The stigma surrounding plastic and cosmetic surgery has finally started to diminish, with more and more celebrities being open and frank about the procedures they undertake to look their best.
This new-found honesty finally strips away some of the ridiculousness of our idealized standards of beauty, allowing us to recognize that sometimes it’s the skilled hands of a surgeon and not mother nature, who doled out the gift.
As it becomes more and more socially acceptable, and the scorn surrounding plastic surgery fades with other outdated notions of female beauty, more and more women of all ages are undergoing procedures.
Obviously, the physical benefits of plastic surgery are obvious, there are also emotional benefits. Changing the aspects of our physical appearance which we’re unhappy with leads to a return of lost confidence. Plastic surgery companies, like Panthea Clinics, are passionate about improving the self-confidence of women around the world, while surgeons like the Snapchat Surgeon, are sharing the breakthroughs and advancements in technology with their audiences using social media.
Multiple psychological studies have shown that plastic surgery boosts the confidence and happiness of those who maintain realistic expectations, as well as proving that it is the self-perception of attractiveness that increases a person’s overall happiness and satisfaction with life.
A 2013 study published by the journal of the Association for Psychological Science revealed positive outcomes amongst plastic surgery patients across a range of outcomes including anxiety, depression, body dysmorphia, life satisfaction, mental and physical health, and self-esteem.
It seems like common sense, fixing insecurities which come from a person’s physical appearance allows them to focus on their other strengths and facets of their personality which they would previously have downplayed. One important caveat all the studies have stressed that if you have unrealistically high expectations of what the surgery is going to achieve for you, you’re more likely to be disappointed with the results and could even wind up less happy than you were to begin with.
While plastic or cosmetic surgery is not the answer to all of life’s problems, or a cure-all fix for personal happiness, most of us would admit that there is something we would like to change about the way we looked. Research conducted into the reasons and decision-making process behind plastic or cosmetic surgery amongst young women, by Dr. Julian De Silva of the Center for Advanced Facial Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery, showed that most patients had “done their research and have made a positive decision to improve their appearance.”
Cosmetic surgery is not just about vanity, the truth is a lot more complex. People seek out surgery for a variety of reasons, from fixing a birth-defect, to removal of excess skin after weight-loss.
Now days, you can find support communities for plastic and cosmetic surgery patients on Instagram. Providing those of us who might be considering going under the knife new ways to be informed about the procedures, and the after-care involved, before making any decisions.
Surgery that helps to improve self-esteem is no different from any other form of self-care.