Running head: GLOBAL ISSUES REPORT 1

Global Issues Report:

Cosmetic Surgery

Raul Tolentino

The University of Texas at El Paso

RWS 1301

Dr. Vierra

November 9, 2018
GLOBAL ISSUES REPORT 2

Abstract

The abstract of this paper is why are individuals attracted to the thought of cosmetic

surgery. This paper shows how individuals within a discourse want to look and feel better about

themselves. A big impact on as to why individuals, especially females are attracted to cosmetic

surgery is due to advertisement and social media. As shown in this paper both the United States

and Canada advertise cosmetic surgery, impacting individuals who are unhappy with their body

image and want to make a change for the better.

Global Issues Report

Many people who are self-conscious and believe that they have an unpleasant body

image tend to be unhappy. Reason for this being what they think other individuals say or think

about them. They tend to feel criticized and not fully confident. Many of these individuals go

through a procedure known a cosmetic surgery or plastic surgery. This procedure allows

individuals to take away or add any part of their body in order for them to feel better about

themselves and be happy. In todays community first impressions are based on looks and not so

much the type of person you are, this is anywhere. In the University of Texas at El Paso, some

students might feel this way as well. They can be unhappy with their body image and could

result to the consideration of going through cosmetic surgery.

Discussion

The reason individuals are attracted to the thought of cosmetic surgery at a young age is

due to them being uncomfortable with their body image and wanting to make a change.

According to Larson and Gosain (2015), the reason for cosmetic surgery in adolescents is not

necessarily done because of necessities but done because of people being unhappy with their

physical appearance or body image (p. 13). Similarly, David Sarwer (2005) claims the increased

popularity of cosmetic surgery to improve physical appearance can likely be attributed to several

factors (p. 15). This confirms the way individuals feel about their body image can lead being

unhappy and to getting cosmetic surgery.

Most women who want to get cosmetic surgery usually get it done in the breasts or face

area. According to Diana Zuckerman and Anisha Abraham (2008) two of the most popular

cosmetic procedures found in adolescent females are liposuction and breast implants (p. 321).

Along the same lines, Morrison Colon (2008) claims that the most common examples used while
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talking about cosmetic surgery include breast reduction or increasing and face lifts. This shows

that breast surgery and face surgery is most common in cosmetic surgery.

Cosmetic surgery is not affordable for everyone. Only middle-class and wealthy people

can afford cosmetic surgery. According to DeMello (2007) cosmetic surgery is not typically a

procedure covered by health insurance and is only a procedure that wealthy people can afford. In

the same way Trudi Bonomi (2014) gives examples of how much specific body parts cost. For

example, Breast Augmentation costs $6,450 and eyelid surgery cost $4,650. This shows how

expensive these procedures can come out to and only people who can afford the procedure of

cosmetic surgery do it.

Cosmetic surgery requires a professional set of individuals to do the procedure.

According to Anne-Marie Brady (2009) procedures such as cosmetic surgery or any other type of

surgery requires a professional set of individuals to be a part of an organized team and when it

comes to a procedure this big, these individuals must both management and leadership functions.

It follows then what Morrison Colon (2008) mentions about the requirements in order for an

individual to do the surgery. Colon claims the training, experience, and knowledge required to

become a board-certified cosmetic surgeon reflects specialization above and beyond what it takes

to become board certified in a related discipline, such as plastic surgery. This shows that the

procedure of cosmetic surgery requires an organized and professional team to do the procedure.

Social media or magazines, and pictures of models play a big part as to why individuals

want cosmetic surgery. According to Janet Blanchard (2004) Both televisions and magazines

play a large role in how individuals feel uncomfortable with their own body image due to the fact

that both sources show people who do not have unpleasant physical features (p. 267). As a result,

Alanna Nuñez (2010) claims social media in our lives certainly has its upsides, but more
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downsides keep emerging, including lower personal growth and how we imagine ourselves

looking. In figure 2, it shows a billboard advertisement showing cosmetic surgery and a model

showing the end result. This shows that people are attracted to the thought of cosmetic surgery

due the image we see in social media and wanting to change our appearance.

The reasons for individuals getting cosmetic surgery have changed over the period of

time. According to Margo DeMello (2007) cosmetic surgery developed during WW1 since

doctors needed a way of repairing the bodies and faces of soldiers who were wounded in the war.

DeMello claims that over time reasons for cosmetic surgery have changed. As a result, David

Sarwer (2005) claims the increased popularity of cosmetic surgery is to improve physical

appearance can likely be attributed to several factors. This evidence suggests that the original

reason for cosmetic surgery was to heal wounds, not just to change physical appearances.

