Crisp 1 Kaileigh Crisp Mrs. Branden English 112 15 February 2019 Plastic Surgery and its Consequences Plastic surgery is either reconstructing, altering, or repairing various parts of the human body to mold the receivers view of their physical self. Unlike surgeries similar to a gallbladder being removed, plastic or cosmetic surgery, depending on why and what a person may choose to change, is a type of surgery that involves changing the original way a person may look to a more desirable appearance. There can be many reasons as to why an increasing amount of people decide to make this choice, whether it be a negative outlook of their bodies, society, or were given the fate of a deformity/accident, several do not realize the stress and risk that they could be pushing their body to. Firstly, plastic surgery began in 1895 with the very first breast augmentation, which is where tissue from the recipients back was transferred to their breast, correcting asymmetry. By 1899, the first materials for breast implants were created, including vegetable oil. In 1910, the idea of skin grafting was created and also during that decade, with World War I looming over, Val-de-Grace Military Hospital commenced in plastic surgery training, as it gradually grew during this time. From 1924 to 1937, organizations were founded and suggestions to increase physical safety began to arise, including making car windshields shatter-proof. This became a common occurrence. In 1939, skin grafting finally hold, helping limbs stay intact and deformities
Crisp 2 at a low rate. World War II occurred and the demand for facial reconstruction increased. Quite rapidly, the world of plastic surgery began to change drastically, surgeries were no longer just breasts and facial reconstructions, but hand surgeries, transplants, and many cosmetic alterations surfaced, creating the present normality( History of Plastic Surgery ). Because of its rise in popularity, there is the question of whether plastic surgery is beneficial. Although plastic surgery has been around for over 100 years, there is very little research on the patients emotions after they decide to have the surgery. In the article, Does Cosmetic Surgery Improve Psychosocial Well-being?, David J Castle wrote, Most studies report that people are generally happy with the outcome of cosmetic procedures, but little rigorous evaluation has been done. Meaning although there have been a few studies, most are not serious or used for a greater purpose. Feelings of self worth and self love overall increased and anxiety and feelings of being unhealthy became less frequent. Unfortunately, these studies can be considered biased, as the patients chose to answer, meaning they had a strong opinion to show. The studies can and do have many positive outcomes, as similar to the lip augmentation pictured to the left, but others may not be lucky enough, or have
Crisp 3 enough money for the proper and trustable surgery with professionals, leading to surgery aftermaths termed botched. Botched surgeries occur when some may not be able to afford an expensive doctor, so they resort to the cheaper, less experienced alternative who is a physician that drifted to cosmetic surgeries even if they are not qualified for them. These unqualified impersonators are able to buy the tools and perform these surgeries in their own personal buildings or rooms. Some can easily lie to anyone, saying they are a plastic surgeon, and by lowering the prices, anyone desperate enough will scratch to pay. Myriam Yukie Gaona, a previous stripper, began administering surgery on the unsuspecting people, receiving her popularity from past patients. Slowly, the side effects of improper surgeries where she used motor oil in one woman (Tuckman). Especially in unsafe or less clean environments, there are very serious risks as well; infection, fluid collections, blood clots, and necrosis. Although surgeons do choose who is compatible with the surgery and who will pose risk, there are still doctors who are willing to proceed with these operations, typically being the cause of the botched surgeries, the results can be quite painful, a permanent ache to live with, but sometimes
Crisp 4 death can also transpire. For example, Tracey Jordan, a mother, decided to get a tummy tuck and liposuction to help alleviate the pain in her back, and was injected with bupivacaine rather than lidocaine, and was much more toxic. Although death rates and botched surgeries are not as common as is believed, even with the most simple and common surgeries, poor results can happen, disfigurement being a common attribute. The picture above shows the number of plastic surgeries that have gone wrong between 2008-2012. Although the number of botched surgeries has increased, so has the number of people wanting these surgeries and people who want to perform them for money. Many who do receive surgery and an unfortunate disfiguration occurs, it typically can come from the patient resorting to the cheapest option, pushed by social media and its influencers, people who are role models for the young (Kita). Yet, similar to drugs or any other illegal product, there are people willing to risk everything to have the money and to give people the looks.
Crisp 5 Works Cited History of Plastic Surgery. American Society of Plastic Surgeons, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, www.plasticsurgery.org/about-asps/history-of-plastic-surgery. Castle, David J, et al. Does Cosmetic Surgery Improve Psychosocial Wellbeing? The Medical Journal of Australia, 17 June 2002, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmc1851945/. Research Ties Plastic Surgery to Higher Self-Esteem, Better Mood. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), 14 Mar. 2013, www.surgery.org/consumers/plastic-surgery-news-briefs/research-ties-plastic-surgery-hig her-self-esteem-mood-1049817. Killino, Jeffrey. Medication Error Leads to Death After Cosmetic Surgery; Philadelphia Lawsuit Exemplifies National Trends. The Killino Firm, 20 Feb. 2008, qkwjdewijidnweinfiurufu www.killinofirm.com/news/medical-error-death. Kita, Natalie. Bad Plastic Surgery Complications and Realities. Verywell Health, Verywellhealth, 16 Feb. 2018, www.verywellhealth.com/bad-plastic-surgery-2710053. Tuckman, Jo. Fake Plastic Surgeon Wreaks Havoc in Mexico. The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 9 Dec. 2002, amp.theguardian.com/world/2002/dec/09/gender.mexico.