Plastic surgery, also know as cosmetic surgery, has been growing in popularity over the last few decades.
As surgeons make advancements in the field, plastic surgery has become easier to perform, less invasive, and increasingly consistent in terms of results.
These advances, along with a shift in societal values and perceptions has led to a rapidly increasing demand for these procedures.
People have plastic surgery performed for a variety of reasons, a few of which will be covered in the following article.
1.
To improve self-confidence and alter one's perception of self.
The defects people perceive about themselves are the primary reasons for cosmetic surgery.
These defects can vary from very noticeable characteristics such as dangerously unhealthy obesity, to minor defects such as slight imperfections in facial features or other body parts.
The consistency between these cases is the perceived defect and how it affects the individual, not how extreme or noticeable the defect is to others.
Most people can improve their self-confidence and overall quality of life by addressing these issues.
2.
To correct a scar or defect resulting from an accident or illness.
While many people have plastic surgery performed because of the features they were naturally born with, other individuals experience unhappiness with their appearance as a result of an accident or illness.
Car accidents can cause scars and injuries that leave a person with a permanent physical defect that adversely affects their ability to recover from the accident, and can have devastating long-term affects if the person is unable to cope with their altered appearance.
Breast cancer is a common illness that can lead to a woman having her breast, or part of her breast removed.
In this situation surgeons can perform breast reconstruction to try and repair the breast to a more natural form.
This is a situation in which the physical defect can prevent a full recovery, and keep an individual from resuming their previous life.
3.
Perceived pressure from peers or society to possess atypical beauty or an attractive appearance.
This is extremely common in teenage girls who have plastic surgery performed.
The number of teenagers having cosmetic surgery performed is steadily increasing.
This is attributed to an unrealistic belief common in teenage girls that their appearance must match those of models and celebrities who are presented to the public through various media channels.
Many teenage girls see their appearance as being paramount to having a successful life and long-term happiness.
Unfortunately, performing some of these procedures on a developing teenager can have long-term consequences that could be avoided by postponing the decision until mental and emotional maturity has been reached.
4.
Body dysmorphic disorder or other mental illness.
Body dysmorphic disorder is a metal illness in which a patient experiences an unnatural and sometime overwhelming preoccupation with a physical defect, or a perceived physical defect.
This disorder is common among individuals who have a large number of surgeries to correct their physical appearance.
There is a responsibility that lies with surgeons to recommend these individuals to psychiatric evaluation, however this is often an extremely difficult disorder to treat and can require sustained therapy over time.