Plastic Surgery: Is it immorality?
During one of our Medical Ethics sessions, we were asked how we view plastic surgery in general as medical students. It was not the sole instance where we have encountered discussions over this matter. Plastic surgery has already been widely tackled in bioethics discussions and subjects of debates – as to its morality. Filipinos, known for their idealism and devotion to God’s creations, usually view plastic surgery as immorality since you are changing God’s gifts. It is a sign of dissatisfaction to His blessings, so it is viewed as an insult.
So what is it with plastic surgery that heightens the arguments of people? WikiPedia defines plastic surgery as a general term for operative manual and instrumental treatment which is performed for functional or aesthetic reasons. The word “plastic” derives from the Greek plastikos meaning to mould or to shape. Plastic surgery clinics such as the Orlando plastic surgery, are coming out like mushrooms. This alarms the people against it and makes the pro ones rejoice.
During the course of our debate, we had agreed to on one thing – the morality of plastic surgery depends on a person’s viewpoint. Most of us answered that if it will make you feel good, then it is moral. The rest said that it is plain vanity and indulgence. I, however chose to stay at the middle. If there’s a need to do the procedure such as in re-constructive surgery or restoration of beauty, then it must be moral. But if you do it to satisfy your desire for beauty, then it must be immoral. I don’t believe that re-doing your face or appearance is the only way you can feel good about yourself, so for me it’s plain vanity.
In medical ethics, plastic surgery can be viewed as either licit or illicit (unnecessary). Unnecessary surgery, is one in which there is no real medical indication. It is carried out for twisted motives such as disguising a face of a criminal.
Plastic or aesthetic surgery is LICIT under the following conditions:
- the intention is good.
- patient is not exposed to grave medical risks.
- motives are reasonably proportionate to the extraordinary means employed.
Aesthetic cosmetic surgery is LICIT under the following conditions:
- to improve bodily appearance following injury caused by accidents, congenital defects, etc.
- when the external features could be a physiological, social, or economical handicap with repercussions in the individual’s adaptation to society.
Truly the ongoing debate as to the morality of plastic surgery will continue as long as realism and idealism of man exist.
The bottom line is, if it will make you feel and do you good and there is a need to perform it, then indulge! If you think it is against your morality standard, then don’t.
What’s your view about it?
I believe that plastic surgery is acceptable if it is used to repair damage from birth defects, accidents & handicap. but i don’t believe that it’s okay if it is just to make one’s self feel better. many people use that excuse to have plastic surgery. self-esteem can be gained not only through plastic surgery.
well, that’s just me. good post!
We also discussed this during our Bioethics class. We all agreed on the same points, that morality is not universal and it depends upon the viewpoint of the person. If it makes the person feel better about themselves then so be it. Isn’t that the objective of the medical practice? “To improve the quality of life, not to extend it.” as Dr. Patch Adams once said.
if i have extra money, why not. its just physical appearance. it will not change my inner self and the faith i have. as long as ma improve ang itsura ko oks lang.
i used to think the same way, that we should just live with how we were born unless we’re really abnormal or got into an accident. but then i met a plastic surgeon, and he told me it was easy for me to say that and look down on others who desired to be prettier because i was born with good looks. well, he is quite good looking himself and he had more compassion than i and he really wanted to help his patients with their self esteem. one time, he had a patient who was a young teen who had tried to cut part of his ear off to make it smaller because it was sticking out and he was continually teased about it. who am i to say that that boy should have just learned to accept his big sticking out ears when i’ve never walked in his shoes? just one short operation gave him self confidence that would change the way he conducts himself. it often changes the way people feel and makes a big difference. more about that here… http://www.cosmeticsurgeryphil.com/cosmeticsurgery.htm
after all, studies have shown that beauty does make a difference http://www.cosmeticsurgeryphil.com/beauty_research.htm.
Plastic Surgery is for inner as well as outer beauty