Plastic surgery—it’s like coffee. One day, experts agree it’s good for you. The next, studies find it’s the root of all evil. How do you decide if plastic surgery is right for you?
A Good Morning America article by Bianna Golodryga reveals a startling fact: many teenage girls are getting Botox injections. It possibly makes more sense that they’d be undergoing breast augmentation or rhinoplasty—but Botox? Botox is generally reserved for those who find lines and wrinkles on their face as a result of aging. Teenage girls don’t need to worry about this, do they?
Psychology and Plastic Surgery
The psychology of body image and health seems to be pulling us every which way. Fashion magazines and Hollywood films tell us to be thin, be perfect. Yet, many modes of popular media tell us to celebrate our bodies and faces just as they are. Doctors and fitness experts tell us 30 pounds extra is not beautifully curvaceous, it’s obesity.
We learn that looks don’t matter—that psychological health is signified by our abilities to feel comfortable in our own bodies. Then, we learn psychologists agree that a little plastic surgery is healthy—if it helps boost self-esteem, it’s perfectly fine.
Where do we draw the line between what’s healthy and what’s not when it comes to plastic surgery?
In her article, Bianna Golodryga pointed out that some doctors turn away these teenaged Botox seekers. For one, nobody knows what the health impact of Botox would be, if started so young (that could accumulate to 60, even 70 years of Botox injections), and second, teenaged skin doesn’t need it. This turns a generally harmless procedure into a proponent of obsessive behavior (of course, there are exceptions).
As a case study, let’s drag Heidi Montag from the shadows of post-reality non-fame. It’s said that in one session, Montag underwent ten different cosmetic procedures. It seemed apparent that she wasn’t getting a self-esteem boost, but that she was psychologically ill. There might not be a lot of difference between her and a fresh-faced 15 year old wishing for Botox injections.
Perhaps part of a plastic surgery consultation should be performed by a psychologist. Without being able to rule-out plastic surgery, a psychologist could still provide proper council about what state of mind the patient is in, and advise them as to whether or not the procedure would be healthy for self-image or fuel to an unhealthy flame.
Bianna Golodryga’s article shows both ends of this debate, but leaves us wondering: if plastic surgery really does help us increase self-worth, how much of our self-worth should come from how we feel about ourselves physically?
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