should respect that. read this!! ..

Character is far more important.

More importantly, cosmetic surgery involves risks.

Some doctors might not even have a licence. If the
effect is not what you expected, you wouldn't be able
to do anything about it. Once your face is changed, it's
changed.
There's also the problem of hygiene. If cosmetic
equipment is not sterilised properly, it could spread
disease.
I think cosmetic surgery should be banned as soon as
possible, before anyone gets hurt.
Matthew Murchie, 15, St Joseph's College
Cosmetic surgery has gained a bad name in recent
years, not only as something against nature but also
as a dangerous type of operation that can leave
patients with awful, plastic-looking faces.
Many patients undergo plastic surgery only because
they need it. For example, people who have facial
injuries or were born deformed may require surgery to
fit in with society.
Some may say we should allow only those who really
need it to have cosmetic surgery and ban it for those
who wish to use it to look good. But where do we draw
the line? Is it acceptable for someone to, say, correct a
harelip? Would we then allow someone to straighten a
crooked nose?
More importantly, we are already free to change our
appearance in whatever ways we like. We dye our hair,
grow beards, pierce our bodies and get tattoos. Just
because cosmetic surgery requires a surgeon and
pain-killing drugs doesn't mean there is anything wrong
about it.
Banning cosmetic surgery would have serious

The specialty Im wanting to go into is plastic surgery.

Many have a good debate as to the negative and I have
been open minded enough to look at both sides of the
argument. I still stand proudly I might add pro plastic
surgery. In a perfect world it would be great if we all
accepted ourselves and one another. This is not a
perfect world. I understand some may think all plastic
surgery clients are trying to achieve the superficial fake
look. Thats not in every case there are those who have
been severely burnt, assaulted, or deformed etc.
Some say these victims are more deserving of plastic
surgery. In my perspective this is highly hypocritical. If
were wanting us all to be equal why do we treat those
who have been burnt, assaulted, deformed etc as if they
need fixing. What makes them any less beautiful? And
those who apply God into the matter is this not part of
the life plan for them are they not trying to play God by
fixing something that has come upon them? Im not
putting the people who have gone through these
incidents down. Im simply trying to make you wrap your
mind around the entire matter at hand. If we all didnt
change anything about ourselves we wouldnt use
razors, makeup, clothing, body sprays and such to
improve ourselves. Now I do acknowledge shaving your
beard is at the lesser end opposed to a face lift on a
level of extremity. All in all though we do find ways to
improve ourselves and the real beauty is our choice of
what we want if we go around banning all opportunities
were missing out on educating ourselves whether the
result is bad or good I think a lesson is to always been
learned. Fact of the matter is that its already been
introduced to the world and if we whisk it away people
will still find ways, people even do that now by going to
black market surgeons. I respect the certified surgeons
who dedicate a good deal of their life to this and are
willing to trust themselves with someones life in their
hands. Im not promising all surgeries come out perfect
or that it will improve your life Im also not promising you
every board certified surgeon has your best interest
because we cant judge people in groups we have to
judge them individually but thats when were given a
chance to educate yourself and thats why you out
weigh the pros and cons of your choices and some
people make rash choices and some make smart
choices. And some surgeons take physiology classes or
have a councilor on staff or may even look at the
patients medical history to help them determine their

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consequences. Cosmetic surgery is performed by
qualified surgeons. Once it is banned, illegal providers
would arise for those who want it, and the operations
would be far more risky.

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choice as to whether or not based of their morals as a
surgeon they want to perform on the patient.

It doesn't matter whether those who choose cosmetic

surgery are making a good or bad choice. All that
matters is that it can help people improve how they
see themselves. After all, it is our own choice if we
want to change our appearance.

Cosmetic surgery (not reconstructive) is a

waste of medical resources and
deprofessonalizes medicine by diverting
medical assets doctors, nurses, medical
facilities etc. out of the healing arts and
into lifestyle-enhancing procedures. It can
also be unsafe. People have died having
breast implants and face lifts. (Can you
imagine losing ones life or health over
wrinkles or to have a more
pronounceddecolletage?) Indeed, France is
now embroiled in a major scandal involving
defective implants.

