PLASTIC SURGERY SHOULD NOT BE BANNED

PLASTIC SURGERY SHOULD NOT BE BANNED

                [1]Plastic surgery is a medical specialty concerned with the correction or restoration of form and function of a body part. There are a lot of arguments concerning plastic surgery. Some people even argued that it should be banned. However, the fact that plastic surgery is still legally practiced globally points out that the advantages significantly outweigh the disadvantages. Plastic surgery should not be banned due to the following reasons. Firstly, plastic surgery is needed for medical purposes. Secondly, every human has the rights to choose what they want to do, as long as it is not against the law. Thirdly,  plastic surgery often leads to success.

                There is often a misconception that plastic surgeries are only used for vanity reasons. However, that is not the case; plastic surgeries are also often performed for medical purposes. [2]Reconstructive plastic surgery refers to plastic surgery undertaken to reconstruct a defective/deformed body part by the transfer of tissues to restore it into its original function or appearance. This type of plastic surgery has been proven to be very beneficial to victims following serious accidents or burns. For example, a serious car accident may leave its victims with disfigured faces and broken noses. These unfortunate tragedies will undeniably affect their lifestyle permanently, such as not being able to breathe properly through their nostrils. However, reconstructive plastic surgery may help ‘fix’ these defects and restore their lifestyles back to normal. If plastic surgeries were banned, what would happen to these victims, leave them and tell them to accept their fate? Certainly not.

                I believe every human has the rights to choose how they will look like. Actually, we are already free in choosing how we want to look like. In the world we live today, we are constantly judged by our physical appearance. These circumstances have led to people dyeing their hair, getting tattoos, wearing colored contact lenses and finally undergoing plastic surgery to change their physical appearances and boost their self-confidence. Now here comes the question: where is the line drawn between the methods above to change our physical appearances? Why is it ‘okay’ for us to get change our physical appearances by getting tattoos and dyeing our hair but it is ‘against the law of nature’ to undergo plastic surgery? Just because dyeing your hair costs less and plastic surgery involves a plastic surgeon doesn’t mean that plastic surgery is unethical and inhumane. Therefore, there is nothing wrong with people who choose to undergo plastic surgery to change their physical appearances.

                Plastic surgery often leads to one’s success.  [3]A good example would be the South Korean booming k-pop celebrities who are known for their flawless faces and bodies. The recent success they achieved was due to plastic surgeries they undertook to change into a completely different person with increased self-confidence and self-esteem in performing. In the world we live today, success is often determined by our looks. If that is the case and plastic surgery is a shortcut to success, who wouldn’t take the 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 plastic surgeries may cause deaths. Some people say that having a plastic surgery is not worth the risk and will certainly not do you any good. However, if you think about it, no surgeries are risk-free, without exception. Even the safest dental surgery poses risk that may lead to infection, complications in anesthesia and bleeding. Furthermore,[5] the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) has published a study showing that serious complications in plastic surgeries only occurs 1 in 298 cases or 0.34% and death only occurring 1 in 51,459 cases or 0.0019%. Therefore, plastic surgeries are safer than people perceive. At the same time, plastic surgery is becoming safer and safer, with the forever advancement in technology used for surgery and implants; causing the risks within plastic surgery to keep decreasing.

                Nobody is forcing anybody to undergo plastic surgery; it is their choice alone to take. Therefore, we must respect each and every person’s own opinion and choices because what we experience might be very different from what they experience throughout their lives. They may feel neglected and left out due to their awkward physical appearance and decided to undergo plastic surgery. Who are we to decide what others must do?

                In conclusion, I strongly believe that plastic 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.

References:

Coila, B. N.p., n. d. 2 May 2013. <http://idebate.org/debatabase/debates/health/house-would-ban-cosmetic-surgery>.

. N.p.. Web. 2 May 2013. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/88720.php>.

Dawein sv. Lingam, . N.p.. Web. 2 May 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_surgery>.

http://virginiabeach.legalexaminer.com/head-and-brain-injuries/reconstructive-plastic-surgery-for-facial-scarring-from-accidents.aspx?googleid=279704

http://www.dailylife.com.au/news-and-views/dl-opinion/kpop-perfection-spurs-plastic-surgery-boom-20130318-2gak8.html

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[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_surgery

[2] http://virginiabeach.legalexaminer.com/head-and-brain-injuries/reconstructive-plastic-surgery-for-facial-scarring-from-accidents.aspx?googleid=279704

[3] http://www.dailylife.com.au/news-and-views/dl-opinion/kpop-perfection-spurs-plastic-surgery-boom-20130318-2gak8.html

[4]http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/88720.php

[5] http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/88720.php