A Nation of Barbie Dolls
By cayla - Posted on April 26th, 2006
Liposuctions, tummy tucks, nose jobs, you name it, plastic surgery is very popular today. Men and women who appear to have nothing wrong with them have surgery to fix some imaginary flaw. Many of us try to justify plastic surgery by saying that it increases the client's confidence. The truth is, cosmetic surgery is dangerous and unneccessary.
Celebrities are all delving into the world of plastic surgery, causing an instant hype. If a gorgeous celebrity has to have plastic surgery, why shouldn't all of us? Many celebrities don't look like the same people after surgery. Their lips closely resemble fish lips, their bodies have not an ounce of fat, their noses are all cute and dainty, their faces appear stretched from their face lifts, and their breasts are full and perky. There are even television shows dedicated entirely to plastic surgery. Natural beauty has become a thing of the past, a distant memory. Today, we buy our beauty.
Girls in high school are having cosmetic surgery. They see models and celebrities with the perfect face or body and they automatically feel like they have to have something done. Teens are becoming overly critical about their looks. They turn to surgery to fix their problems and insecurities, though what they really need is to grow up and learn self confidence. We have a nation of barbie dolls walking around, plastic and fake.
The greatest illusion that plastic surgery sends is that it gives people confidence. In truth, it may give them confidence for a short period of time, but once they get used to themselves again they see another part of themselves to change. For a select few, one surgery will be enough to satisfy them. But, for most people, the whole reason why they had surgery is because they had a poor self image. One's self image can rarely be reversed by a simple surgery. It must come from within a person to begin to respect and love himself or herself.
Not only is surgery a shallow, superficial way of improving oneself, but it is also dangerous. Many people have died during surgery. For what purpose did they die? So they could look like a model? It is sad, very sad, to see that our country has allowed itself to be so consumed with appearance that it is more acceptable to risk surgery to be beautiful than to be original with a few imperfections.
Well one could say that it's the tv's fault. Because of all the "pretty" people on tv, and the lie about looks. Parents should talk to their kids and tell them that they are fine the way they are..so they don't grow up with problems..
I strongly, strongly agree with you! I think or society focuses far too much on appearance. The news especially. Sometimes I wonder if part of it isn't due to people wanting a "quick fix" for something that in a couple weeks won't even be noticable. Girls get bloated. It's natural... "OH NO! I'M FAT! LET ME GO GET LIPOSUCTION!" .. Extreme? Of course. Point made. I think this is an issue that our society needs to take a good look at.
I would never get plastic surgery. After seeing it on tv, and seeing the pain that the people are in afterwards... never.
I would not ever get plastic surgery either, unless I had to for some reason. But not unless I HAD to. People go through so much pain getting it done.
I totally agree that we've gone overboard and lost the appreciation of natural beauty and the effort that some people put into having a toned body. At the same time, I have a few questions and thoughts:
If plastic surgery was completely safe, would that change anything? Clearly, we would have still lost the appreciation of natural beauty, but in a way a safe, easy surgery could mean people focused on looks less in the end because they made themselves permenantly "perfect."
If there was a surgery to remove excess fat from one's body, so those who were overweight did not have to loose the weight, but just keep their weight down after surgery, would that be reasonable?
In my opinion, no, if surgery weren't dangerous it wouldn't change the fact that it is superficial. If everyone were perfect, there would be no variety. I for one don't want to look at a bunch of people with the same perfect noses or eyes or boobs or stomach. If we were all made perfect from surgery, why were we born "imperfect"? Why can't we accept that maybe it's not our looks that we're trying to change? Maybe it's deeper than that. Maybe we don't value ourselves enough. That's the real issue here. People don't value themselves enough to think that they don't have to be outwardly perfect. They struggle to look like someone they aren't. Liposuction, to me, is just plain laziness. Everyone today is lazy. We want fast food, fast cars, fast weight loss, fast everything. The truth is, if someone lost the weight the healthy way, by dieting and exercize, they would be more happy with the results because it was something they earned. Thank you for your comment!