Many celebrities have gone through the procedure of getting cosmetic surgery to look

good as well. According to The Prospector (2004) rock ‘n’ roll icon Elvis Presley and how he

had a connection with the topic of cosmetic surgery. Presley had the skin on his face smoothed

out due to sacring of acne, he had his nose slimmed down and straightened, and got implants on

his chin as well. Similarly, Beverly Wilshire Medical Centre (2018) mentions other celebrities

who have had successful surgery procedures. This list of celebrities mentions Britney Spears

Spears who shrunk her nose and physique showcased in an issue of Women’s Health magazine

were widely speculated that she had cosmetic surgery procedure. Many celebrities have gone

through the process of cosmetic surgery, Presley is one of the few. This evidence shows that not

just regular people get cosmetic surgery, celebrities get it as well.

The term cosmetic surgery is considered a method of beautification due. According to

Berna Tari (2011) cosmetic surgery is considered as a method of beautification. Tari claims that
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cosmetic surgery refers to operations changing, transforming, and shaping the body by adding or

removing body parts for aesthetic purposes. As a result, Jane Weston (2003) claimed that out of

40 individuals who choose to get cosmetic surgery, 90% choose it because they were

uncomfortable with their appearance. Based on this evidence, cosmetic surgery is a form of

beautification because individuals want to better their body image.

The main reason individuals get cosmetic surgery to feel better about themselves. Anne

Pearl and Jane Weston (2003) claimed that out of 40 individuals who choose to get cosmetic

surgery, 90% choose it because they were uncomfortable with their appearance. Pearl and

Weston mention that the motivation for cosmetic surgery is to feel better about themselves and

help to gain self-confidence with their appearance or body image. In the same way, Adrian

Furnham (2012) claims females with low self-esteem, low life satisfaction, low self-rated

attractiveness and little religious beliefs who were heavy television watchers reported a greater

likelihood of undergoing cosmetic surgery. This confirms most people who get cosmetic surgery

do it because they are uncomfortable with their appearance.

Cosmetic surgery has been proven to mostly found in young individuals rather than older

adults. According to Haldun O. Kamburoglu (2007) cosmetic surgery is more complex for

adolescents compared to adults. Kamburoglu claims that with an adolescent, there are more

factors affecting the patient’s satisfaction. It follows then what Dr. Ryan Guinness (2018) talks

about as far as young adults getting cosmetic surgery. Guinness claims nose surgery is done by

females from ages 15 to 17 years old and breast augmentation is found most common in females

18 years and older. In figure 1, it shows the main reasons as to why individuals want cosmetic

surgery. This shows younger individuals care more about how they look compared to older

individuals.
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Conclusion

The main reason individuals are attracted to the thought of cosmetic surgery is because

they want to look better and feel better about themselves. Reason for this is due to individuals

looking at others who have an attractive body image in their discourse community. People think

that by going through cosmetic surgery if you are unhappy with their body image, will help you

boost your confidence and help you live a happier life.

References

DeMello, M. (2007). Cosmetic Surgery. In Encyclopedia of Body Adornment (pp. 84-86).

Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.

Kamburoğlu, H. O., & Özgür, F. (2007). Postoperative satisfaction and the patient’s body image,

life satisfaction, and self-esteem: a retrospective study comparing adolescent girls and

boys after cosmetic surgery. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 31(6), 739-745.

Larson, K., & Gosain, A. K. (2012). Cosmetic surgery in the adolescent patient. Plastic and

reconstructive surgery, 129(1), 135e-141e.

Pearl, A., & Weston, J. (2003). Attitudes of adolescents about cosmetic surgery. Annals of

plastic surgery, 50(6), 628-630.

Tari, B. (2011). Cosmetic Surgery. In D. Sotherton (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Consumer Culture

(Vol. 1, pp. 366-367). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Reference.

Weaver, S. (September 22, 2004,). Strange but true. The Prospector, pp. 3.

Zuckerman, D., & Abraham, A. (2008). Teenagers and cosmetic surgery: Focus on breast

augmentation and liposuction. Journal of Adolescent Health, 43(4), 318-324.

Figures

Figure 1. This image shows the most common reasons individuals get cosmetic surgery. The

most common reason according to the chart and Dr. Ryan Guinness is breast augmentation. This

is why most women are attracted to the thought of cosmetic surgery.

Figure 2. This image shows a billboard on a highway advertising plastic surgery or in other word

cosmetic surgery. This advertisement shows an individual whom look great due to cosmetic

surgery. This can relate to what Janet Blanchard (2004) says on magazines and media having a

big impact as to why individuals want or are attracted to cosmetic surgery.

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