Appearance is of great importance in the contemporary world. People see images of beauty and perfection everywhere around them, including television and social media, and often feel pressure to meet these standards. Cosmetic surgery has been on the rise over the past years, and people use it as a way of achieving the desired looks. Statistics on cosmetic surgery show its growing popularity in the United States. Based on the data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 18 million people went through cosmetic surgery or procedures in 2018 alone (Townley). Between 2011 and 2016, the number of cosmetic surgeries conducted annually increased by 17%, and Americans spent over $13.5 billion on cosmetic procedures in 2015 (Bauknecht). Hence, more and more people consider cosmetic surgery today and use it to reach their appearance goals.
Cosmetic surgery is often confused with plastic surgery. However, plastic surgery refers to surgical means of restoring normal appearance following injuries, burns, and other incidents (Glithero 104). Cosmetic surgery, in turn, is used primarily for body enhancement, and the most popular procedures in 2018 included breast augmentation, liposuction, nose reshaping, and eyelid surgery (Townley). While both plastic and cosmetic surgery patients wish to look better, cosmetic surgery is concerned with often unnecessary enhancements and adjustments.
Consequently, scholars connect the growing interest in cosmetic surgery with low self-esteem and increased pressure to meet modern beauty standards. Tokar argues that the contemporary culture projects images of beauty onto people, causing them to develop body image issues and seek cosmetic surgery (30). As a result, many people develop a compulsive desire for cosmetic surgery (Tokar 48). The recent shift toward more realistic images of beauty in the media could thus limit further growth of cosmetic surgery by helping people to improve their self-esteem and body satisfaction.
Works Cited
Bauknecht, Sara. “Stylebook Snapshot: Cosmetic Surgery Trends to Watch.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 2016. Web.
Glithero, Anona. “More than Cosmetic.” Nursing Standard (Through 2013), vol. 17, no. 52, 2003, p. 104.
Tokar, Mariana Polonsky. Self Reflection in the Media and in the Mirror: A Self-Psychology Conceptualization of the Compulsive Need for Cosmetic Surgery. Dissertation, the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, 2010.
Townley, Chiara. “Cosmetic Surgery is on the Rise, New Data Reveal.” Medical News Today, 2019. Web.