I agree, but I don't really the blame can be placed on JUST celebrities. Growing up kind of chubby, I got made fun of CONSTANTLY by the thinner girls and popular kids in my classes. And that is a lot of pressure to place on a growing girl. I won't deny that I HAVE been a victim of an eating disorder and I HAVE thought of plastic surgery in my past, but it is not because I looked and saw all skinny celebrities. My role models were not celebrities when I was younger, so that never really bothered me. Of course I am different now, I would never even dream of doing anything else to harm my body in any way. And as Kasey1720 said, it just looks too painful.
But you have to admit, when people get out of plastic surgery they are changed. And their confidence is significantly altered because of the process. It's just the same concept as shows like What Not To Wear. The whole idea is just to make someone feel good about themself. And if it takes cosmetic surgery, so be it.
Celebrities were just an example of one of the many influences on people to have plastic surgery. I feel your pain. I was chubby too, and I was made fun of. I'm not saying that plastic surgery can't be beneficial, I'm saying that it is often made an addiction and that there is something else missing in a person if they feel they have to turn to surgery. Maybe it wasn't the fact that you were chubby that made you feel like a lesser person, maybe it was how you viewed yourself due to others' influences. High school kids can be cruel, and they want to make everyone feel as insecure as they do. I think that surgery can be avoided if people will take the time to figure out what is really bothering them... below the surface.
I completely agree, replacing your internal insecurities with a pretty face never works...but there are those cases when people do turn out better than the were before just because of the process. Not that I am trying to protect it or anything, in fact, I am totally opposed to the whole idea, but sometimes the outcome can be good.
I completely agree, replacing your internal insecurities with a pretty face never works...but there are those cases when people do turn out better than the were before just because of the process. Not that I am trying to protect it or anything, in fact, I am totally opposed to the whole idea, but sometimes the outcome can be good.
I agree the world is too focused on what we all look like on the outside. Everyone is striving to look "perfect" when perfection does not exist. We should all learn to love ourselves the way we are and work the old fashioned way at losing the excess pounds. I think plastic surgery should be used for patients who have had major injuries and need reconstructive surgery, not so someone can finally have the flat tummy.
It all comes back to taking care of your self to the best of your ability and then being confident in your own look. If you believe you are wonderful, it will show. CHOOSE to believe in your own look. It's all about how your mind looks at things. Any body shape can be beautiful! Other people sense when you don't believe in yourself. You gotta believe it before they will! And to hell with them if they try to drag you down. Just don't believe their trash talk. Jen
I believe we can all be beauties with brains!
Besides, who's to say what's "perfect"? The perception of beauty has changed quite drastically throughout time. Hundreds of years ago, men wanted heavier women, thicker through the hips because they were seen as healthier and could more easily bear children. Thin women were seen as unhealthy or poor. Today, thin women are seen as hot or sexy and thicker women are viewed as unfit. Who knows, maybe in the next few years or several hundred years, obesity and buck teeth will be sexy.
Plastic surgery is becoming an epidemic. There was a girl in my senior class who wanted, not just implants, but DD's. Keep in mind she's barely 5 feet tall, if that, and a size 00. She'd fall over with boobs that big. In my case, I miss having boobs that small. Mine haven't been that small in four years. I've been floating around, varying between a DDD and an H for a couple years. If I ever have the money, I will definetely get a reduction. Not for appearance, mind you, I love the way I look, but I have a bad back because of my extreme bustiness, and it is very annoying, especially since I'm 18 and they're still growing. My mom got up to a KK, and had to get a reduction. Breast reduction is one of the few forms of plastic surgery I support, because large breasts cause extreme back pain, and it's much easier to have smaller ones.
Well I suppose I have always been on the outer edge of society and opinion, and it seems that on this subject I am as well.
I whole heartedly support plastic/cosmetic surgery for many reasons, not the least of which is that in the coming 2 years I plan to have three operations combining 5 procedures. I am quite sure that after these procedures are done I will be quite content and not wish for further procedures at all.
I don't see these procedures I am planning as purely cosmetic. In fact I see them more as essential and potentially life saving surgeries.
What I think you have to remember is that there is more reasons to have cosmetic surgery than pure vanity.
Cathii
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Those who know everything have learned little from life.