Cosmetic surgeries have gotten a bad rap in many circles in recent years. However, there is now some evidence suggesting that recipients of plastic surgery experience greater happiness and quality of life as the result of their chosen procedures. This information could be of interest to those who are on the fence about plastic surgery and its possible effects on their lives.
Studies Linking Plastic Surgery to Happiness
One study conducted by Jurgen Margraf, a psychologist, observed a group of 506 people who underwent plastic surgeries, and 163 people interested in getting a procedure done. At regular intervals, both groups’ mental health statuses, feelings of attractiveness, and satisfaction with life were measured. The surgery recipients scored higher on all counts than the group who had not yet underwent surgery, suggesting that getting a desired plastic surgery procedure could increase happiness in some. Another recent study by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery discovered that most plastic surgery recipients report better perception of well being and overall quality of life.
Why Consider Plastic Surgery as a Means to Improve Happiness?
Nearly everyone is aware of some part of themselves that they would like to change or improve. That is only human. However, anyone who repeatedly finds themselves getting upset or depressed about their looks, especially to the point of not wanting to fulfill social obligations, inability to enjoy intimacy with a partner, or needing professional therapy, may wish to consider plastic surgery as a means to improve enjoyment of life. Realize that a poor outlook due to body image could potentially become a serious problem that negatively affects every area of life if left untreated.
Elective Plastic Surgery
Nearly any area that causes low self-esteem can be operated on by a plastic surgeon. Some of the most common plastic surgeries include rhinoplasty (informally known as a “nose job”), breast augmentation, liposuction, abdominoplasty (for reducing stretched skin after childbirth) and facelifts. These procedures can help recipients to feel better about themselves and enjoy what they see looking back at them in the mirror. They can help to defy age, control weight, and eliminate blemishes that cause discomfort and self-consciousness in both males and females over a wide range of ages.
Restorative Plastic Surgery
Patients suffering from a change in their looks caused by an injury or illness can also benefit emotionally and mentally, not just physically, from plastic surgery. Plastic surgery has come a long way in recent years, allowing the doctors to give patients partial or complete reconstructions of damaged body parts. Sophisticated imaging technology with facial contouring and intricate microsurgery help achieve the desired results for those suffering from accidental disfigurement, burns, scars, skin cancer, and more in order to restore the patient’s self-esteem and positive outlook on life.
Plastic surgery is becoming a viable option for many people who feel that their happiness levels and self-esteem could be improved by a better body image. With such advanced technology now available in this field, the right doctor could be the key to unlocking happiness for anyone who is suffering from depression or low self-esteem as a result of body dissatisfaction.
Above image source: Flickr/Bassi Baba
