Beauty Information return to main menu | go to beauty homepage | beauty index & site map

Cosmetic Surgery - Vanity or Healthy Choice?


Cosmetic and plastic surgery has long been associated with vanity, but mounting evidence suggests that in many cases cosmetic surgery can offer substantial health benefits. Nose jobs can offer real health benefits in addition to improving the symmetry of the face. Face lifts have been shown to increase life expectancy. And eyelid surgery can create significant vision benefits for some people. All of these examples show the lines between aesthetics and real health benefits can blur when examining plastic surgery procedures.

Rhinoplasty, or nose jobs have health benefits beyond the aesthetic appeals of the procedure. In many cases, rhinoplasty can substantially improve breathing difficulties. In cases where people have broken their nose, the cartilage can become constricted, creating breathing problems. Rhinoplasty can alleviate this, along with snoring problems associated with constricted nasal passages. Many people who have persistent sinus problems have remedied the issue with rhinoplasty.

Face lifts have long been considered a purely cosmetic procedure for people to fight the effects of aging. However, evidence shows that face lifts actually can have health benefits. A study performed at the Mayo clinic reviewed data from 250 women who had undergone face lifts in the '70s. The data showed that on average, women who received face lifts outlived their counterparts in the general population by 10 years. The self esteem factors attributed to looking and feeling younger as a result of the face lift are cited as possible reasons why these patients lived longer.

Eyelid surgery known as blepharoplasty is a procedure to remove fat--usually along with excess skin and muscle from the upper and lower eyelids. While the procedure does have cosmetic benefits, it can also provide real health benefits to those who have vision problems caused by excess skin around the eyelids.

Gastric Bypass surgery, while not often considered "cosmetic surgery" can be viewed as a surgery to improve appearances. Like liposuction, it reduces an individual's weight through surgical means. However, the health benefits of losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight are well documented and accepted. Losing weight is a perfect example of how health benefits and aesthetic benefits can both result from the same surgical procedures.

Most who have significant dental problems will view fixing those problems as a mandatory concern. Braces were once considered strange, but now are commonplace. People who lose teeth in accidents don't think twice about the vanity associated with replacing those teeth. Indeed, they argue that replacing broken or lost teeth is necessary for healthy eating function, as well as restoring appearance. Improving speech through dentistry has been long accepted for its benefits, and without the taboos associated with many cosmetic surgery procedures.

Cosmetic surgery is not just for vain people who want to improve their aesthetic appeal. In many cases, the real benefits of cosmetic surgery make the aesthetic improvements just an added bonus when compared to the health benefits the procedures can provide. As cosmetic surgery becomes more common, the lines between purely cosmetic and self esteem benefits and real measurable health benefits will increasingly blur. As the health benefits of cosmetic surgery become more apparent and documented, the acceptance of the procedures by the public at large will continue to climb.

Rex Ryan maintains a website on cosmetic surgery procedures: http://www.aboutcosmeticsurgery.info


MORE RESOURCES:

At-Home Beauty Devices Drive Industry Excitement
MarketWatch - 19 hours ago
The most dynamic trend for the beauty industry in 2008 has been the emergence of at-home or do-it-yourself (DIY) tools -- especially those that offer ...


Houston Chronicle

Twilight goes for beauty over substance
Houston Chronicle, United States - Nov 20, 2008
Twilight goes a tad heavy on the beauty products. At the screening I attended, the audience burst into awkward giggles at the first sight of Peter Facinelli ...
Review: Twilight -- Eric's Take Cinematical
'Twilight' Los Angeles Times
'Twilight': Teen Anemia, By Kurt Loder MTV.com
Salt Lake Tribune - Examiner.com
all 1,291 news articles


‘Dr. 90210’ shares his 7 beauty secrets
MSNBC - 13 hours ago
Well, today he's left the knife at home and is sharing seven household beauty secrets that will enhance your looks and help you preserve your youth. ...


Canada.com

"Beast" sure to be a 3-D beauty for Disney in 2010
Reuters - Nov 19, 2008
By Gregg Kilday LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Belle, the Beast and all the dancing silverware in "Beauty and the Beast" are getting a 3-D makeover. ...
'Beauty' gets 3-D makeover Variety
Katzenberg: 3-D vision goes beyond animation Hollywood Reporter
“The Beauty and the Beast” Gets 3-D Makeover from Disney eFluxMedia
Monsters and Critics.com - AHN
all 166 news articles


Wet your thistle with this blue-headed beauty
Indianapolis Star, United States - 3 hours ago
The flowers then expand the plant's beauty. The tiny, metallic blue flowers develop on stiff stems from July through September. The flowering period can be ...
Frosty-looking foliage makes delightful addition to garden TheNewsTribune.com
all 2 news articles


Los Angeles Times

ig-Beauty 4
Los Angeles Times, CA - 8 hours ago
Brazilian bikini waxes should be outlawed, like cockfights. Besides, who endures such agony after shelving the bathing suit? The Bikini Perfect Deluxe ...


Los Angeles Times

ig-Beauty 5
Los Angeles Times, CA - 8 hours ago
Whether your arches are golden or brunet, Anastasia’s Brow Tool Kit ($95) will keep them in check with stencils, tweezers, powders, brow gel, ...


Beauty goes green
KXVO CW 15, NE - 11 hours ago
By Shahnaz Khan There is a lot of hype in the beauty industry right now about so called "green" products. There are literally thousands of products on the ...


Los Angeles Times

ig-Beauty 8
Los Angeles Times, CA - 8 hours ago
Hair grows about half an inch per month. The Oscar Blandi Pronto Colore root touch-up and highlighting pen ($23) covers those stray grays and pesky roots ...


Los Angeles Times

ig-Beauty 1
Los Angeles Times, CA - 8 hours ago
The beauty industry — spas and salons included — has responded with do-it-yourself alternatives that promise professional results. Here’sa sampling from the ...

Beauty - Google News

return to main menu | go to beauty homepage | beauty index & site map
© 2006