Why Choose Cosmetic Surgery?

The saying ‘never judge a book by its cover’ is one that is well known in the western world, and is meant to remind us that it is impossible to know anything about something or someone based solely upon the way that it looks. The oldest, dustiest books may contain the most beautiful and exciting stories, while the words in a shiny, new book may be dull and uninspiring.

Despite the wisdom of this saying, in the modern world, attractiveness and esthetic appearance continues to grow in importance. As a civilization, we have spent centuries trying to define what makes a person physically attractive and concept of ‘esthetical ideals’ varies widely from country to culture to individual. What one person considered to be attractive may be very different from another, hence the term ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’.

However, despite the different opinions as to what makes someone beautiful, we continue to be bombarded with images of seemingly ‘perfect’ people. The trouble with this is that many of us can’t help but compare the media’s interpretation of what is attractive with ourselves, however irrational competing with airbrushed and/or professionally styled people may be.

The psychological effect of appearance

So, why do we do it? What’s the bottom line? The answer lies in confidence – a trait which is fragile in the vast majority of people. The way we perceive ourselves and the way in which we believe others to perceive us is vital to maintaining confidence. Even being unhappy with a temporary aspect of our appearance, such as an untimely explosion of acne or a bad haircut, can have a significant impact on confidence and our ability to interact with others around us. We may try to avoid social or professional situations. We may speak more quietly and avoid looking in mirrors. Our posture may crumple and we may seem incapable and even weak.

Now imagine feeling like that all the time. That is how low confidence and self-esteem can affect someone who is unhappy with a permanent aspect of their appearance. And no matter how hard they try, they simply may not be able to get past it.

This shattered confidence doesn’t only apply to patients who are simply unhappy with their natural, ‘normal’ appearance either. Many people choose cosmetic surgery because they have been left disfigured as a result of an accident or injury, a birth defect, a war wound or debilitating illness. These people may have already dealt with unimaginable pain and suffering and are seeking a way to reduce their difficulty and any embarrassment that they feel.

Cosmetic surgery offers a solution to patients who are psychologically suffering as a result of their appearance. Whether it is to ‘normalize’ aspects of their appearance that may otherwise be considered unusual, or to esthetically enhance the way that they look, most patients who undertake cosmetic surgery find that it transforms how they feel about themselves, giving them the confidence to live their life to the fullest.