Everyone is amazing . However, this may not be what people think of themselves. In our highly advanced and
competitive society today, it is understandable to want to be better at things, but beauty can sometimes be the exception.
Many people are turning to cosmetic surgery, a highly risky surgical procedure that enables one to look flawless, beautiful
and of course, highly regarded in society. Statistics in South Korea have shown that 1 out of 5 people are going for cosmetic
surgery to change the way they look. However, have these people wondered what is the exact reason that is making them
turning to cosmetic surgery? Have they considered the consequences behind cosmetic surgery? Well, certainly they have
not. The pressure to meet societys expectations, the flawless appearances of the celebrities and the implications involved
in cosmetic surgery are reasons why we should ban it. Hence, I feel that cosmetic surgery should be banned.
Today, we live in a society that is obsessed with looks. Many women in society are becoming more concerned with their
appearances and are willing to undergo cosmetic surgery to change the way they look so that they can be prettier.
However, going for cosmetic surgery only masks the inner problem and it only gives temporary relief to the patients of
cosmetic surgery. Many people feel that they have to look good to ascend the social ladder or be accepted into society.
Furthermore, everyone has their own flaws. One should not change their appearance just for the sake of meeting the
expectations of society. The only ugly thing about us are our insecurities, is a very valid quote. Patients of cosmetic
surgery should learn to appreciate their looks and not to undergo cosmetic surgery to escape from harsh judgement. In

South Korea, a 13 year old teenager went for cosmetic surgery just because she admired the flawless faces of the
celebrities in the K-pop groups and yearned to be as beautiful as them. This instance shows that cosmetic surgery does not
affect only adults , but it also affects teenagers as young as the age of 13. People are undergoing cosmetic surgery to be
like their celebrity idols, but they do not consider the real reason why they are going for cosmetic surgery. Many people are
impulsive in deciding to undergo cosmetic surgery so that they can be accepted into the society. By transforming into an
ideal beauty, they earn the approval of others and receive positive attention. Hence, the society is a trap that encourages
people to undergo cosmetic surgery even though their appearances are perfectly fine. Hence, cosmetic surgery should be
banned and it is worthless to undergo cosmetic surgery simply to meet societys expectations of beauty.
Next, cosmetic surgery is a real surgery with many potential risks and implications connected to it. The risks are not
justified and in most cases, the nerves may be damaged or severed during the surgical procedure. If the facial nerves are
damaged, the patients will lose the ability to make facial expressions. In worst cases, the drooping of the eyes and mouth
will occur. Cosmetic surgery also results in hematoma, a disease that causes our skin to swell and be bruised. As a result,
cosmetic surgery may cause ones appearance to be worse that before, and people who are obsessed with looks will
repeatedly go for cosmetic surgery until they get the results that satisfy them. Then, why should one go for cosmetic
surgery when they are bringing greater harm to themselves? According to a 2001 medical science research, statistics have
shown that 7 out of 10 cosmetic surgeries are failures, making the patients appearance to be much worse than before.
Hence, this shows that cosmetic surgery should be banned as it brings greater harm to the patients instead and put their
lives at risk and danger.
Another reason why people are interested in cosmetic surgery is because certain features are trendy and they wish to feel
like they are keeping up with the trend. However, trends are always changing in society. What is trendy now may not be so
in the future. Some people in society feel that they have to obtain a high nose bridge in order to fit into the society.
However, we have to know that trends never stay long and are always changing. Does this mean that these people have to
go for repeated surgeries to keep up with the changing trends? In Australia, a 14 year old teenage boy is inspired to get
pointed ears to resemble the elf from his favourite film, The Lord Of The Rings. In South Korea, teenage girls are also
undergoing cosmetic surgery to get sharper chins so that they can look prettier in photos. Hence, this shows that trends
are changing so quickly and people who are obsessed with their looks will keep on undergoing cosmetic surgery to change
their appearances according to the trend. Hence, cosmetic surgery should be banned as it is a harmful influence on people
as they follow trends whenever it changes. People ask cosmetic surgeons to make them look like the latest famous star and
doing so ignores the nature of beauty and diversity of their culture.
Naysayers would argue that going for cosmetic surgery is ones freedom of choice and patients have the rights to decide
for themselves. However, when one thinks carefully, it is laughable to consider having long pointy nose as a freedom of
expression. When someone feels that undergoing cosmetic surgery is a freedom of expression, they are insecure about
their own appearances and are afraid to be criticized by a society that puts a premium on looking good. Many people can
also become addicted to cosmetic surgery because they think that they have to look a certain way to be accepted into the
society. Furthermore, cosmetic surgery is a trap that causes people to feel insecure regarding their looks and appearances,
resulting them to go for continual surgeries till the patients get the results that they desire. Instead of focusing on their
appearances, patients should focus on their jobs instead.
In conclusion, cosmetic surgery should be banned because patients should appreciate their looks, be happy with who they
are regardless of their appearances and be people who are concerned in other aspects of life such as family and work.