Introduction
In society today, some people have more control over the outward appearance of their bodies. The process has led to various practices such as corrective surgery to change one’s gender (Fosco, 2018). Another area that has been explored in-depth is the desire to maintain one’s looks despite the passage of time. Consequently, there are many opportunities for one to change his or her image and defy aging. There have been many champions which has made plastic surgery, for years, a lucrative and successful industry (Goudreau, 2011). In this regard, many people in society have been significantly impacted by anti-aging plastic surgery in one way or the other. The process has had both positive and negative effects. What is evident is that there are significant differences between aging naturally and plastic-surgery-enhanced aging which places an obligation on anyone interested in undergoing it to weigh all the options first critically.
Differences between the Aging and Anti-Ageing Groups
Aging has various connotations in different societies. However, in the wake of the 20th century, the focus on the physical appearance gave a different meaning to aging (Honigman, & Castle, 2006). The economic value attached to a beautiful and youthful demeanor implied that many people would go to all lengths to keep their young bodies younger even as years went by. The situation is especially real for the modern Western society where advances in technology have presented the masses with what is considered the ideal standard of beauty. Most of these propositions rely on what is lucrative and trendy. In this regard, Hollywood stars have been the center of attraction for many individuals. Therefore, staying young and energetic was the gate pass to a happy and fulfilling life for this group of people.
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On the other hand, many Eastern and African societies treat aging with reverence. Therefore, it was expected that once one age, it comes with certain perks that make the person better than the rest in society. For instance, older individuals were considered wiser than young ones (Aledo & Blanco, 2015). Additionally, the elderly would be accorded respect and favors in different setting thus making their lives more comfortable as compared to the ones that cover their outward appearance with plastic surgery. Finally, the advancement of age meant that one would retire from the rigorous schedules of work (Fosco, 2018). Thus, people in such cultures would welcome aspects of aging gracefully. They would not fret when their hair starts greying or when their skin gets wrinkled. For this segment of people, there is beauty in enjoying every stage of one’s life; thus it is immoral to keep stagnating at one phase.
The two groups of people face life differently. The faction that deems aging as usual and a welcome part of life will do little to change how they look like. They may be obsessed with aspects of nutrition, but this passion is to ensure that they do not suffer from lifestyle diseases (Aledo & Blanco, 2015). On the other hand, those that strive to remain youthful and beautiful will likely engage in activities that are worrisome to maintain their beauty. Before plastic surgery, such people would bind their feet, scar their bodies and deprive themselves of food to preserve certain aspects of their body that the society considered beautiful (Honigman & Castle, 2006). Currently, issues to do with monitored eating habits, intense workouts and the use of cosmetics help people to look younger even without the plastic surgery.
Positive Effects
Aging through plastic surgery offers economic security to many partakers. Most of the people that go for cosmetic surgery are in middle age. The enhancement of facial features at this point is necessary to make them appear confident and viable at the workplace (Honigman & Castle, 2006). The way one looks may be a determiner for promotions or transfers into different workplaces. The chances of success in specific career fields also depend on one’s appearance. For instance, many media personalities will strike a healthy connection with a majority of the audience if they look young, beautiful, energetic and happy (Dittmann, 2005). The need to stay longer at one’s place of work will make them opt for means to make them feel consistent and reliable.
Cosmetic surgery is also a great tool to enhance self-esteem which dwindles over time. As one ages, there is a perceived notion that they may be incapable of doing certain things as well as the younger counterparts. Therefore, the person in this situation may not act boldly when an opportunity arises. Such a case may lead to poor outcomes in terms of relationships with spouses, family or at the workplace. Therefore, cosmetic surgery offers a means to change one’s features so that the public may not run into conclusions when they meet such individuals. Dittmann (2005) quotes a study where 87% of the respondents who had undergone cosmetic surgery registered being satisfied with their new state as they had an enhanced body image of themselves.
There are various social benefits that one can get when he or she hides their age using plastic surgery. First, the dating scene has become too complicated in the current society with people looking for love from different spheres. There is a possibility that people from a different generation could fall in love but only be separated by the age factor. Therefore, with cosmetic surgery, spouses with an age gap can live happily without inflicting a sense of guilt or doubt on the younger partners. Similarly, public figures who thrive on social events such as modeling, acting and advertising can continue to enjoy their place in the limelight due to hiding their ages (Fosco, 2018). Such individuals will lose public appeal if they appear to be older than the niche they represent. Looking young will also give an individual an array of activities that they can engage in as compared to the older ones. Since they can blend with the younger people, they have an advantage.
Those that decide to go with natural aging have less to worry about and save a lot of money in the process. According to Goudreau (2011), plastic surgery is expensive and requires that one makes follow-ups after the operation to ensure that everything goes on well. The situation demands that one becomes an ardent observer of his or her body until they are sure that everything is ok. Such a lifestyle may cause some amount of stress which can be avoided by going the natural way. Natural aging only requires that one engages in a healthy lifestyle so that they retain stamina even when they are aging.
It is highly likely that those aging naturally will strive for healthy living as they understand that they will have no chance of hiding behind a mask (Fosco, 2018). Therefore, people in this group will be keen to distance themselves from activities that ruin health and makes one to age faster. Such tendencies include alcoholism, cigarette smoking and eating junk food. Such decisions would be difficult for one to make if they knew that they would cover up the consequences of their reckless behavior through plastic surgery.
