Justifying Plastic Surgery
Plastic surgery has long been thought to be a luxury for people with means. Nose jobs, tummy tucks, face lifts, and breast augmentations have long been viewed as the fodder of Beverly Hills elite and the general fare for most plastic surgeons. But, should all plastic surgery be pigeon-holed as nothing more than extreme vanity?
In most cases, the overwhelming answer to this question is no. Plastic surgeons play a vital and critical role in legitimate medicine. Without the services that these surgeons provide, many children with cleft palates would not survive; victims of terrible and unfortunate accidents may suffer long term disabilities and preventable deformities.
While it is true that many of the services provided by a plastic surgeon are considered elective procedures, in reality, many cases are not. Rhinoplasty is generally viewed by most as a simple vanity procedure, but to a patient with severe sleep apnea due to a deviated septum, the corrective procedure can add years and quality to the patient’s life. A facelift at first may not appear to be a necessary procedure, but to a burn victim who only has 20% vision because the skin is covering a large portion of the field of vision, a corrective facelift can mean better vision and a better chance of resuming a normal life.
Children who suffer from many different types of birth defects benefit from the specialized skills of a plastic surgeon. Cleft palates and many other birth defects are corrected in such a manner that, except for a small scar, they look and function just like any other child.
Adults also benefit from such procedures, boosting both self esteem and societal productivity. Men and women alike perform better in both their personal and professional lives when they foster a healthy self esteem.
In some extreme cases, plastic surgery can actually be considered an alternate psychological therapy. There have been cases where plastic surgery has actually helped patients overcome severe and disabling anxiety stemming from a deep rooted embarrassment of specific physical features.
No matter the reason, plastic surgery has a legitimate place in modern medicine. The highly specialized skills that a practiced plastic surgeon brings to the table are unparalleled by any other surgical specialty. The impact that a plastic surgeon can have on a patient’s quality of life is often overlooked by the general public, who tend to categorize all plastic surgery as vanity surgery.
