Lo 1

Danielle Lo

Mr. Ruiz

Honors English 10 - Block 3A

15 February 2017

Miss Society: Plastic Surgery’s Impact on Beauty

No matter where, there is always some sort of idolization of beauty. Despite the recent

emphasis on inner beauty, specifically desirable personality traits, external appearances have

always held a spot in society. People oftentimes worry about external appearances more than

they would like to admit, due to the pressures placed on them. To satisfy high standards, many

undergo various procedures, some apply beauty products, while others use plastic surgery to

correct the appearances of certain features, especially those of the face. And so while cosmetic,

plastic surgery has had both benefits to the individual, it also creates lasting detriments to

society.

Plastic surgery, despite only becoming popular in recent years, has had deep origins in

history. Forms of plastic surgery started when “physicians in ancient India [utilized] skin grafts

for reconstructive work as early as 800 B.C.” (Kita). With positive results, techniques from India

spread to eastern Europe and spurred multiple works works and “numerous passages dedicated to

reconstructive techniques to repair facial defects” (Kita). However, “during the 17th century,

plastic surgery was again on the decline” (Kita). And the most important and significant

improvements in plastic surgery techniques didn’t come until the world wars: “Pioneering skin

grafting techniques such as the ‘tubed pedicled graft’, were developed during World War I and

refined by leading plastic surgeons Archibald McIndoe and Harold Gilles who used the
 Lo 2

techniques to treat severe facial burns” (“History of Plastic Surgery”). The next heavy

development was in the 1960s and 1970s: the discovery of silicone. In 1962, Dr. Thomas Cronin

developed a silicone breast implant, proving silicone to be a substance useful for implantations,

which “​[was] developed for use in just about every imaginable part of the face and body” (Kita).

Many of the procedures have remained unchanged in recent times.

As people idolize beauty ideals, a demoralizing belief of their own body settles in. An

example of this is an unnatural slimness, resulting in insecurities with “at least 80% [of women

over 18] are unhappy with what they see” (“Mirror, mirror”). Even at the age of 6, children,

especially girls, already have a poor body image of themselves, evidenced by several studies

(“Mirror, mirror”). And soon, this becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, where more attractive

people become more prized in society. Studies show that there are correlations in people that

align with the standards of beauty, considered attractive, and the advantages they hold over

others (Diller). With constant and frequent exposure to pressures to become more attractive at

young ages, children are susceptible to insecurity, negative outlooks on themselves, along with

an accompanying plethora of emotions, such as constant fear, anger, and anxiety.

Each year, plastic surgery grows increasingly popular, as the demands to meet standards

of beauty grow stricter and harder. In fact, over 13 million procedures of plastic surgery were

conducted in 2014 for cosmetic reasons (“14.6 Million…”). But reconstructive surgery has

origins from 800 BCE, yet it has only started spiking in the past 10 years. Beauty standards have

“become progressively more unrealistic during the 20th century…25 years ago, top models and

beauty queens weighed only 8% less than the average woman, now they weigh 23% less. The

current media ideal for women is achievable by less than 5% of the female population – and
 Lo 3

that's just in terms of weight and size. If you want the ideal shape, face etc., it's probably more

like 1%.” (“Mirror, mirror”). With a increasingly superficial and unattainable body image,

people turn to procedures like plastic surgery to help remedy the gap.

With TV shows, entertainment, magazines, and advertisements consistently surrounding

us and enforcing ideals of beauty, more often than not, beauty becomes a fundamental part of

society. Plastic surgery is beneficial for the individual, as it aids them in reaching the high

standards that society places, with its high emphasis on beauty and youth. It allows people to

pursue modifications that make one feel happier and perhaps, cause the surrounding people to

have a more positive perception of that person. By essentially becoming more beautiful, people

gain the benefits that come with being more beautiful. For example, a “bias for beauty” is shown

in that people often react more favorably with attractive people; for example, “taller men earned

around $600 per inch more than shorter executives… attractive people are found guilty less

[often]…” (“Mirror, mirror”). Not only does this create a reason for people to pursue plastic

surgery, it also ends up as an effect of plastic surgery. Pressure from parents and peers strengthen

this belief with a stress on beauty, especially in girls, from a young age. Plastic surgery spurs an

increase in morale, and how people perceive their own body, thus increasing their quality of life.

With the amount of pressure that society’s standards of beauty impose on young girls and

women of all ages today, plastic surgery remains as a viable option to boost their confidence.

Many entertain the notion that since you can’t change society to fit you, than it must be you who

changes to fit society, and that a happier person is the capstone to a happier society

However, plastic surgery can be detrimental to the person simultaneously. By altering

your body’s appearance with forms such as plastic surgery, it changes your body’s appearance,
 Lo 4

but it is also changes mental state of the patients. Researchers find that patients are likely to be

dissatisfied with surgery, “[and] may request repeat procedures or experience depression and

adjustment problems, social isolation, family problems, self-destructive behaviors and anger”

(Dittmann). While research shows that the patient may believe that all of their faults have been

fixed, and that their body image and perception is increased, the same research also found that

several instances, poor outcomes resulted due to the patients’ overly high expectations (Diller).

