Cosmetic surgery provides many opportunities for growth and self-esteem, providing people with new ways to view their bodies and feel good about themselves. Many people who seek out plastic surgery are working to improve their own form of self-acceptance, as many aspects of traditional beauty standards tend to feed on emotional distress, poor body image, and poor mental health. Plastic surgery can provide many advantages and disadvantages when it comes to these issues, but exploring the psychology behind why people choose to get plastic surgery and how plastic surgery can help people suffering from low self-esteem and mental health issues. 

Why Do People Opt-in to Cosmetic Plastic Surgery? 

One of the biggest problems faced today is traditional beauty standards. Images of these standards are present daily through our magazines, advertisements, and social media. Throughout media, images of traditionally attractive people can trigger insecurities, self-doubt, and peer pressure to appear attractive on the surface. These pressures can contribute to cycles of emotional distress and also contribute to already existing mental health problems in people today. 

One way to combat the issue of low self-esteem is to choose cosmetic plastic surgery. Plastic surgery attempts to work aesthetics into surgical procedures, removing perceived flaws and changes throughout the body, especially in areas such as the face, legs, buttocks, abdomen, and breasts. With this in mind, cosmetic surgery can provide many benefits to those looking to improve their appearance. These benefits include: 

• Reaffirms Gender Identities: For those who identify as transgender, or those who do not identify with their assigned gender, plastic surgery can help align and reaffirm their identities and promote better psychological well-being. 
• Removes signs of Aging: People faced with severe signs of aging and wish to improve their appearance can use cosmetic surgery to remove fine lines, fat deposits, excessive wrinkles, and other concerns. 
• Helps Treat Health Problems: People faced with health problems associated with their body shape, including larger breasts than the body can support, excessive skin after weight loss, and other changes, can use plastic surgery to help treat chronic or severe conditions. 
• Improves Self-Esteem: Overall, getting plastic surgery can improve a person’s sense of self-acceptance, remove feelings of insecurity, and help provide better balance psychologically. 

What To Consider Before Plastic Surgery

However, not everyone can or should get plastic surgery. Plastic surgery has its disadvantages, as it can not be used as a replacement to resolve mental health issues, especially concerning body image. Often, plastic surgery is also attached to unrealistic beauty expectations, and the contributing influence of body image can cause excessive use of surgeries to correct minor concerns. Because of these risks, it’s important to speak with your medical professionals, mental health providers, and plastic surgery providers to ensure the best outcomes for you. It’s important to consider all goals when speaking with your healthcare team to help avoid risks and complications with procedures. Under the best circumstances, plastic surgery can provide substantial benefits as long as goals are realistic and reachable. For more information, the best place to begin is by visiting your local surgeon today for an appointment.