Plastic Surgery: A Necessity?

Every day, hundreds of people are being influenced by the media.  Most of these influences come directly from celebrities and what they are doing to their bodies.  Plastic surgery is something that is becoming increasingly common not only among the rich and famous, but also among those of us who are seemingly normal.  

Plastic surgery is defined as surgery that is done to repair, restore, or improve lost, or misshapen body parts.  Because celebrities are taking for granted what this surgery has to offer, it is making an impact on young girls all across the world.  Just recently, a young girl from Connecticut felt that plastic surgery would fix problems caused by bullying that had happened at school.  It is stories such as these that have doctors across the globe questioning whether there should be more restrictions on the surgery as well as how the media is portraying the actors and actresses who go under the knife.  

Heidi Montag, from the hit reality show "The Hills," had her first plastic surgery while she was still a star on the show.  Her reasoning behind it all?  She simply did not have one.  Montag said she just wanted to "look and feel different" even though there was nothing wrong with the body she already had.  Months later, Montag underwent a couple more surgeries, bringing a new meaning to the Mean Girls phrase "plastic."

Heidi Montag after multiple surgeries.

We have all had that time in our life when we felt as if we were the outcast.  Women are concerned with being skinny instead of healthy, while men are concerned with being buff instead of lean.  But is plastic surgery really the answer?  There are so many critical side effects associated that many people often look over or don't realize that they could become a reality.  For example, most people don't know that blood clots and paralysis are side effects to undergoing this type of surgery.  One side effect people are aware of, however, is imperfect results.  Did you know that your chances of having perfect plastic surgery results if you are a smoker are extremely low?  Due to the fact that your oxygen levels in your blood are not where they should be, the injections and implants often do not stay in place.  The Lion Lady, for example, was a heavy smoker and she is one of the most well known people who have had a bad plastic surgery experience.  

The Lion Lady

There are many people who choose to have plastic surgery for health reasons.  A teenage girl may have a breast reduction so that she doesn't have to deal with back pain anymore.  However, there is no reason for someone, especially someone as young as 14, to have to deal with all of the negative side effects that come along with plastic surgery.  A small solution to this problem that has the potential to go a long way is implementing a class into the Health and Physical Education requirements of schooling.  Because these classes last for at least a semester, it would be possible to take one week out of the twelve to discuss the media and its influence, as well as eating disorders and plastic surgery.  This could start in middle school and go all the way through high school so that teenagers are aware of the risks that go along with these factors.  Would it not be worth it?  If it changes the mind of one child who thinks they have to look like Barbie or Ken, then it's worth it. 

Real Life Barbie and Ken.