T1W2: FEATURED ARTICLE

Target audience: People who want to find out more about cosmetic surgery.
Purpose: To inform the audience about benefits and risks of cosmetic surgery.

IS IT REALLY ALL ABOUT THE LOOKS?

Not everyone is blessed with perfect skin or a cute nose. Every year, millions of women and men select surgical treatments to enhance, minimize, nip and tuck all manner of physical features. From facelifts and tummy tucks to liposuction and botox injections, there is no doubt that there is a procedure out there that can repair, remove, life and smooth just about every inch of the human body.

These physical imperfections don't upset everyone who has them of course. But for some, they can shape poor self-image and influence low confidence levels. So how can one weigh the pros and cons of plastic surgery and thus make an informed decision about their beauty and well-being?

Before we address that, Let's have a look at a few pros and cons of plastic surgery.

PROS
- For those born with a birth defect or are disfigured due to an accident, surgery can remove the stigma often associated and thus allowing the person to lead a normal life, without feeling abnormal.
-There is a development of self-esteem in the person if the plastic surgery is successful and if they obtain good outcomes.
-Some people are very conscientious about their appearance to the point of having serious psychological issues and cosmetic surgery along with proper counselling can help these individuals gain the self-esteem and confidence.

CONS
-Cost: If the cosmetic surgery is done as an elective procedure for you enhance your appearance, the odds are that your insurance company will not cover the cost and you will have to pay for it yourself. Like any surgical procedure, plastic surgery is not cheap and too often people will go into debt to try and obtain that perfect nose or stomach which can lead to serious financial problems.
-Risks: Even worse, there's always a chance that something will go wrong and things may end up worse off than before.

So now, how exactly do you need to consider before taking up plastic surgery?

1) What are the benefits and drawbacks of surgery?
- Though physical flaws may seriously limit a person's success, it's important to know that it could lead to obsession.
-That is probably because humans are always seeking for good looks and the search just leads to an unending process of plastic surgery. It is a shame that we are so focused on our physical appearances that we forget about so many other important things.

2) Mental state - It's not just about your physical shortcomings. Very often, outer appearance can seem like the main problem, but in reality, it's what is inside that is making you feel really insecure.

3) Deliberate and review your objective of your goals
- Have realistic expectations.
- The media plays a big part in this beauty-obsessed culture. Hollywood is a good example.
- Bear in mind that there are no sure-fire ways to guarantee the results you want and plastic surgery is no exception.
- Improving a feature of the face or body may give great self-confidence and add to a sense of well-being, but it is not a guarantee of happiness or better relationships with others.

The bottomline is that cosmetic surgery is no substitute for good health habits to achieve good looks. Getting proper nutrition, having a balanced diet and exercising regularly can also go a long way toward helping you look and feel good.

References: http://www.awfulplasticsurgery.com/
http://www.goodplasticsurgery.com/