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Elizabeth Hurtado Escobar
Professor Julia Intawiwat
ENG 1101
18 March 2013
The Importance of Cosmetic Plastic Surgery in Pop Culture: Pros and Cons.
According to the Aesthetic Society, the overall number of cosmetic surgery procedures
has increased 197 percent from 1997 to 2011 (Babbitt), and close to 9.1 million cosmetic
procedures, including nonsurgical procedures, were performed in United States in 2011. More
than 5.6 million women (85% of the total number of patients) had cosmetic surgery in 2002.
Between the ages of 19 and 34, 1.6 million people chose cosmetic plastic surgery (24%);
in this age group breast augmentation was the number one cosmetic procedure with 126,643
patients and microdermabrasion was the number one non-surgical cosmetic procedure with
253,016 patients. Meanwhile, between the ages of 35 and 50, 2.9 million people chose cosmetic
plastic surgery representing 45 % of the total number of patients; liposuction was the number one
cosmetic procedure with 141,186 patients and Botox injections topped the non-surgical
procedures with 610, 226 patients (ASAPS). The 51 to 64 age group had 1.4 million people,
representing 22 % of all cosmetic surgery patients; eyelid surgery was the number one procedure
with 104,859 patients and Botox injections again topped the non-surgical cosmetic procedures
with 272,592 patients (ASAPS). The 65 and over age category represents 6% of the overall
cosmetic plastic surgery with 396,993 people in 2002 (ASAPS); the eyelid was the number one
procedure with 37,790 people and chemical peel was the top non-surgical procedure with 76,163
patients. The last group of patients was made of kids 18 years old and under, representing 3% of
all cosmetic surgery patients in 2002 (ASAPS). The number of patients in this age group rose
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from under 60,000 in 1997 to 225,000 in 2003, according to statistics compiled by the American
Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. The number one cosmetic surgery procedure in this age
group was nose reshaping, and chemical peel was the top non-surgical procedure. One of the
causes of the increasing acceptation of plastic surgery is the lower risk of surgery complications
now compared to decades ago. Also, the importance of beauty in our society “places a high
premium on physical attractiveness and rewards those who are youthful and handsome”,
conclude study authors Mary H. McGrath, MD, MPH, and Sanjay Mukerji, MD, plastic and
reconstructive surgeons at the George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, in
a recent issue of the Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology (WebMD). However, very
few studies have been conducted to analyze the long-term risks of cosmetic plastic surgery on
adolescents, since teenagers are still developing mentally and physically.
More than a decade ago, plastic surgery was seen as a risky choice to achieve beauty, and
those who died when or after having cosmetic surgery were the example of the high cost of
beauty. Since 1997, in Florida 36 people have died after cosmetic surgery (Sherr). Disregarding
the warnings, our American celebrities more openly have chosen to have cosmetic surgery to
correct defects and some of them, for instance Madonna, look younger despite the passing of
years (See Figure 1 and 2). Furthermore, individuals are now more exposed to the possibility of
cosmetic surgery through their social networks. Magazines advertise the latest development in
surgical procedures, advertisements promise an instantaneously enhanced attractiveness through
cosmetic surgery, and television reality shows display the greatest physical makeovers
(Hendersonking 137). These factors along with the advances in surgical procedures, lower cost and
increased emphasis on physical appearance have contributed to the increase in popularity of
cosmetic surgery.
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To the extent individuals are exposed to messages about the importance of physical
appearance, they should be more concerned with their own appearance and, thus more open to
using the various means through which beauty standards can be achieved (Fredrickson &
Roberts, 1997). For instance, there is evidence suggesting that as the number of diet and exercise
advertisements in women’s magazines has increased, there has been an equivalent rise in eating
disorders (Wiseman, Gray, Mosimann, & Ahren, 1992). Morgan (1991) has discussed that the
pressure to strive for physical perfection is becoming so severe for women, particularly, that
sooner or later women who refuse to have cosmetic surgery will be seen as deviant.
Figure 1. Madonna before and after plastic surgery (Celebrity Plastic Surgery).
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Figure 2. Celebrities who had accepted that they have had plastic surgery (Celebrity Plastic
Surgery).
