| If there is one field in surgery that arouses | | | | department.' Subscribers to this way of thinking go |
| passionate debate, then it has to be the area of | | | | ahead to point out that most of the people who |
| cosmetic surgery: a specialty that, by definition, | | | | accept to go through cosmetic surgery indeed turn |
| seeks to help people improve/enhance their outward | | | | out to be the people whom nature 'treated unfairly' in |
| appearance. | | | | terms of looks endowment, people who typically find |
| Now one of the greatest point of conjecture with | | | | themselves at great disadvantage socially (and |
| regard to cosmetic surgery is as to whether it is | | | | sometimes even economically); and therefore people |
| necessary in the first place or whether it is just a | | | | who are absolutely justified in seeking for help in the |
| 'frivolous undertaking' which is only good for | | | | form of cosmetic surgery, if only to bring themselves |
| self-centered people who are not satisfied with | | | | at par with 'other people' looks-wise. |
| whatever nature has endowed them with in terms of | | | | At this point, the opponents of cosmetic surgery are |
| external appearance. It might be hard to understand | | | | quick to point out that the truth of the matter is |
| why someone would voice such strong opinions with | | | | that most of the people who submit to cosmetic |
| regard to cosmetic surgery, until you get to learn of | | | | surgery are not actually people who are particular |
| the whole range of procedures carried out by | | | | poorly endowed 'looks-wise' but rather people who |
| cosmetic surgery practitioners, from the 'tucking' of | | | | just FEEL that they are 'poorly created' whereas in |
| the abdomen in the case of overweight/previously | | | | actual fact they are people of fair to good physical |
| overweight people to breast and buttock | | | | appearance. According to opponents of cosmetic |
| augmentation and onto rhinoplasty (which involves | | | | surgery then, the best treatment for these people is |
| the 're-working' of the nose) and lots of other similar | | | | not through the scalpel, but by putting them through |
| procedures in between. | | | | comprehensive psychotherapy to improve their |
| As with all other debates, there are two sides to the | | | | self-image. Moreover, critics of cosmetic surgery |
| cosmetic surgery debate: one side which is for it | | | | argue, even where people are obviously poorly |
| (seeing it as a necessity) and another side strongly | | | | endowed looks-wise, it is unfair leading them to |
| against it (seeing it as a frivolity). | | | | believe that cosmetic surgery could make them |
| So is cosmetic surgery a necessity or a frivolity? | | | | happier (because there are still many good looking |
| Well according to the school of thought that is pro | | | | people who are always unhappy). Further still, |
| cosmetic surgery, the procedures it involves are | | | | accusing the proponents of cosmetic surgery of |
| necessities in as much as they restore the | | | | being hedonists, its critics argue that even if it were |
| self-esteem of the people who have them | | | | possible to improve one's happiness through the |
| performed and in so doing restore the happiness of | | | | surgeon's scalpel, such an undertaking would still be |
| the said people. Subscribers of this thinking go ahead | | | | frivolous because the ultimate aim in life is not to be |
| to justify their positions with the argument that most | | | | happy – especially for 'non hedonists' as there are |
| cosmetic surgery procedures are painful (both in | | | | other more 'worthwhile' pursuits in life beyond |
| terms of physical pain and financially); and for | | | | happiness. |
| someone to accept to go through it, they must be in | | | | So cosmetic surgery: a necessity or a frivolity? The |
| a lot of psychological anguish stemming to what they | | | | verdict is yours. |
| feel is poor natural endowment in the 'looks | | | | |