Cosmetic Surgery And Identity Issues

It has been said that plastic surgery makes the dream of many users come true but it can also open the door to many other identity issues. The way a person looks is a chief part of their identity and this means that the overall look of a person doesn’t just include their clothing options and hairstyle. The look and identity of a person also includes their facial characteristics. Plastic surgeries that make a dramatic change in the appearance of the face, such as a facelift, can have a negative impact on the sense of identity of the patient. Psychologists say people tend to ignore or overlook the way they feel about their facial features, as well as their feeling of attachment to their features, which often is ignored when they make a decision about plastic surgery. They often have this glorified picture of this perfect identity but perfection cannot be achieved by plastic surgery which means people need to take their total identity into account before having a procedure.  

Plastic Surgery and Imperfections

Vivian Diller, the author of “Face It: What Women Really Feel as Their Looks Change and What to Do about it”, said “after a major appearance-changing surgery, they sometimes realize that imperfection is actually part of their identity” She further stated that “patients in this situation can feel disconnected from their new faces, faces that no longer feel like theirs”. In some cases, some facial features can actually be a large part of how someone defines their sense of being even if they don’t realize that fact. The loss or correction of these features can cause a big change in the self-image of a person. However, the changes can lead to a feeling of being disengaged from their appearance. 

Some of the reasons patients have cosmetic surgery need to be addressed by doctors and counselors. Many people have cosmetic surgery with the aim to achieve a dream of becoming an actor or model because they think these celebrities live a perfect and problem-free life. They are unaware that this is an unrealistic view of the lifestyle those with the looks they admire live on a daily basis. Patients tend to regret their actions subsequently when they realize the new look won’t solve their issues.

Plastic surgeons should screen patients to make sure they are not getting a procedure done to make another person happy as well as not suffering from a psychological condition such as body dysmorphic disorder. Daniela Schreier, a therapist who has treated patients with plastic-surgery related issues, indicated that this kind of screening doesn’t happen often enough which makes patients regret their actions afterwards because the plastic surgeon they talked to was not receptive to the idea of performing a psychological screening.  

Furthermore, many people go into cosmetic surgery believing their lives will be greatly improved if they can just get rid of their bumpy nose or their stubborn fat or look more like Jennifer Lopez. The truth behind this reasoning is that some patients have a lack of confidence and low self-esteem that isn’t easily cured by surgery. More often than not, plastic surgeons need to address the core motives of patients and learn about them before agreeing to perform the plastic surgery of choice. Patients need to learn to love their bodies and faces for what they are as opposed to what they think they should be.

Plastic Surgery Changes should be made gradually

There are some celebrities such as Heidi Montag that have suffered from psychological distress after undergoing plastic surgery. Montag took her plastic surgery desires to an extreme level by having 10 procedures in one day! Psychologists say that transforming the appearance can sometimes result in a radical change and the effects of the change can be hard to accurately predict. Experts say that making gradual changes over a period of time can make it easier for patients to accept their new look as opposed to the sudden changes brought on by too many procedures at once such as the 10 surgeries Heidi Montag had in one day.

Many surgeons do screen patients for body dysmorphic disorder but they can’t always answer the question of whether their patients will still feel like themselves when their faces are completely different. Many celebrities often go for gradual changes over a period of time which may be easier to adapt to than a single procedure that happens all at once. It should be noted that our own sense of identity usually begins at a young age during adolescence. Patients that have cosmetic surgery, at a much older age than adolescence, will require a good amount of mental adjustment which might be difficult to attain according to psychologists. However, the amount that a change in appearance impacts a person is different for each individual. A small change might seem like a major change to one person while a small appearance alteration might not be as traumatic for another person.

Finally, going under the knife might seem like a way to magically fix our problems but, it is often the case that, changes made to the appearance can sometimes create new problems. Patients need to schedule a consultation appointment with a board-certified doctor before undergoing any cosmetic surgery procedure so the doctor can determine if the patient is an ideal candidate both mentally and physically