Negative Effects
The psychological impacts of cosmetic surgery can be fatal. In most cases, individuals that go for it wish to solve an issue that has been bugging them for some time. In this manner, the chances of them having depression and anxiety before the surgery is high (Ditmann, 2005). The situation usually leads them to place high expectations on the anti-aging procedure. Therefore, if the results are not as per their liking, they will fall deeper into depression. Some have been known to get multiple surgeries to achieve the desired goal with no success. According to Reindl (2018), it is probable that these patients will have internal conflicts which may even result in suicide. In other cases, the persons may end up in isolation or engage in self-destructive behavior as they peg their frustrations on the procedure they undertook.
Relying on cosmetic surgery to solve the problem of aging will set a person on the path of overdependence on the procedure to address their body image issues. This situation arises since body image is not static (Honigman & Castle, 2006). Instead, it takes on different manifestations depending on the events and situational factors. Therefore, aspects such as pregnancy, illness, menopause or injuries will force one to change as well. Thus, the person will live as a slave to the system that offers short cuts to desired outcomes. In the end, the level of spending on this endeavor may cause a strain on other areas of life development (Fosco, 2018). Therefore, defying aging through cosmetic surgery is a reserve for the wealthy.
Individuals that are externally motivated to undergo the cosmetic surgery may face disappointment after the procedure due to the reactions they will receive. For instance, if one hoped to please others and change their lives, they will be frustrated if the surgery does not lead to any meaningful change in their lives. For instance, a person may be sidelined at the workplace for cosmetic surgery as the colleagues will feel threatened (Honigman & Castle, 2006). Similarly, the management may view the resort to a particular body part enhancement as a lack of belief in one’s competencies. The situation gets worse when family and friends react negatively to the new features one adopts (Ditmann, 2005). For instance, if a relationship that one hoped to revive using cosmetic surgery does not work, the individual will feel downcast for long.
There are chances that cosmetic surgery could go wrong. The situation may lead to the creating of a new problem that one would spend considerable time and resources to solve (Fosco, 2018). For instance, liposuction may help in sucking fats from the thighs but result in uneven distribution of lipids when one gains weight again ( Carlos Aledo & Maria Blanco, 2015 ). In this regard, the back and arms may be extended due to the accumulation of fats. Similarly, a tummy tuck may result in the thighs and the abdomen being out of proportion. Also, deformities may arise such as the inability of the individual to blink after the surgery (Reindl, 2018). Such instances occur due to the accidental damage of nerves during the surgical procedure. Therefore, it is essential that before undergoing cosmetic surgery, the professionals should explain all the risks involved to help in patients making a proper decision.
Many stereotypes are associated with being old. Consequently, individuals that decide to age naturally will at one point in the lives miss opportunities or get isolated for how they look. The typical signs for old age include drooping brows, sagging neck, line forehead, and thinning of the lips (Honigman & Castle, 2006). For the women, they will be viewed as lacking qualities of femininity. The situation leads to a loss of identity, power, and visibility. For the men, they will be considered to be being less agile and slow thinkers. In this manner, they may not be given an equal opportunity as the other men.
Aging is considered a pathological condition that needs to be eliminated in many societies. Instead of being taken as a natural stage of life, the people close to an individual who is aging fall into despair. Consequently, the older person will cease getting the attention that they used to when they were younger (Aledo & Blanco, 2015). For instance, it would be difficult for children and young adults to engage with their grandparents in useful discussion regarding business, nutrition or politics. This situation implies that many of the older people will start living a detached life with minimal activity. It is no wonder that many homes for the elderly report having depressed and anxious older people.
Conclusion
The various dimensions to aging carry both positive and negative aspects. Cosmetic surgery can be an excellent way to boost one’ economic security, raise one’s self-esteem and broaden one’s social activity options. However, the choice comes with challenges such as depression and anxiety, deformities, disappointments, and high costs. However, most of these issues occur due to lack of sufficient information before going for plastic surgery. On the other hand, natural aging offers minimal disadvantages. However, the person may still face isolation, ridicule, and miss opportunities. However, one can live a fulfilling life by embracing aspects that are set aside for the elderly such as advising the young. Therefore, whichever direction one decides to take, there is a chance of happiness if the decision is guided by sufficient research to ensure that the expectations one set are attainable.
References
Carlos Aledo, J., & Maria Blanco, J. (2015). Aging is neither a failure nor an achievement of natural selection. Current Aging Science , 8 (1), 4-10.
Dittmann, M. (2005). Plastic surgery: Beauty or beast? Retrieved March 21, 2019, from https://www.apa.org/monitor/sep05/surgery
Fosco, M. (2018, June 27). Ban Plastic Surgery and Grow Old Gracefully. Retrieved March 21, 2019, from https://www.ozy.com/immodest-proposal/ban-plastic-surgery-and-grow-old-gracefully/87522
Goudreau, J. (2011, August 10). The Hidden Dangers Of Cosmetic Surgery. Retrieved March 21, 2019, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/jennagoudreau/2011/06/16/hidden-dangers-of-cosmetic-surgery/
Honigman, R., & Castle, D. J. (2006). Aging and cosmetic enhancement. Clinical Interventions in Aging , 1 (2), 115.
Reindl, J. C. (2018, December 18). Fox 2 meteorologist Jessica Starr's suicide puts focus on Lasik safety . Detroit Free Press. Retrieved March 21, 2019, from https://www.freep.com/story/money/business/2018/12/18/meteorologist-jessica-starr-suicide-lasikquestions/2335467002/
