Author: William

~ 07/13/10

Many have come to the conclusion that the change yielded by plastic surgery is strictly superficial. But the truth is more complex than that.

Dismissing all plastic surgery patients as vain is incredibly crass, particularly when considering the roots of cosmetic plastic surgery and the modern facelift. While the very first rhinoplasty surgeries can be traced back to 2000 BC, reconstructive facial procedures rose to prominence following World War I and World War II. Drs. Harold Gillies and Archibald McIndoe helped many wounded veterans correct the permanent disfigurements left over from battle. Rectifying these physical scars proved to be an instrumental part of healing the emotional and psychological scars that many soldiers bear after experiencing the violence of combat. The same reconstructive facial work that these doctors pioneered has helped plastic surgeons treat children born with facial deformities, such as cleft lips and malformed ears.

Likewise, modern breast augmentation procedures also hearken back to reconstructive surgeries. Breast cancer survivors who have undergone mastectomy surgeries often feel incomplete, even after making a full recovery from the cancer treatment. Breast implants and other cosmetic surgeries can help them feel more feminine, completing the healing process that extends beyond medical treatment.

Another example of lifechanging plastic surgery is embodied in the “Mommy Makeover.” While the emotional hardships of motherhood are relatively more mundane than those faced by soldiers and cancer survivors, the theme of sacrifice and recovery is still significant. Most women’s bodies will be irrevocably changed after childbirth. While nearly all mothers gladly undertake this burden for the sake of their children, afterwards, many women find that plastic surgery can help them restore their confidence and self esteem. Dr. Robert Wald, an Orange County tummy tuck specialist and certified plastic surgeon, often helps mothers feel more like themselves after pregnancy. Many families consider a makeover a well-deserved reward for the selfless gift of giving birth.

Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder—but oftentimes, the problems that cosmetic surgery treats are rooted from deeper emotional afflictions. Correcting these imperfections can be an integral part of moving beyond frustrating, painful, and traumatic experiences.