Why is plastic surgery looked down upon?

Question

It's a stigma I've never fully understood. It's a legal service and I think that anyone who can afford it is free to do as they wish.

Recently we met with a school acquaintance who made a comment about my teeth - that they were pearly whites but they weren't "mine", as in I got them fixed and implanted since I had some nasty gnashers back in school (my fault I admit). I then replied that she too had something nice but not hers, since she used to be flat as a board up until a couple of years ago but now boasts model-tier breasts. She laughed and said that people better take notice since she paid a lot for them, but my wife pynched me, and later said I was being rude and that you don't say those things out directly - I disagree because she started it and in my opinion, don't dish it out if you can't take it, and also because there's nothing bad in a retouch or two if you don't feel comfortable about your body - accepting oneself is important, but everyone should be free to decide how they want to look.

Poliker · Accepted Answer

Because for the longest time, plastic surgery was just reconstructive. It was reserved for burn victims, or victims or acid attacks, or for people who suffered an attack. Cosmetic plastic surgery has always been a thing too, but it was reserved for the movie stars like Marilyn Monroe for chin surgery, Marlene Dietrich's molar removal surgery, Dean Martin for a rhinoplasty. And because the surgery was not obvious, no one really knew about the operations. Now that the primary reason for plastic surgery has shifted to cosmetic instead of reconstructive.

I assume that the people who get the surgery are vain because they had no issues and looked fine, but just want to look better through no work of their own and it looks artificial. I am not jealous of the people who undergo plastic surgery to look good because I already look good. I think it is a problem because, rather than learning to love yourself flaws and all, they love themselves surgery scars and all. I feel like it creates issues like if they have a kid. If their kid comes up with an odd nose and they say they hate their nose, what can their father who got a rhinoplasty credibly say to comfort their child? It doesn't make sense to me and I look at them as people who would rather conform than to live as they are naturally.

Account · Accepted Answer

Some people consider it a waste of money or they consider it a form of vanity. That I don't understand either. We dye our hair, get tattoos and piercings, buy nice clothes, put make up on our faces, buy expensive jewelry, buy expensive watches, phones and consoles, yet we consider plastic surgery vanity and a waste of money?
I consider it hypocritical.
In the past I looked down upon it due to the fact that there are also certain risks involved.
But then I changed my mind, if the person wants to go through it, it is their choice and I have no say in the matter nor do I have the right to judge it in any way or form.
What I dont find right is when people with mental health conditions such as body dysmorphic disorder, undergo plastic surgeries.
They think that by doing so they will feel better and more confident about themselves, but I don't think they can treat the issue within them just by constantly altering their physical appearance.

Wish4UrB00ty · Accepted Answer

Lol! I’m very confused… your story has more to do with the stigma of whitening your teeth then it does with breast augmentation. Personally there is nothing wrong with either but I do find the teeth white more weird then the augmentation… teeth whitening is a thing you have to constantly go back to where breast augmentation is a huge cost but actually about the same when you look at how much you spend goi g back for it all the time.

Also… your wife was saying that it is rude to point out a woman’s breast not that it’s rude to point out her augmentation…

OlderAndWiser · Accepted Answer

For some people, plastic surgery is taken as a sign of unhappiness and inability to accept yourself as you really are. If that perception is accurate, it suggests that the plastic surgery is merely the result of a much deeper personality flaw that could have other consequences. I think this is true sometimes but not always.

BigWhiteWolf87 · Answer

Plastic surgery for cosmetic reasons is typically for shallow, insecure reasons and usually indicates personality traits that are undesirable.

Your friend as example. The content in which she said that men pay attention... is she some hoe that sleeps around desperate for men's attention or is she some achieved nothing gold digger?

I ask because if she had a decent attractive personality men would pay attention regardless of her lack.

There are and have been women with barely any breasts who have happily lived their married lives.

TrueConfection · Answer

I agree that there is nothing wrong with improving your appearance. I think as long as it's not for someone else, it's not unhealthy.

I'm not a fan of the overdone plastic looks that some people go for, but who am I to judge?

Most people in the U. S. have had braces to straighten their teeth and use teeth whitening products for cosmetic appearance.

dustybiker · Answer

I don’t think you did anything wrong talking with the woman. She seemed pretty light hearted and happy about it.

Jamie05rhs · Answer

I personally don't agree with it on principle because I think that you should love your natural body.
(However if you had f'd up teeth and needed to get them fixed, then there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.)

by the way, you were right to call her out. Like you said, "don't dish it out if you can't take it."

inhua · Answer

it's a superficial world out there and sometimes people gotta do what they gotta do to even get some basic decent level of respect.

you can't get mad at a 10/10 in looks for being fake when they were originally a 1/10 in looks when in reality you were the one being shallow.

NathanDavis · Answer

I would fix mine if I had to...  especially teeth... as those could also become a health issue

Anonymous · Answer

I have no problem with it, and there are times when it is essential.

Anonymous · Answer

Because no one likes fake, and people who do it are by definition insecure and shallow.

RedPassion95 · Answer

Because of men 🙄 ... you want the hot girl we're going under the knife.

Anonymous · Answer

Because it can make people look really fake.

Why is plastic surgery looked down upon?

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