Individual Review Paper Outline

Plastic Surgery – Redefinition of Beauty

Executive Summary

# In the 20^th century, plastic surgery has evolved remarkably as a specialty in US.

The report focuses on developed countries and developing countries. It talks about the change in standard of beauty along with the emerging market of plastic surgery.

Introduction

• The rationales of the choice of this topic
• Definition of plastic surgery & its brief history
• Definition of beauty (“Beauty is the truth.”)

Historical Perspective

1. People’s perception

• Could not do much to their appearance at that time (the variable was inner beauty)
• Higher acceptance of what they were born with.
• The standard of beauty changes over times. (Still it was not so much artificial then.)
• Enhanced themselves through lifestyles (reading books, connecting with people)

2. The function of plastic surgery

· A reconstructive surgery

· Merely fixing functional impairments and traumatic injuries etc.

Current Situation

Plastic surgery comes to a peak point when the focus shifts to cosmetic surgery. (e.g. nose job, liposuction, breast implant)
            1.On the bright side

· Bringing hopes to people with low self-esteem or to people hoping to look as perfect as the celebrities on TV

· Overall people are more beautiful (“enhancement” of appearance)

· Have an illusion that we look younger than we actually are by reducing the effect of aging (e.g. botox injection, lifting)


2. Pros

a. Society

· Lift up the expectation on people’s appearance (must be presentable?)

· Increased discrimination in applying jobs and during socializing (Judge a person by its book cover)

· Near-to perfectionism in appearance.

b. Individual who has gone through plastic surgery

· Intense plastic surgery obsession (higher risks, more money spent)

· More emphasis on appearance (less attention on building up better personalities and characteristics)

· Depend on an external source for self-esteem (over-reliance, lack of self-confident)

c. Individual who has not

· Undergoing going stress and tension (especially peer pressure)

· Possible to go with the flow reluctantly

Future Consideration

Concerns:

• Over flooded - The trend of overwhelming plastic surgery taking place.
• Who is the real you? -False illusions everywhere.
• Family Lies - Change in appearance does not mean change in genes.
• Ugliness of society – Looks outweighs inner beauty.

Solutions: (Culture Revolution!)

• Policies and regulations have to be made.
• Surgeon should be more responsible instead of money-driven.
• Individual should be well-informed of the consequences.

Conclusion