Risks and Concerns Surrounding the Plastic Surgery Procedures

Plastic surgery has been well known since the early 1800s, it is a span of procedures that restores or reshapes the form of a client’s body. When people hear the word “plastic surgery” they automatically think it is only associated with beautification procedures, but it deals with much more than practical operations as in burn treatments, craniofacial surgery, and reconstructive surgery, etc. For many years, surgeons have done plenty of procedures done to patients faces and bodies to improve their looks or just to feel more confident in their own skin but realize the benefits or risks to their makeovers.

As Natalie Kita (2018) explains in her article The Risks & Rewards of Plastic Surgery, that plastic surgery comes with several psychological and social risks which you may have to be fully aware of. Before being able to get a procedure done you first have to have a consultation with your surgeon, to be aware if you are acceptable to get a procedure done and ask questions of what you want to change. Furthermore, Kita substantiates “the potential and adverse psychological and social effects of plastic surgery have a lot to do with a patient’s pre-operative expectations, and their pre-operative mental and emotional state” (Kita, 2018).

Many patients make mistakes thinking surgery will change their appearance or they get let down thinking they will be transformed into a barbie doll overnight by even a good out-come but it is not what they imagined. In addition, those with a history of cardiovascular disease, lung disease, diabetes or obesity have a higher risk of developing complications such as pneumonia, stroke, heart attack or blood clots in the legs or lungs. Smoking also increases risks and interferes with healing (Mayo Clinic, 2017). Patients must always inform and discuss with their surgeon if they have health issues or a health history background to make sure everything is great if the patients do not inform the surgeon they can face severe risks, for example as in death.

Surgeons sometimes get patients that have BDD (body dysmorphic disorder) which is a psychological disorder in which causes the person to have a slight defect in appearance. Most of these individuals believe they have some sort of deformity that can be resolved by plastic surgery treatments to fix these recognized defects. In Stephanie Dubick’s (2017) article When You Have Body Dysmorphia, Coping Through Plastic Surgery Can Be A Nightmare, the author explains that psychologists have found several effective treatments for BDD, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, medication therapy, and psychotherapy (2017). Dubick’s infers that “However, many of those who suffer from BDD don’t recognize is as a psychological disorder and seek to treat it as such-instead, some turn to cosmetic surgery to alleviate their symptoms” (Dubick, 2017).

People who have body dysmorphic disorder tend to find treatment through plastic surgery, but it does not end up treating the patient, it only makes them go back to wanting more due to their obsessive of finding flaws. According to an article about cosmetic treatments and body dysmorphic disorder by the authors, Kelly, Didie, and Hart, “In two studies, 71%-76% sought and 64%-66% received some type of medical treatment for BDD (e.g., surgical, dermatological, dental).” People with BDD (body dysmorphic disorder) should be getting treated first before undergoing any type of plastic surgery.

Plastic surgery is not usually taken lightly for those in the process of decision making, there are concerns about the long or short term of the effects of the procedure. In Crystal Ayres (2015) article 7 Main Pros and Cons of Plastic Surgery, she explains the pros and cons about plastic surgery. Moreover, plastic surgery can do many wonders for people, for example, a pro for plastic surgery could help regain an individual’s self-esteem. Ayres explains in her article, “people born with birth defects like cleft palate…might find it hard to express what they want to say…this can affect them emotionally and can drive them to think less of themselves and have low self-esteem.

On the other hand, burn victims and women who have undergone mastectomy can also get affected with their conditions…with plastic surgery, these problems can be addressed and eventually patients will be able to regain their self-esteem” (2015). Individuals with birth defects lose their confidence and even affect them stepping out of their own home, “with plastic surgery, a person’s self-image can change for the better” (Ayres, 2015). In Novella magazine (2018, February 28) shares a pro that it can boost the individual’s social skills and the quality of their life. However, in this magazine by Novella says “People, who have always been conscious about their physical flaws and deformities have usually been too shy to communicate with other people as well, which is why their social skills weren’t developed as they should be. Plastic surgery can remove those flaws and therefore strengthen relationships with other people” (2018).

According to Melanie Powell article (2018) Pros and Cons of Cosmetic Surgery infers that plastic surgery can eliminate or reduce pain. She infers “girls with huge breasts encounter excruciating back pain a breast reduction may remove or decrease discomfort significantly. Sinus problems can be eliminated by getting a nose job and opening up the nasal passages, and the removal of breast tissue can reduce the possibility of cancer developing in both males and females” (2018). Thus, not everyone can afford plastic surgery due to the costs of the procedures and generally it is not covered by medical care or insurance.

Also, she claims that when there is a health condition regarding the operation, there might be some kind of insurance reimbursement available (Powell, 2018). A con is complications before a patient’s surgery or after due to the patient’s anxiety. Powell claims “Anxiety is an important disadvantage to plastic surgery, and healing times may be as long as six months in some instances. Some patients might be at risk for acute reactions to anaesthesia or might develop health problems like haemorrhaging because of the operation” (2018). There is both pros and cons about plastic surgery, it could whether benefit the person or not.

In conclusion, plastic surgery can be beneficial in many ways and change the patient’s life in a positive or negative way. Although, some people may claim that surgery is only for appearance, but benefits people that have high health risks. However, one thing can be agreed on it has its both effects, and it goes one way or another.