We live in an era where plastic surgery is routine. Indeed, in many parts of the country,
plastic surgery is an expected rite of passage. Years ago, face lifts and ‘tummy tucks’ were
done on those in middle age who were trying to experience a surgical time
machine. Now, folks in their 20’s are
having all kinds of work done, not to recreate a prior image, but to create a
new one.
The traditional scalpel in only one of many tools used to
perform body design work. There is a
smorgasbord of injectable fillers that plastic surgeons, dermatologists and
other physicians provide to a public who is zealously combating every wrinkle. Once a person is of the mindset that the only
good wrinkle is a dead wrinkle, he will commit himself to a lifelong odyssey
of cosmetic work. These folks are generally
never fully satisfied with how they look.
They are always finding imperfections that they target for correction.
I enthusiastically recommend readers to read Nathaniel
Hawthorne’s short story, The Birthmark, which speaks so elegantly to this
issue, despite that it was published in 1843.
There is an important role for plastic surgery in the
medical arena. These talented
professionals perform amazing work in reconstructing folks who have suffered
trauma and accidents. I also recognize that
cosmetic surgery provides significant benefits to many patients. However, it is beyond dispute that our
society is preoccupied with physical appearance and is striving for an
idealized an unrealistic level of beauty.
Many folks blame Barbie who
convinced generations of girls and women that she was the paragon of beauty and
attractiveness.
Ladies, slip into these comfy slippers!
A few days before I penned this post, I read about women who
bring designer shoes to podiatrists so they can have surgery that will permit
them to wear their choice of stylish footwear.
Indeed, there are foot surgeons
who specialize in these procedures. My reaction?
Outrageous. We’re not referring
here to correcting podiatric deformities.
Can a doctor defend performing surgery on healthy feet so that a pair of
shoes, probably not designed for a human, can fit in? I am sure that there are analogous absurd
examples of surgeries and procedures involving other body parts that should
embarrass the medical profession.