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Cosmetic Surgery –
Vanity or Healthy Choice?
by: Rex Ryan
Cosmetic and plastic surgery has long been associated with
vanity, but mounting evidence suggests that in many cases
cosmetic surgery can offer substantial health benefits. Nose
jobs can offer real health benefits in addition to improving the
symmetry of the face. Face lifts have been shown to increase
life expectancy. And eyelid surgery can create significant
vision benefits for some people. All of these examples show the
lines between aesthetics and real health benefits can blur when
examining
plastic surgery procedures.
Rhinoplasty, or nose jobs have health benefits
beyond the aesthetic appeals of the procedure. In many cases,
rhinoplasty can substantially improve breathing difficulties. In
cases where people have broken their nose, the cartilage can
become constricted, creating breathing problems. Rhinoplasty can
alleviate this, along with snoring problems associated with
constricted nasal passages. Many people who have persistent
sinus problems have remedied the issue with rhinoplasty.
Face lifts have long been considered a purely cosmetic
procedure for people to fight the effects of aging. However,
evidence shows that face lifts actually can have health
benefits. A study performed at the Mayo clinic reviewed data
from 250 women who had undergone face lifts in the ‘70s. The
data showed that on average, women who received face lifts
outlived their counterparts in the general population by 10
years. The self esteem factors attributed to looking and feeling
younger as a result of the face lift are cited as possible
reasons why these patients lived longer.
Eyelid surgery known as blepharoplasty is a
procedure to remove fat--usually along with excess skin and
muscle from the upper and lower eyelids. While the procedure
does have
cosmetic benefits, it can also provide real health benefits
to those who have vision problems caused by excess skin around
the eyelids.
Gastric Bypass surgery, while not often
considered “cosmetic
surgery” can be viewed as a surgery to improve appearances.
Like liposuction, it reduces an individual’s weight through
surgical means. However, the health benefits of losing weight
and maintaining a healthy weight are well documented and
accepted. Losing weight is a perfect example of how health
benefits and aesthetic benefits can both result from the same
surgical procedures.
Most who have significant dental problems will
view fixing those problems as a mandatory concern. Braces were
once considered strange, but now are commonplace. People who
lose teeth in accidents don’t think twice about the vanity
associated with replacing those teeth. Indeed, they argue that
replacing broken or lost teeth is necessary for healthy eating
function, as well as restoring appearance. Improving speech
through dentistry has been long accepted for its benefits, and
without the taboos associated with many cosmetic surgery
procedures.
Cosmetic surgery is not just for vain people
who want to improve their aesthetic appeal. In many cases, the
real
benefits of cosmetic surgery make the aesthetic improvements
just an added bonus when compared to the health benefits the
procedures can provide. As cosmetic surgery becomes more common,
the lines between purely cosmetic and self esteem benefits and
real measurable health benefits will increasingly blur. As the
health benefits of cosmetic surgery become more apparent and
documented, the acceptance of the procedures by the public at
large will continue to climb.