Disappointed hopes creates demoralizing thoughts, including the perception that even a process

as drastic as plastic surgery could not solve their problems; hence, their issues increase, and

emotional problems of depression, anxiety, and anger grow even more severe. Additionally,

“...studies have shown that people report increased satisfaction with the body part they had

surgery on, but results are mixed on whether plastic surgery boosts their self-esteem, quality of

life, self-confidence and interpersonal relationships in the long term...” (Dittmann). And thus,

initial satisfaction may exist, but over a long-term, this boosted morale and self-esteem may

dwindle away, and the patients fall into a continual loop of decreased benefits and undergoing

more procedures (Stein).

Plastic surgery also creates a ripple effect throughout society. Susan Thorpe, a

psychology lecturer at the University of Surrey, emphasizes that “[people dissatisfied with their

body] want to look normal --that is, they don't want to stand out in an obvious way or to have

features which cause comment or make them feel self-conscious,” (Dittmann). People try to fit in

by using plastic surgery and assumably, more likeable. Contrary to expectation, many reject

these people who undergo plastic surgery, oftentimes for inauthenticity, vanity, and shallow,

especially for using superficial methods for external beauty. Yet, these are often the same people
 Lo 5

who tout a young appearance and admire entertainment figures with such features, upholding and

imposing the beauty standards on others (Diller). By rejecting plastic surgery, these people both

break down the exact things that allow plastic surgery to be beneficial to a person, and

simultaneously boosting the very things that cause people to seek plastic surgery. In addition,

patients that use plastic surgery to fit in, redefine averageness, thus also redefining beauty

standards, making them even harder to achieve. This becomes a perpetual cycle, as plastic

surgery becomes more and more commonplace: “One in five South Korean women has had

cosmetic surgery. In Venezuela, being an "operated woman" is so common, many of the

mannequins have D cups. Five years ago, Brazil made plastic surgery tax deductible; officials

argued that many procedures contribute to physical and mental health. And Iran, where women

cover their hair and bodies but not their noses, leads the world in rhinoplasty.” (Stein).

With the growing popularity of plastic surgery throughout, it is hard to determine whether

the immediate effects of plastic surgery lasting positive or negative forces. Although it may

temporarily improve the quality of life for one, it could worsen those of others, creating a

Catch-22, where people improve their beauty, only to find that it is enough, since their increase

in attractiveness has caused the standards for attractiveness to rise. Many say that it reflects on

the sad nature of the culture which enforces ideals of beauty and youth, while others simply

counter that because this is the nature of our society, that one should act as what makes them

happy. Nevertheless, this age-old fascination with beauty is not a futile cause, and plastic surgery

is not the only solution. Such high standards need not be, and change starts with one. Even a

spark can start a forest fire.

 Lo 6

Works Cited

"14.6 Million Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Procedures Performed in 2012." ​American Society of

Plastic Surgeons​. American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 19 Feb. 2013. Web. 25 Jan.

2017.

Bancks, Kate. "Who Defines What Is Beautiful?" The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com,

22 Jan. 2014. Web. 15 Feb. 2017.

Diller, Vivian, PHD. "A New Face: What Are the Psychological Risks?" ​The Huffington Post​.

TheHuffingtonPost.com, 17 Nov. 2011. Web. 25 Jan. 2017.

Dittmann, Melissa. "Plastic Surgery: Beauty or Beast?" American Psychological Association.

American Psychological Association, Sept. 2005. Web. 15 Feb. 2017.

Furnham, Adrian, PHD. "The Attractiveness of Personality Traits." Psychology Today.

HealthProfs, 2 Apr. 2015. Web. 14 Feb. 2017.

"History of Plastic Surgery." History of Plastic Surgery. Royal Free London NHS Foundation

Trust, 15 Aug. 2016. Web. 15 Feb. 2017.

Krita, Natalie. "History of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery." ​Verywell.​ VeryWell, 23 Oct.

2015. Web. 25 Jan. 2017.

Little, Anthony C., Benedict C. Jones, and Lisa M. DeBruine. "Facial Attractiveness:

Evolutionary Based Research." Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B:

Biological Sciences. The Royal Society, 12 June 2011. Web. 14 Feb. 2017.

"Mirror, Mirror: A Summary of Research Findings on Body Image." ​Mirror, Mirror.​ SIRC, n.d.

Web. 25 Jan. 2017.

 Lo 7

Stein, Joel. "Nip. Tuck. Or Else." Time. Time, 15 June 2015. Web. 15 Feb. 2017.

Tornambe, Robert, M.D. "What Is Beauty? A Plastic Surgeon's Perspective." The Huffington

Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 17 Nov. 2011. Web. 13 Feb. 2017.