Plastic Surgery, Pain And Human Insecurity
“I think that promoting
insecurity in the form of plastic surgery is infinitely more harmful than an
artistic expression related to body modification.”- Lady Gaga
It is so unfortunate that almost everyone at some point in their life has been teased or has had negative comments made about their body. Oftentimes these harmful comments come from the most unlikely sources; our friends, coworkers and family. Body teasing or body shaming is usually a persistent form of bullying. The victim of such unwanted remarks is made aware from very early that they are different and that their body is imperfect by societal standards. Body shaming is the inappropriate, derogatory and insensitive comments about another person’s weight and or size. These unkind words, terms and comments are usually done to cause emotional pain and suffering. Body shaming can also reach into the realm of discrimination of those individuals who society deemed are social outfits because of their uniqueness. We often place people into categories out of malice or personal biases. We regularly hear the term “baby fat” in reference to women who have some difficulty in losing the weight gained during pregnancy. Men are referenced as having “beer bellies” or “bang belly”. How many of you are guilty of body shaming? The individual who is constantly teased can develop issues of low self-esteem which undoubtedly will impact all facets of life; relationship, work, family life and school. People react differently to being teased about their body size and or weight. Sometimes being overweight is directly related to a medical problem. Of course those who indulge in teasing others are not concerned about that. It is typically assumed that overeating is a reason for being overweight. The workplace is not immune from the torture that so many endure daily. It is the responsibility of Human Resource departments to have sensitization awareness campaigns in order to minimize the frequency of body shaming. Many lawsuits have resulted from the inability of the workplace to stop this social problem. We are constantly being bombarded by social media surrounding what is the perfect body. In our attempt to live this lie regarding perfection many turn to the gym where they spend a significant sum of money in an order to modify their bodies into what they believe will be pleasing to others. There are others who turn to plastic or cosmetic surgery to create a whole new body. However, plastic surgery is not cheap and like any other form of surgery there are risks associated. There are many stories of botched plastic surgeries in which the patient has been disfigured. Jocelyn Wildenstein is often referred to as the poster child for plastic surgery gone wrong. The New York socialite has spent millions of dollars to transform her once human face to the face of a cat. Plastic surgery addiction is real and falls into a category of addictions known as Behavioural or Process Addictions. In this addiction the individual is addicted to a specific behaviour despite negative consequences. The plastic surgery industry feeds on people’s insecurity regarding their body image.
A Multi-Billion Dollar Industry
The plastic surgery industry is a multi- billion dollar one in which many promises are made with before and after advertisements. A report by Global Cosmetic Surgery and Services Market Analysis stated that the industry is worth over $20 billion and is slated to increase to $27 billion in 2019. The same source says the North American market accounts for 45 per cent of the global market. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) the growth of the industry is considerable but not surprising as people continue to invest in themselves. In one of our local newspapers published Sunday September 15, 2019 under the caption: Build A Better Body, an entire page explored the cost associated with plastic surgery in Jamaica. It was shocking to see that almost every part of the body can be reconfigured. Dr. Alfred Dawes, a weight loss, laparoscopic and general surgeon said, “More people are now coming out, showing off their bodies, and they have no drawbacks, no hang-ups about saying that they have had work done.” The news story reported that a brachioplasty or underarm surgery to tighten loose, sagging skin and remove excess fat deposits costs between US$5,000 to US$11,000. For that male who requires an additional 2.5 inches of manhood, the penis implant will cost him between US$13,000 to US$15,000. Some argue that plastic surgery is playing God. In the Bible we are told that God used the rib of Adam to create Eve. Ironically, in today’s world, one can have a rib removal surgery. Rib removal surgery gets rid of one or more ribs to give a thinner, smaller waistline and this only will set you back US$6,500 to US$7,500. I suspect everyone by now has his or her calculator working out the exchange rate at approximately $136 Jamaican dollars to US$1 to appreciate the cost in Jamaican currency. Liposuction has always been popular. Liposuction removes fat on the hips, thighs, buttocks, back, arms or face. This is only US$2,000 to US$3,500 per area.
The Perfect Body
It appears one can do over one’s entire body under the surgeon’s scalpel in the quest for that perfect body. We tend to get our cues from celebrities and sporting figures. The genie is out of the box and as such there is nothing than can be said or done to persuade those who have the economic resources to enter this new frontier. In a desire to find the fountain of youth many are more than willing to have these procedures done. The issue of body contouring and body shaping has gained popularity over the years. Plastic surgery is no longer gender specific. A few years ago men were less likely to have invasive plastic surgery done but so much has change and continues to change. It bare thought that a lot of individuals are walking around with fake body parts, this is obviously an indicator of modernity. It is useful to do some back ground checks on the doctor who will perform your surgery. A plastic surgeon specializes in that discipline as against a general surgeon. Many among us have had inserted implants and silicone in an effort to feel good about themselves. Others prefer the more non-surgical procedures such as getting Botox injections. The world in which we live is so fake and this is not fake news! The genuineness and authenticity which once ruled the world is slowing being eroded into a state of falsehood and promoted by insecurity. We need to work towards a culture in which we affirm the beauty in others especially our girls. Beauty is not just that which we see on the surface; beauty comes in many layers and that must be spoken about and celebrated. Regrettably, it is no longer what you see is what you get world, it is more what you cannot see is what you end up getting. Weight loss is a personal journey which requires support from family and friends. Another option could be counseling for those persons who struggle with issues of body image. Those who are unable to afford plastic or cosmetic surgery should not be allowed to feel lesser than. It all comes down to a personal choice guided by your medical care provider regarding whether or not to have plastic surgery. In the words of Linda Evans, the problem with plastic surgery is that after 10 years, gravity wins out and you have to have another one in a year or so.
