The Ethics of Cosmetic Surgery - A Persuasive Speech
Topic: Ethics of Cosmetic Surgery
General Purpose: To persuade
Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience that cosmetic surgery is an ethical practice and not just a business
Central Idea: Cosmetic surgery is ethical. It is a medical need and not just a business.
Title: Cosmetic Surgery: NEED VS. GREED
Shhhh…. Let me tell you a secret...my roommate just HAD a nose job!
And did you read the news? Another celebrity denied HAVING a facelift! Such a lie!
Sound familiar? I bet it does.
We hear so much gossip and news about cosmetic surgery and that makes me think. Is this just another field growing into a money-making business… or is it still an ethical medical practice for meeting patients’ needs?
There’s the stigma and there’s the dilemma! And… that’s why I want to talk to you about the ethics of cosmetic surgery.
And just to clarify, I’m talking about ‘elective plastic surgery’ not surgery that’s done as a result of trauma, burns, accidents and other serious medical reasons.
Firstly, there are valid reasons why people have cosmetic surgery, Next, it is a medical procedure just like any other, and finally, it has psychological, physical, and emotional health benefits.
So, let’s begin to reconstruct our views about cosmetic surgery.
According to the 2020 Plastic Surgery Statistics Report by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 15.6 million cosmetic procedures from over 25 surgical and over 10 non-surgical procedures were performed in the US.
Clearly, people are having cosmetic surgery for several reasons - some right, some wrong - but the public at large judges every patient as superficial…someone in search of absolute beauty at any cost… and this is definitely not true.
One reason for this controversy is defining health issues. For example, MarkChinMD.com, a website for the Valley Institute of Plastic Surgery, shares that breathing problems can be corrected by nose reconstruction, and breast reductions can reduce physical discomfort. And…Liposuction can help when any more weight gain could cause serious issues like heart attack, diabetes, and even blindness.
While the line between vanity and medical necessity is hazy, most cosmetic surgeries are certainly elective. And one of the most popular groups undergoing such surgeries is celebrities. So…why would they do that? Well, we must understand that celebrities are a part of the “glamor” world where, as sad as it sounds, looks are everything. They are under constant pressure to maintain their youth and beauty to match the audience’s expectations. Here, cosmetic surgery is a professional need and should not always be viewed as a publicity stunt.
According to Psychology Today, patients suffering from disorders like narcissism and body dysmorphia are more likely to pursue cosmetic surgeries. A study done at the University of Kansas School of Medicine discovered that 44% of patients undergoing cosmetic surgery had some history of psychiatric disorder. Thus, certain patients have cosmetic surgery because of these psychiatric issues.
From a medical perspective, cosmetic surgery is just like any other surgery and any medical practice that doesn’t follow ethics is practically a business. According to an article published in the American Journal of Cosmetic Surgery, cosmetic surgery follows the four pillars of medical ethics - autonomy, justice, beneficence, and nonmaleficence - which I will explain - and is hence not a business.
So firstly, the American Medical Association’s Journal of Ethics defines patient autonomy as recognizing a patient’s right to accept or refuse care. Cosmetic surgery respects a person’s wishes, abiding by patient autonomy. Like other clinical practices, it understands and meets patients’ needs through informed consent and discussions with patients.
Justice, according to the AMA Journal, is access to fair and equal treatment, care and resources for all patients.
Cosmetic surgery is an elective treatment not paid by insurance or federal funds. Since people pay for it out of pocket, it doesn’t affect the equitable distribution of resources.
AMA defines beneficence as the doctor’s duty to do what is best for the patient and non-maleficence as the duty to prevent harm. Cosmetic surgery has numerous physical, mental, and social health benefits. Like any surgery, there are risks of organ damage, pain, etc., and dissatisfaction due to unrealistic expectations.
However, it ultimately benefits the patient’s health while causing the least damage.
That said, I do believe, however, that all physicians should be ethical in deciding when cosmetic surgery should not be done.
An article in the Archives of Plastic Surgery calls cosmetic surgery “the surgery of the soul” due to its multifaceted and far-reaching effects on overall health.
