Plastic Surgery - Vanity Vs. Self Image

I thought I would pick my first topic on something that is very much a huge factor in my life at the moment. 

I had my first bit of plastic surgery last Wednesday(31/03/10). I went in for a Mastopexy & Augmentation with a bit of Abdominal Liposuction. 15 Minutes before I went into theatre – my surgeon came into the room to measure me and make all the necessary markings. When marking me for the Lipo, he saw that I have a hernia to the right of my stomach. If he didn't pick it up, I probably wouldn't be here today. He wanted to repair it while in theatre, so they were rushing around for authorization from my medical aid – only to find out, that it takes 48 hours to approve a hernia repair. Pathetic, if you ask me. Anyway, he left the lipo, and said that when I go in for my post-op, that we will set a date for the hernia repair(which he will cut in such a way that he does a tummy tuck aswell-bonus!), and the lipo.

Now there are so many different views on Plastic Surgery that I am not even sure where to start – so I decided to just pick out the 2 main ones. Vanity verses Self Image.

There is no doubt that there are a lot of patients who have undergone Plastic Surgery, that have done it purely for vanity reasons – but there are far more who have struggled with their self-image & desired those necessary improvements to feel good about themselves.

A nice example I read somewhere is that when one chooses the colour outfit they would like to wear, that is not being vain – The colours represent how they are feeling that morning and will be a reflection of their self-image for that day and how they are feeling about themselves.

"The concept of ‘vanity' brings with it negative connotations and associated feelings of guilt, whereas an improvement of self-image carries with it positive connotations and the desire to feel whole."

With self-improvement, carries the rewards of feelings of harmony, an improved self-image and a better interaction with our friends and family.

For many people, how they look is a huge part of how they feel about themselves. For others, physical attractiveness is relatively unimportant, and the thought of cosmetic surgery is unattractive or even repulsive.

Personally, looking in the mirror everyday repulsed me. I felt that this would improve my self-confidence, and therefore be a step in improving my quality of life. To some that might sound silly, but to me – It is a dream come true.

It is true that many people undergo it for reasons that seem quite vain. These are generally attractive people who want small procedures to improve their already good looks. A nose job to improve a nose that's cute, but just a little boring. Lip injections to give them full lips that don't even suit their face. The list goes on and on.

But the real question is… who has the right to judge? If a person is in a position to pay for what they want to change, why should they be criticized? Sure, for people living different, simpler lives, this sort of behavior seems irresponsible But in certain sects of society, getting it is as normal as going to the hair stylist.

If something makes a person happy without harming anybody else, then there's no real problem – is there?

What really matters, is that in the end – Plastic Surgery or not – that one is happy with who they are!