TV shows such as: “The Swan” on Fox channel,
“Extreme Makeover” on ABC,
“NIP/TUCK” on FX, “Dr. 90210” on E! and “I want a Famous Face” on MTV among others,
have introduced to the popular culture a friendly face for cosmetic plastic surgery. Where
cosmetic surgery is shown as a harmless tool to achieve beauty, no matter how many defects one
has. For instance, take a look at the picture of the participants of the TV Show “The Swan”
(2004) before and after having cosmetic surgery (See Figure 3). Every day we are influenced by
advertisements, magazines, celebrities, TV shows and movies to seek perfection in our bodies,
and consequently mostly celebrities, TV shows about cosmetic surgery and other people who
have had good experience with plastic surgery would be the ones who represent the Ethos.
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Figure 3. “The Swan” 2004, before and after having plastic surgery (“The Swan”).
As the Psychologist and faculty member of the Harvard Medical School, and also author
of Survival of the Prettiest: The Science of Beauty, Dr. Nancy Etcoff said “We're a nation
obsessed with beauty pursuing it at all costs” while on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in February
08 2005. Popular culture has become so obsessed with body image that there are no limits to
pursuing beauty; harming self-esteem and creating eating disorders, superficial beauty is the base
of a satisfactory social life and the wanted acceptance only can be achieved through a good
looking appearance. As an example some of the benefits of plastic surgery in a qualified patient
(patients with no psychological issues) are: an increase in self-esteem, confidence, and
happiness, because the person experiences a decrease in the worries about not being accepted by
society for his/her appearance, and an increase in the chances of getting hired for a particular job
leading to an improvement of the chances of having a successful career (Gunn). Also, by
improving appearance the opportunity of meeting a partner increases. In addition, a study
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performed by the University of Florida confirmed that having undergone breast augmentation,
sexual desire was increased in 78.6% and sexual satisfaction in 57% of the participants. Also, the
participants’ average self-esteem score increased from 20.7 to 24.9 on the 30 point Rosenberg
scales (Nauert). All the reasons described above can be considered the Logos.
Since people who are happy and comfortable with themselves have more confidence and
interact better with others, these reasons would be the pathos of having plastic surgery. Also,
another important reason that could motivate and lead an individual to have a cosmetic procedure
is the promise of being more attractive to a sexual or romantic partner.
In addition the social worker Roberta Honigman along with psychiatrist Katharine
Phillips, MD, and David Castle, MD examined the psychological and psychosocial functioning
of 37 patients before and after cosmetic surgery; the results suggested improvements in body
image and likely improvements of the quality-of-life. As a support to this study, recently an
associate professor of psychology, at the Center for Human Appearance at the University of
Pennsylvania School of Medicine, found that a year after having cosmetic surgery 87 percent of
patients reported satisfaction with the results, including improvements in their overall body
image and positive associations between their body image in a social context (Dittmann).
Unfortunately, the chances of having a bad experience when undergoing cosmetic plastic
surgery are still latent. “There may be patients who will never be satisfied with their bodies no
matter how much surgery they receive or feel that their life will completely change after plastic
surgery” said Doctor Figueroa-Haas. Especially patients with serious self-esteem and
psychological issues tend to seek for a cure in plastic surgery but in the long term they are
aggravating these issues. As an example, Jenny ( See Figure 3), who was interviewed on “The
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Oprah Winfrey Show, “ at 28 years old, has had 26 cosmetic plastic surgeries for a total cost of
$80,000; after her husband told her that her nose was too big and her boobies were too small.
Once she had her first surgery at the age of 25, she hasn’t stopped. Jenny feels that she has a lot
of things that still need to be fixed, and plastic surgery has become an obsession, an addiction
that has led her to huge debt with no self-esteem improvements. This condition is also known as
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). A famous celebrity known for her several plastic surgeries is
Jocelyn Wildenstein (aka Cat woman). Jocelyn has spent over $3,000,000 on plastic surgeries to
please her husband who loves big cats (See Figure 5).
Figure 4. Jenny had 26 plastic surgeries and she is still unhappy with her body (Obsessed with
perfection).
