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How Plastic Surgery Affects Society

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How Plastic Surgery Affects Society
Often viewed as controversial; plastic surgery has the capability to change lives of various individuals from diverse socioeconomic levels. Plastic surgery covers a broad spectrum of services which are included in reconstructive surgery, as well as, the popular aesthetic appeal of cosmetic surgery. Plastic surgery affects society both physically, psychologically, and emotionally. From Operation Smile to botox, accident victims to breast augmentation, and Little Baby Face Foundation to facelifts; plastic surgery can give hope and confidence to many people. Plastic surgery can be delineated as the branch of surgery concerned with therapeutic or cosmetic repair or re-formation of missing, injured, or malformed tissues or parts. (“Plastic Surgery” dictionary.com) There is written medical evidence that some of the first plastic surgery procedures are dated back more than 4,000 years ago (“ASAPS”). “Physicians in ancient India were utilizing skin grafts for reconstructive work as early as 800 B.C” (“ASAPS”). In 1827, Dr. John Peter Mettauer performed the first cleft palate operation (“ASAPS”). This shows that plastic surgery has always had a very powerful impact on society. Even though plastic surgery is glamorized by the public eye there are a vast amount of instances where it is to truly help someone that needs it. Operation Smile is a prime example of how plastic surgery can improve the life of someone. They are an organization that helps children worldwide. Operation smile treats facial deformities such as cleft palates and cleft lips for free. “They have provided reconstructive plastic surgery to over 150,000 children and young adults in more than 60 countries” (“Plastic Surgery). Regardless of how much the media popularizes plastic surgery, you must not focus on that effect, but on the effect foundations like these have on society. If a woman were to be diagnosed with breast cancer there is a possibility that she will need surgery. At this time a


Cited: "ASAPS." News Releases. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012. "Body Dysmorphic Disorder." Body Dysmorphic Disorder. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2013. "Breast Cancer and Breast Reconstructive Surgery." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2013. "Emotional Changes After Plastic Surgery: What You Need to Know." Emotional Changes After Plastic Surgery. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2013. "An Interview with Dr. Howard T. Bellin - A Plastic Surgeon, Inventor, and Director of CosMedica." SteadyHealth.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2013. "Plastic Surgery." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, n.d. Web. 31 Dec. 2012. "Plastic Surgery." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 22 Jan. 2013. Web. 25 Jan. 2013. "What Are the Positive Effects of Cosmetic Surgery?" HubPages. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2013.

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