Plastic surgery involves reconstructing or altering a part/parts of the human body through surgical operation. It can be either reconstructive or cosmetic. The reconstructive surgery improves the body part functioning and cosmetic surgery refines the appearance. In present times, the plastic surgery industry is blooming at rampant owing to its widespread trend among celebrities and fashion models. Due to its accessibility and social acceptance, cosmetic surgery has changed the industry’s face. Since 2000, overall procedures have risen 115 percent, which shows its popularity among people. At the same time, plastic surgery doesn’t guarantee positive results and lead to the negative consequences involving total disruption of face or body.
Positive effects of plastic surgery:
The popularity of plastic surgery is rising due to the following reasons.
Cure Wounds
Reconstructive plastic surgery aids individuals in correcting the functional impairments caused by burns, traumatic injuries along with congenital and developmental abnormalities, infections, and diseases. It also includes breast reduction plasty, which is increasing in numbers in the United States. Plastic surgery benefits in the treatment of cancer. Altogether, it has widespread demand in the medical industry to give an individual a healthy life.
Boost economy
The number of cosmetic procedures has doubled in the United States since 2000, with a significant percentage of surgeries performed on patients 18 years of age or younger. Such increasing popularity boosted America’s economy to a major extent. In Europe, cosmetic surgery is a $2.2 billion business. Among developing nations, China and India have become Asia’s biggest cosmetic surgery market, with a monetary value of $1.2 billion.
Enhance international tourism
The rising medical tourists in developing countries contributed to the high growth of tourism industry. As expenses regarding surgeries are towering in the developed countries. Due to this, citizens of different nations prefer to undertake such procedures in developing countries which costs less than half the amount they pay in domestic countries. This has led to the rooting numbers of tourists and in turn, the popularity and growth of several developing nations.
Improve mental health
In this digital world, where not a single day skips hangouts or selfies, looks and appearance become important for the youngsters in particular. Refusal from peers group due to lack of fine appearance can affect one’s mental health. In circumstances such as these, cosmetic surgery comes into the picture as a friend. With the origin of new self, one feels confident and loses social anxiety. More friends and happy moments help people improve their mental being altogether. Among elderly people, it removes wrinkles, age spots, and sagging skin and they become more outgoing in their free old age.
Refine physical health
A number of plastic surgeries help in improving physical well-being. For example, rhinoplasty or nose reshaping surgery improves breathing along with aesthetics of the nose. Breast reduction surgery perks up body contour and relieves physical discomfort arising from neck and back pain. Children born with hand, toe, and lip deformities undergo pediatric plastic surgery, which enhances their physical health and normal appearance.
Negative effects of plastic surgery:
Plastic surgery immensely affects the quality of an individual’s life.
Psychological disorders
Majority of the body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) patients seek cosmetic surgery to mend their flawed appearance. BDD is a disorder in which a sufferer remains preoccupied with fixing parts of their body and face, which they perceive as defects. Researchers have linked such psychological disorders to plastic surgery. The easy accessibility of cosmetic surgery can affect BDD patients which can lead to suicides among them following dissatisfaction with performed surgery.
Huge financial costs
Plastic surgery isn’t cheap at all. Many procedures cost tens of thousands of dollars, which stairs up with the experience of doctor and intricacy of the procedure. In addition, weeks of healing and recovery along with leave from full-time jobs exaggerate financial losses.
Health issues
During the surgery, extreme blood loss can lead to an organ failure or death. Other operation table risks include implant rejection, blood clots, scarring, skin necrosis, nerve damage, and pigmentation. If the operation goes well, the patients suffer from prolonged pain from inflammation on the procedural area along with nausea, vomiting, and headaches. Any allergic reaction may extend the discomfort and the period of healing.
Emotional instability
The dissatisfaction and disappointment regarding the result of cosmetic surgery may damage an individual emotionally. Huge cost, time and pain spent on undesired results may leave a patient resentful toward his own image.
Studies show that surgical patients face positive psychological effects across all areas including life satisfaction, attractiveness, self-esteem, and well-being. Such findings might encourage an individual to undertake a surgery. But a person must understand the entire procedure and have realistic expectation along with finding a board-certified plastic surgeon. Here, the governments can play a role in approving those procedures which provide hundred percent desired results and carry regulations periodically.