@WayneCamo
It is so unfortunate that almost everyone at some point in their life has been teased or has had negative comments made about their body. Oftentimes these harmful comments come from the most unlikely sources; our friends, coworkers and family. Body teasing or body shaming is usually a persistent form of bullying. The victim of such unwanted remarks is made aware from very early that they are different and that their body is imperfect by societal standards. Body shaming is the inappropriate, derogatory and insensitive comments about another person’s weight and or size. These unkind words, terms and comments are usually done to cause emotional pain and suffering. Body shaming can also reach into the realm of discrimination of those individuals who society deemed are social outfits because of their uniqueness. We often place people into categories out of malice or personal biases. We regularly hear the term “baby fat” in reference to women who have some difficulty in losing the weight gained during pregnancy. Men are referenced as having “beer bellies” or “bang belly”. How many of you are guilty of body shaming? The individual who is constantly teased can develop issues of low self-esteem which undoubtedly will impact all facets of life; relationship, work, family life and school. People react differently to being teased about their body size and or weight. Sometimes being overweight is directly related to a medical problem. Of course those who indulge in teasing others are not concerned about that. It is typically assumed that overeating is a reason for being overweight. The workplace is not immune from the torture that so many endure daily. It is the responsibility of Human Resource departments to have sensitization awareness campaigns in order to minimize the frequency of body shaming. Many lawsuits have resulted from the inability of the workplace to stop this social problem. We are constantly being bombarded by social media surrounding what is the perfect body. In our attempt to live this lie regarding perfection many turn to the gym where they spend a significant sum of money in an order to modify their bodies into what they believe will be pleasing to others. There are others who turn to plastic or cosmetic surgery to create a whole new body. However, plastic surgery is not cheap and like any other form of surgery there are risks associated. There are many stories of botched plastic surgeries in which the patient has been disfigured. Jocelyn Wildenstein is often referred to as the poster child for plastic surgery gone wrong. The New York socialite has spent millions of dollars to transform her once human face to the face of a cat. Plastic surgery addiction is real and falls into a category of addictions known as Behavioural or Process Addictions. In this addiction the individual is addicted to a specific behaviour despite negative consequences. The plastic surgery industry feeds on people’s insecurity regarding their body image.
A Multi-Billion Dollar Industry
The plastic surgery industry is a multi- billion dollar one in which many promises are made with before and after advertisements. A report by Global Cosmetic Surgery and Services Market Analysis stated that the industry is worth over $20 billion and is slated to increase to $27 billion in 2019. The same source says the North American market accounts for 45 per cent of the global market. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) the growth of the industry is considerable but not surprising as people continue to invest in themselves. In one of our local newspapers published Sunday September 15, 2019 under the caption: Build A Better Body, an entire page explored the cost associated with plastic surgery in Jamaica. It was shocking to see that almost every part of the body can be reconfigured. Dr. Alfred Dawes, a weight loss, laparoscopic and general surgeon said, “More people are now coming out, showing off their bodies, and they have no drawbacks, no hang-ups about saying that they have had work done.” The news story reported that a brachioplasty or underarm surgery to tighten loose, sagging skin and remove excess fat deposits costs between US$5,000 to US$11,000. For that male who requires an additional 2.5 inches of manhood, the penis implant will cost him between US$13,000 to US$15,000. Some argue that plastic surgery is playing God. In the Bible we are told that God used the rib of Adam to create Eve. Ironically, in today’s world, one can have a rib removal surgery. Rib removal surgery gets rid of one or more ribs to give a thinner, smaller waistline and this only will set you back US$6,500 to US$7,500. I suspect everyone by now has his or her calculator working out the exchange rate at approximately $136 Jamaican dollars to US$1 to appreciate the cost in Jamaican currency. Liposuction has always been popular. Liposuction removes fat on the hips, thighs, buttocks, back, arms or face. This is only US$2,000 to US$3,500 per area.
The Perfect Body
It appears one can do over one’s entire body under the surgeon’s scalpel in the quest for that perfect body. We tend to get our cues from celebrities and sporting figures. The genie is out of the box and as such there is nothing than can be said or done to persuade those who have the economic resources to enter this new frontier. In a desire to find the fountain of youth many are more than willing to have these procedures done. The issue of body contouring and body shaping has gained popularity over the years. Plastic surgery is no longer gender specific. A few years ago men were less likely to have invasive plastic surgery done but so much has change and continues to change. It bare thought that a lot of individuals are walking around with fake body parts, this is obviously an indicator of modernity. It is useful to do some back ground checks on the doctor who will perform your surgery. A plastic surgeon specializes in that discipline as against a general surgeon. Many among us have had inserted implants and silicone in an effort to feel good about themselves. Others prefer the more non-surgical procedures such as getting Botox injections. The world in which we live is so fake and this is not fake news! The genuineness and authenticity which once ruled the world is slowing being eroded into a state of falsehood and promoted by insecurity. We need to work towards a culture in which we affirm the beauty in others especially our girls. Beauty is not just that which we see on the surface; beauty comes in many layers and that must be spoken about and celebrated. Regrettably, it is no longer what you see is what you get world, it is more what you cannot see is what you end up getting. Weight loss is a personal journey which requires support from family and friends. Another option could be counseling for those persons who struggle with issues of body image. Those who are unable to afford plastic or cosmetic surgery should not be allowed to feel lesser than. It all comes down to a personal choice guided by your medical care provider regarding whether or not to have plastic surgery. In the words of Linda Evans, the problem with plastic surgery is that after 10 years, gravity wins out and you have to have another one in a year or so.
Wayne Campbell is an
educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as
they affect culture and or gender issues.
waykam@yahoo.com@WayneCamo
©
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