Figure 5. Jocelyn Wildenstein (aka Cat woman) before and after plastic surgery (“Toning Down
Her Feline Side”).
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In fact, the research published in the April 2004 issue of Plastic and Reconstructive
Surgery (Vol. 113, No. 4, pages 1,229-1,237) found poor outcomes associated with patients who
hold unrealistic expectations such as the thought of saving a relationship by receiving cosmetic
surgery or who had psychological issues prior to the surgery, such as depression, personal
disorders and/or anxiety (Dittmann). Consequently, some of the characteristics displayed by the
patients dissatisfied with the procedure were: possible repetition of the cosmetic procedures,
depression, adjustment problems, social isolation, family problems, self-destructive behaviors
and anger toward the surgeon or staff who performed the procedure. For instance, in a 2001
study the National Cancer Institute found that women with breast implants were four times more
likely to commit suicide than other cosmetic surgery patients of the same age (Dittmann).
However, the casual relationship between breast implants and suicide has not been identified.
Therefore, some researchers speculate that this relationship relies on the fact that the surgery
recipients had a predisposition to commit suicide or had unrealistic expectations before the
surgery (Dittmann).
In conclusion, the high significance of body image in pop culture has pushed cosmetic
plastic surgery from a taboo to a friendly tool to overcome self-esteem issues and pursue beauty.
As a result, the impact caused in the patient who has had a cosmetic procedure can be positive or
negative depending on the level of satisfaction achieved compared to his/her expectations and
self-esteem. For this reason, patients with serious self-esteem or psychological issues should
avoid having plastic surgery. Also, an increase of confidence, and an improvement of the
chances of meeting a love partner and having a successful career can be considered as positive
outcomes of performing cosmetic plastic surgery.
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Work Cited
Babbitt, Adeena. "Celebrating 15 Years of Trustworthy Plastic Surgery Statistics." News
Releases. ASAPS, n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2013
"Celebrity Plastic Surgery Before & After (56 Pics)." Izismile.com. Izimile, n.d. Web. 10 Feb.
2013.
Dittmann, Melissa. "Plastic Surgery: Beauty or Beast?" Plastic Surgery: Beauty or
Beast? American Psychological Association, Sept. 2005. Web. 18 Feb. 2013.
Fredrickson, B. L., & Roberts, T. (1997). Objectification theory: Toward understanding women’s
lived experiences and mental health risks. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 21, 173–206.
Gunn, Tommy. "Benefits and Advantages of Plastic Surgery." HubPages. N.p., 22 Oct. 2010.
Web. 11 Feb. 2013.
Hendersonking, D., and E. Hendersonking. "Acceptance of Cosmetic Surgery: Scale
Development and Validation." Body Image 2.2 (2005): 137. Print.
Morgan, K. P. (1991). Women and the knife: Cosmetic surgery and the colonization of women’s
bodies. Hypatia, 6(3), 25–53.
Nauert, Phd Rick. "Plastic Surgery Helps Self-Esteem | Psych Central News." Psych Central.com.
N.p., 23 Mar. 2007. Web. 11 Feb. 2013.
"Obsessed with Perfection." Oprah.com. The Oprah Winfrey Show, 08 Feb. 2005. Web. 11 Feb.
2013.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). "Celebrating 15 Years of Trustworthy Plastic
Surgery Statistics." News Releases. N.p., Mar.-Apr. 2012. Web. 18 Feb. 2013
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"The Swan." LocateTV.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2013.
"Toning down Her Feline Side: Catwoman Jocelyn Wildenstein Goes for a More
Subdued Look on Date Night." Mail Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2013.
Sherr, Lynn. "Plastic Surgery Deaths Investigated." ABC News. ABC News Network, 16
Apr. 2004. Web. 10 Feb. 2013.
WebMD. "Teen Health." Is Plastic Surgery a Teen Thing? N.p., 2005. Web. 18 Feb.
2013.
Wiseman, M. A., Gray, J. J., Moismann, J. E., & Ahrens, A. H. (1992). Cultural
expectations of thinness in women: An update. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 11,
85–89.