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Americans and Plastic Surgery

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             The practice that is known as plastic surgery has been performed throughout known history. Plastic surgery as it is known today gained popularity at the beginning of the Second World War (Erhardt). After the First World War, soldiers around the world who had lost limbs and had been severely damaged physically and emotionally during their time in Europe, began looking for ways to treat their injuries and disabilities. By the time of the Second World War, it became evident that weapons had become sophisticated beyond the ability of modern medicine to treat and heal injuries. New technologies and treatments were researched and investigated by medical scientists around the world in order to provide aid for the new war's casualties. Soon, the practice became advanced enough to the point where the surgeries can be performed at hospitals outside of the jurisdiction of the military. By the middle of the century, plastic surgery had become a specialty and the only people certified would have to show expertise in general surgery. .
             As stated, there are some negative sides to the concept of plastic surgery which must first be addressed. In the article "The Empire of Images in our World of Bodies," author Susan Bordo illustrates the ways in which our lives are saturated by the visual iconography of our consumerist society. Specifically, Bordo is concerned with the ways in which perceptions of the human body tend to conform to the saturation of body types in the visual culture. Everything in society is valued by comparing it to some visual ideal which no one can achieve through natural means. "Aging beautifully' used to mean wearing one's years with style, confidence, and vitality. Today, it means not appearing to age at all. And – like breasts that defy gravity – it's becoming a new bodily norm" (Bordo 1). The modern sense of the word beauty is defined by massive amounts of cosmetic plastic surgery which alter an otherwise naturally beautiful woman into a homogenous countenance where those considered beautiful all have to look like they came out of the same mold.


Essays Related to Americans and Plastic Surgery

1. Increase use of plastic surgery

... the reason may be, according to an article in The Star Phoenix, more than 7.4 million North Americans had cosmetic surgery in the year 2000. That is a 198-per-cent increase since 1992 (Zdeb E3). With such a dramatic increase, there is no denying that plastic surgery is accepted and that our society is in fact, superficial. Being superficial means strictly caring about what is on the ... surface. The main reason people choose to have plastic surgery is to improve their physical beauty and become more appealing to everyone else, because the mass majority of Americans have come to mostly n...

  • Word Count: 959
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

2. Plastic Surgery

... society where practically everyone is judged by image, it's easy to see why so many people are turning to plastic surgery. For years, we have altered our appearance through various forms of cosmetic plastic surgery. Girls want to have the body like Britney Spears and the guys want the body of Brad Pitt because in the eyes of the general public, to be "beautiful" ... been the solution for many people to change their image for numerous different reasons. There are many types of surgery, and one of them is plastic surgery. According to the Webster's Dictionary, plastic surgery is the "bra...

  • Word Count: 471
  • Approx Pages: 2

3. America And The Silicone Epidemic

... come to a point where they feel that it is ok for women to starve themselves, and basically purge their meals in order to fit the social norm. This notion might sound extreme, but unfortunately, it's become an almost ludicrous reality. How much money Americans spend on plastic surgery should not be the issue or the focal point of psychological studies. On the contrary, the ... reason why Americans feel the strong need to alter and sometimes permanently damage their bodies should be. Maybe it's because little girls are constantly exposed to images ... from magazine covers, television, p...

  • Word Count: 1478
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

4. Cosmetic Surgery - Beauty or Beast?

... extremely unethical to have cosmetic surgery. In addition to health issues, cosmetic surgery also poses monetary problems. This procedure is a major waste of money from a financial standpoint. First of all, prior to a surgery, people do not recognize the enormous amounts of money they are throwing into the cosmetic industry. According to the American Academy of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Americans spent over $7 billion in ... 2012 on surgical procedures alone (ASAPS). The average facelift costs $6,500 and a nose job cost over $4,000 (Average Total Costs). This pool of money can be used o...

  • Word Count: 1303
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

5. Models, Photoshop and Reality

... part is 25.8% of children are considered obese (Khan). The viewer naturally compares their body and self image to that of the model or celebrity – who most likely has had plastic surgery, done extreme dieting, or the image was Photoshopped – it can almost be understandable to why Americans have a poor self image, especially when viewing numerous advertisements. To achieve ideal beauty, ... by the person's definition, some models and celebrities resort to plastic surgery. An example of this is Megan Fox, a young, female actress ... , but has to be done through surgeries, extreme dieti...

  • Word Count: 1892
  • Approx Pages: 8
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

6. Plastic Surgery

... The Mayo Clinic and UCLA Medical Center, numbers two and three on the US News list boast their own Cosmetic Surgery Centers and have not seen a decline in their reputation in other areas of medicine. It is still a potential risk, Johns Hopkins is evidently willing to take. In 2002, 6.6 million Americans underwent cosmetic surgery, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). ... Nearly two-thirds of them were between ages 35 and 64, and many were youth-conscious baby boomers. The popularity of television shows like "Extreme Makeover," an ABC reality show that features t...

  • Word Count: 465
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

7. Cerebral Palsy - Types and Symptoms

... remember that it is not life-threatening; although cerebral palsy may have an overwhelming effect upon people affected with it, as well as, their family. Between 400,000 and 800,000 Americans have cerebral palsy; however, it is probable that not more than two people are capable of experiencing the same difficulties. It does not always cause profound disabilities. For ... diverse treatments. Highly recommended is physical therapy-on its own or combined with various therapies-since it performs a huge part by improving people's lives that have cerebral palsy. Americans are faced with decis...

  • Word Count: 4916
  • Approx Pages: 20
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

8. Causes and Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy

... remember that it is not life-threatening; although cerebral palsy may have an overwhelming effect upon people affected with it, as well as, their family. Between 400,000 and 800,000 Americans have cerebral palsy; however, it is probable that not more than two people are capable of experiencing the same difficulties. It does not always cause profound disabilities. For ... treatments. Highly recommended is physical therapy "on its own or combined with various therapies "since it performs a huge part by improving people's lives that have cerebral palsy. Americans are faced with decisions a...

  • Word Count: 4974
  • Approx Pages: 20
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

9. Modern-Day Business and the Downfall of Unions

... . In 2011, around 7,000 New York state teachers were laid off, in order to pay for the plastic surgery of over 3,400 teachers. These procedures include Botox treatments, tummy tucks, and breast augmentations. Originally, the cosmetic rider was meant to cover reconstructive surgery from serious accidents and burn victims [ CITATION Lau12 l 1033 ]. The education system is not the only industry at risk; the ... . Instead of going toe-to-toe with the foreign auto makers, the Big 3 (Ford, Chrysler, and GM) were producing large, bulky, fuel inefficient vehicles and were able to charge ridiculou...

  • Word Count: 799
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Has Bibliography

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