Interest In Cosmetic Surgery Explodes
It’s not just for Hollywood stars anymore.
These days, over 70% of women and 40% of men surveyed are definitely or possibly interested in having cosmetic surgery, liposuction, or both.
The responses of over 52,000 people from 18 to 65 years old were studied by University of California, Los Angeles, researchers.
When asked, 21% of women and 11% of men described themselves as unattractive.
In fact, 31% of women and 16% of men felt so self-conscious about their appearance in a bathing suit that they avoided wearing one in public.
Interest in cosmetic surgery occurred across the full age spectrum.
But Here’s The Real Surprise
Even people without a poor body image want to have surgical enhancements.
The only exception was those interested in liposuction. They did admit to lower body satisfaction even when statistically controlling for their weight.
According to the American Association of Plastic Surgeons, almost 11 million cosmetic surgeries were performed in 2006. That’s almost 50% more than in 2000.
About 90% of the procedures were for women.
What Does This Obsession With Cosmetic Surgery Say About Us?
That most of us are shallow and vain? That we have so much money, we don’t know what to do with it? That we’re so lazy we’d rather go under the knife than diet and exercise?
Maybe.
Or maybe it’s about a baby boomer generation that won’t accept aging and loss of youthful beauty without a fight. And that attitude has now transcended the generations.
Or perhaps it’s about a time in history where there is so much emphasis in the media on physical perfection, where every line and blemish is magnified by high def, that we all judge and feel judged by physical attractiveness.
Whatever the reason, it looks like the exploding interest in cosmetic surgery is here to stay.
So what about you? Would you ever consider having plastic surgery?
Technorati Tags: body image, cosmetic surgery, liposuction
October 29th, 2007 at 8:53 am
Dr. J will see you now…or later
Like any other area of surgery, cosmetic procedures have their uses. The more functional improvement, the easier to have patient satisfaction with the result. With procedures that are totally cosmetic in nature, it’s best to have an iron clad informed consent!
October 29th, 2007 at 12:26 pm
Dr.J, you’re scaring me. I think it was the exclamation point after the iron clad informed consent!!! When I start to look old, it looks like botox for me.
October 29th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
A nip here, a tuck there. Yeah, I can see it.
October 29th, 2007 at 1:11 pm
I don’t care if adults have plastic surgery cuz everyone should be able to do what they want but when these teenagers start having boob jobs and their barely old enough to drive, then I have a problem with it. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to look good, but it seems to be getting out of hand with some people.
October 29th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
I think for a lot of us it’s a way to get more self-confidence and maybe some attention, too.
October 29th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
Even us guys have to worry about looking old if we want to go far in our careers. It’s kinda stupid, but that’s the way it works.
October 29th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
It seems to be more accepted in today’s society to get cosmetic surgery. Even young men wear earrings today, something that no man would have been caught wearing when I was young. Everyone likes to be more fashionable today and that means doing whatever it takes to look good.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:15 pm
I hope I’m never desperate enough to have liposuction. Some people may do it as an easy way out, but I think most have lost hope. I don’t want to reach that point.
October 30th, 2007 at 6:25 pm
I’ll do whatever it takes to stay young.
October 30th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
I’ll dye my hair and buy every youth-restoring moisturizer on the market, but I draw the line at someone cutting into me just to make me look better.