Plastic Surgery Addiction Research Paper

Some people are content with their appearance and other people get plastic surgery to change the way they look. Cosmetic surgery is just as bad and addictive as drugs. All humans are susceptible to addictions, certain psycho-social conditions trigger the need for plastic surgery. Plastic surgery, as an addiction, can be explained as a “search outside oneself for something that is lacking on the inside”, as stated by A. Suissa, writer of the article “Addiction to Cosmetic Surgery; Representations and Medicalization of the Body”. Cosmetic surgery in all cultures is on the rise. Each culture 's views it differently. Such as, in Venezuela, and Argentina, it is socially acceptable, and even considered normal to have surgery as a young girl. In …show more content…
It is titled “Can Cosmetic Surgery become Addicting?” by Karen Nash. Several surgeons around the country were interviewed. The surgeons all stated that they did not believe it was a true addiction. The surgeons do acknowledge that some people suffer from body dysmorphic disorder that can mimic addiction. Body dysmorphic disorder is a chronic mental illness where some people obsess about a flaw in their appearance. The flaw can be real or imagined. The obsession can affect the ability to perform in your daily life. If the surgeon identifies a patient as having this illness, he or she may attempt to cure the patient with medication, and/or behavioral therapy. The surgeons feel they need to differentiate between the patient that has realistic goals, and the one who will never be satisfied. People need to have the goal to improve their appearance, not perfect it. The surgeons feel that it is their job to evaluate the patient, and to refuse a surgery if it is not beneficial for the patient. The surgeons will also warn other surgeons if they feel the patient has a psychological disorder. Many such patients will change surgeons frequently because they are not satisfied. I feel this article is biased and they are covering up this …show more content…
Cristina wrote

this based off of a woman who admits she is addicted to plastic surgery. The woman states that no matter how many warnings and regulations the government has in place, it is not going to stop someone from having cosmetic surgery. Our culture adores wrinkle free foreheads, and tight buttocks. She has been warned that “you’re taking a risk every time you go under the knife”. She calls her addiction her “high of choice”, and knows the surgeons and manufacturers will keep supplying her because it is a 2.2 billion dollar industry. Due to botched surgeries and health risks, the government wants to make sure patients know the risks prior to surgery. Based on the growing numbers and increased revenue, the government 's warnings are not being heeded.
Based on these sources, the conclusion I have come to is plastic surgery can most definitely be an addiction. I did not find the surgeons arguments convincing. It appears that it is such a large money making industry that the surgeons do not want to call it an addiction because of the negative connotations. I would have to believe the source that has experienced the addiction