Cosmetic surgery can certainly do the obvious - improving body shape, removing fat, and re-sculpting deformities. Yet some surgeries like Botox can go a step further to reduce migraines, depression, and excessive sweating, according to Healthline.com, a premier health resource. Other surgeries can improve vision and relieve back pain as per Pipeline Medical, a medical supply blog.
It goes without saying that when a person looks good, they also feel good. A study presented at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Plastic Surgery 2006 conference discovered that 98% patients felt a boost in self-esteem and 31% patients no longer needed antidepressants 6-months after surgery. Patients who have cosmetic surgery with realistic expectations can definitely feel happier, more confident, and enjoy a better quality of life.
Having the ideal weight and looks encourages people to socialize more and seek out new friends. Having good self-esteem can also help with job interviews and maintaining better relationships. Kansas Plastic Surgery states that cosmetic surgery can come with added benefits of reduced social stigma and bullying.
To wrap it all up, elective cosmetic surgery is an ethical practice that focuses on meeting the patient’s needs. People pursue cosmetic surgery for professional, medical, and psychological reasons. Cosmetic surgery follows the same principles as any other medical treatment and is bound by a code of ethics. It has a number of physical, mental, and social benefits that help a person to improve his/her quality of life.
Finally, cosmetic surgery is an ethical medical treatment…not a business.
And remember… Photoshop and cosmetic surgery can fix faces and bodies … but nothing can change an ugly personality.
So…the next time you hear or read about someone getting cosmetic surgery, ‘Don’t judge the person without first understanding the reasons.’
Thank you!
Do you think cosmetic surgery is ethical? Let me know in the comments below!
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Bibliography:
American Society of Plastic Surgeons. (n.d.). American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Retrieved April 8, 2022, from https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/plastic-surgery-statistics
Barone, M., Cogliandro, A., & Persichetti, P. (2017). Ethics and Plastic Surgery/What is Plastic Surgery? Archives of Plastic Surgery, 44(1), 90–92. https://doi.org/10.5999/aps.2017.44.1.90
Benefits of plastic surgery. (2021, June 4). Kansas Plastic Surgery. https://kansasplasticsurgery.com/the-benefits-of-plastic-surgery/
Booth, S. (2019, March 25). Yes, more people are getting plastic surgery. Here’s why. Healthline Media. https://www.healthline.com/health-news/more-people-getting-plastic-surgery
Cosmetic surgery and psychological disorders. (n.d.). Psychology Today. Retrieved April 7, 2022, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/dissecting-plastic-surgery/202004/cosmetic-surgery-and-psychological-disorders
Goupil, M. T., & Ferneini, E. M. (2019). Is cosmetic surgery ethical? The American Journal of Cosmetic Surgery, 36(3), 109–110. https://doi.org/10.1177/0748806819868302
Henry, K. (2014, October 17). 10 reasons to undergo plastic surgery. Dr. Kimberly A. Henry. https://www.drkimberlyhenry.com/blog/10-reasons-to-undergo-plastic-surgery/
Plastic surgery boosts happiness, self-esteem for those without “unreasonable” expectations. (2013, March 12). Nydailynews.Com. https://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/plastic-surgery-boosts-happiness-unreasonable-expectations-article-1.1286078
Shaw, M. (2018, June 21). 3 psychological benefits of cosmetic surgery. Cosmetic Surgical Arts. https://cosmeticsurgicalarts.com/3-psychological-benefits-cosmetic-surgery/
Some patients stop needing antidepressant medication after having plastic surgery. (n.d.). ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 8, 2022, from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/10/061009031415.htm
Teven, C. M., & Grant, S. B. (2018). Plastic surgery’s contributions to surgical ethics. AMA Journal of Ethics, 20(4), 349–356. https://doi.org/10.1001/journalofethics.2018.20.4.nlit1-1804.
The best (and worst) reasons for plastic surgery. (2018, May 18). Mark A. Chin, MD. https://www.markchinmd.com/the-best-and-worst-reasons-for-plastic-surgery/
What are your reasons for cosmetic surgery? (2020, April 21). Linia. https://www.liniacosmeticsurgery.co.uk/blog/reasons-for-cosmetic-surgery
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