| ve all seen the photographs of public figures such as | | | | individual entities that they are. Decisions regarding |
| Jocelyn Wildenstein and Michael Jackson in regards to | | | | what our figures can and can’t withstand have |
| plastic surgery overkill. These are the people used as | | | | to come from a discussion between the person |
| examples of why we supposedly need limits in the | | | | involved and their personal care physician. |
| area of cosmetic surgery. | | | | Just as with many other things in life there is no hard |
| Their disfigured faces, destroyed through vanity and a | | | | and fast rule to determine how much cosmetic |
| compulsion to look a certain way, are there to remind | | | | surgery someone can cope with. Some people can |
| us all of the dangers of excessive alterations. | | | | have ten procedures and never show any negatives |
| But should a few individuals lack of judgment when it | | | | signs that they had work done. Should that person be |
| comes to their bodies reflect on society as a whole? | | | | limited in their choice because someone else’s |
| Should their decisions be held accountable by the rest | | | | body can’t withstand the same? |
| of the population? | | | | Personal Freedom |
| Where does personal responsibility fit in? | | | | One of the greatest things about living in a democratic |
| There are many doctors and members of the public | | | | nation is the personal freedom to make choices based |
| who believe legal limits should be imposed in the field | | | | on our personal belief systems. Does that mean |
| of plastic surgery. That an arbitrary number needs to | | | | everyone makes responsible choices all of the time? |
| be written in the medical books so people don’t | | | | Of course not. But the freedom to choose is an |
| have the opportunity to go overboard in nipping and | | | | important thing. Do you really want governments |
| tucking. | | | | dictating what they consider to be acceptable for your |
| But what number will they choose? How do they | | | | body? |
| know where that magical line is that will cause | | | | If someone like Jocelyn Wildenstein wants to spend 4 |
| someone’s health and appearance to decline | | | | million dollars on plastic surgery to resemble a cat then |
| due to cosmetic procedures? And should we allow | | | | why shouldn’t she? It is her body and her |
| these people to dictate to us what we can and | | | | money. No one else has to look in the mirror and see |
| can’t do with our bodies? | | | | her face so why do we pass judgment? |
| Body Issues | | | | There are lots of statistics in this world that people can |
| Our bodies are unique in design and respond to | | | | throw around to justify limitations on anything we |
| external factors in different ways. For example: | | | | choose to do. There are certain people who always |
| - Some people struggle with weight and have to | | | | want to impose restrictions based on personal bias or |
| watch everything they eat while others can | | | | moral judgments. |
| overindulge on a regular basis and never show any | | | | The fact is when it comes to cosmetic surgery we |
| negative side effects from this kind of consumption. | | | | are talking about our bodies. Many people experience |
| Of course there are also people who choose to | | | | profound positive results and a radical change in |
| overindulge even though the effects of eating poorly | | | | self-esteem after undergoing cosmetic surgery. It is a |
| are clearly detrimental to their health. | | | | deeply personal choice and one that should remain |
| Does that mean we should impose limits on food | | | | personal. |
| because there are people who choose to disregard | | | | Discussions regarding cosmetic procedures should |
| their own safety? | | | | clearly stay in the doctor’s office. |
| The reality is that our bodies have to be treated as the | | | | |